Saving Energy – have an online forum!
 The Virtual Energy Forum will connect corporate energy managers with experts through an online interactive event on May 13 and 14. Forum organisers say company representatives will be able to learn how to reduce energy consumption by participating in the event.
Online forum organiser PlatformQ has organised The Virtual Energy Forum (VEF) a two-day, online-only event that will connect thousands of corporate executives with sustainability and energy efficiency experts and providers of cleantech products and services in a live, interactive environment.
"The VEF will give managers chartered with green initiatives a wonderful opportunity to learn how leading companies and institutions are adopting better energy management practices to cut costs, while at the same time adopting clean energy alternatives," said PlatformQ CEO Robert Rosenbloom. "The VEF will present the latest alternative energy technologies, policies and best practices."
Confirmed speakers to date include senior energy executives from companies such as Nike, Marriott and Unilever. Dick Munson, author of the book From Edison to Enron:The Business of Power and What it Means for the Future of Electricity will also speak at the event.
For more details of the virtual forum and related virtual exhibitions go to www.virtualenergyforum.com
I&I believes that this online initiative appears to be practising what it preaches – by saving the energy use of travelling to a face-to-face forum. Story found through www.EnvironmentalManagementNews.net Big Brother! Experts urge tracking cows from birth to beef
A code printed on the side of a box is the key to birth dates, birthplaces, and health records - the details of the life of a cow that became a side of beef, a hamburger, or a steak.
Such tracking in the United States is almost exclusively used by ranchers who raise specialty cattle and want to guarantee that their beef is truly organic, wholly grass-fed, or 100 per cent Angus. Some experts say the United States should start such a system for all beef and dairy cows to protect the herds and consumers.
In Canada, cows have tracking chips implanted at birth, and their travels and eventual slaughter are recorded in databases to prevent animals diagnosed with contagious diseases from infecting others or from finding their way into the food supply. The tracking program ramped up after mad cow disease started showing up in Canadian cattle; a dozen cases have been found. From www.asq.org
I&I hopes that the cows don’t get their revenge and insist humans are chipped as well! However, based on a recent report, it seems that we can be readily tracked via our mobile phones in any event! CSIRO puts trust in your pocket
CSIRO has developed a prototype Trust Extension Device (TED) - a portable device that lets people securely do business across the internet on any computer. TED consists of a small operating system, as well as a set of applications and encrypted data loaded onto a USB memory stick or a mobile phone.
The device creates its own environment on an untrusted computer and establishes trust with the remote enterprise server, prior to undertaking a transaction.
“TED makes trust portable, opening the way to undertake secure transactions anywhere, even in an internet cafe’” said the CSIRO ICT Centre’s Dr John Zic.
CSIRO is seeking expressions of interest from parties who may want to license the technology. To enquire, contact Dennis.Silvers@csiro.au Clean coal – how far away is it?
 ZeroGen’s clean coal project will now be carried out in two stages with the development of a demonstration low emission coal power plant by 2012 and a large-scale low emission plant by 2017. The Queensland Government, Australian Coal Association’s COAL21 Fund and Shell Development have joined forces with ZeroGen for the reconfigured ‘ZeroGen Mark II’ project, which is integrating clean coal technologies of coal gasification with carbon capture and storage to produce low emission baseload power.
The 80 MW demonstration power plant is located near Rockhampton in central Queensland and is expected to capture up to 75 per cent of the greenhouse emissions. The location of the large-scale 300 MW power plant is to be determined after a feasibility study into suitable areas in Queensland and is expected to capture up to 90 per cent of the greenhouse emissions. OOPS! Decision making for growth on April 4
As indicated in last week’s column the first Women in Manufacturing Event for 2008 is to feature a presentation by Helen Lennie, Sales and Marketing Director of Signature Prints.
We had the location and time but not the date! It is to be a breakfast meeting on Friday April 4.
Since 1998, Helen and her husband, David Lennie, have been the driving force behind successful growth in their design and printing business Signature Prints. Specialising in premium textiles, wallpaper and limited edition art prints for the design and architectural industries, Signature Prints is gaining worldwide attention and acclaim for its exquisite collection of Florence Broadhurst prints, as well as its own collection of designs.
Helen has been at the pointy end of many difficult business decisions and understands the challenges faced by women in manufacturing.
From 7.15am for 7.30am – 9.00am on Friday April 4, followed by a roundtable discussion. Western Sydney Business Centre, Level 2, 470 Church Street (corner Harold Street), North Parramatta.
The Women in Manufacturing Network connects like-minded women owners and executives in manufacturing. The network provides the opportunity to meet and learn from other industry professionals, access business advice from leading consultants, academics and practitioners, and participate in seminars, workshops and site visits.
To find out more or to register, email your details to dsrdparramatta@business.nsw.gov.au or contact Lindsay Cohen at lindsay.cohen@business.nsw.gov.au or on 8843 1102. Your Ideas, Innovations or Events?
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