The Mega Trends of Sustainability Energy
March 6-9, 2003, Wels, Austria

Recently I attend the world sustainable day conference In Wels Austria. With over 65 countries represented I was the only Canadian in attendance. I thought I would pass on an executive summary to Canada. There were a few trends and observation I walked away with. First and for most a trade show with 1200 exhibitors. There are literally thousands of companies involved in sustainable industries in Austria and Germany alone. It is clear Kyoto could be a great catalyst to encourage business. It is also clear that success starts with clear environmental initiatives at the federal and provincial levels. Another reality is people like to save money and RE projects do that.

The Conference

1. Placing the individual in the center of Building Strategy The essential elements in promoting the rational use of energy is that decision makers at all levels included citizens, is given access to relevant sources of information. In this context, these sources include actual energy consumption, the chrematistics of potential sources of supply and outputs from modeling studies to access the benefits and impacts of alternative sustainable options

2. The European building directive and its implementation in Upper Austria Information awareness, energy advise and audit, sustainable building programs (4500 per year), energy technology program, training. Third party financing, network of green energy businesses, international cooperation is the components to Austria's energy success. The Sustainable housing program Austria has adopted the EU 2002 building directive. In building the are broad categories... of energy efficient houses65kwh/m2a, Low energy houses50 kwh/m2a, passive houses 15kwl/m2a. Incentives or given with each house. The mandatory energy advice session, energy certificate for every house and proper monitoring are all implemented Since 1993 30,000 houses have participated in the sustainable house program and have saved 215 million kWh of energy In upper Austria alone renewable energy provide employment for some 10,000 people

3. Bill Dunster of zero fossil energy developments the "zedfactory.com had incorporated the need for healthy living, community, 0 energy, growing food and reducing our need for transportation by incorporating work and home together. With all the bells and whistles, frankly he is my hero, and would love to pilot one of his developments. Simple and locally available materials and systems incorporate winter gardens, PV for a fleet of electric cars, rain collection, heat exchangers, passive solar, low water consumption and highly insulated materials that store and retain energy for future use.

4. Building Envelopes are external facades that incorporate an interstitial space that acts to cool and refract light in the building. This building design and retrofit technology can save significantly to the lighting and cooling costs of buildings

5. Demonstration of biomass use involving pellets is prolific in Upper Austria and Germany. 5 years ago a full 80% of the new houses we built with oil as a heating source. Today 8 % of the houses are built with oil with bio mass meeting most of the hot water and heating needs. These applications are for residential and large commercial applications

6. Countless examples of passive solar houses that incorporate exception R factors, house flywheel air circulating technologies, proper monitoring and collectors utilizing solar PV for heat and hot water

7. A company hydro care have increased the efficiencies of countless hydro projects by upgrading the technologies of existing hydro projects and identify small hydro projects that will cost effectively give power to small scale operation.

8. The US green electricity market is mostly driven from the state level. Today more than 1/3 of the US consumers has the ability to purchase renewable energy product. Policy drivers at the state level include REP and RE purchase requirements, Renewable energy funds (grants loans), tax incentives, State Government RE purchases, Net Metering, Disclosure and certification standards, energy certificates are

9. Example of energy farming where co-generation technologies are used to create power by growing clover sunflower and hay and produce energy and heat any yield 3 time the revenue per hector than conventional farming. Many additional examples of cogeneration were demonstrated through companies in the Philippians where waste is used to produce energy and heat

10. It is evident that the European communities are working together and developing initiatives to meet the targets of Kyoto. I you are interested in more detail I would be pleased to forward it. Attached is a positioning statement and where we would like to fit in.

Sincerely,
Sheldon Rempel
Earth Club Factory