The cost and provision of energy has been a vigorously debated issue in Australia throughout recent years. Australia has the unique challenge of providing power to remote locations across a vast stretch of land. These geographical concerns are coupled with the fact that electricity demand is set to increase by almost 50% between now and 2030 ⁽¹⁾.  Since the federal Government announced plans to introduce a CPRS there has been increasing concern from consumer groups about the associated price rises that could accompany the scheme. However, with the CPRS showing no signs of getting off the ground, consumer advocates are questioning why energy prices have already experienced notable increases. 

A number of our members have raised concerns in regard to the payment of Green Loans invoices by the government within the promised 30 days of raising. The following article in todays Age newspaper examines this issue, and states:

Despite assurances that extra staff would ensure deadlines were met, an industry survey this month found 93 per cent of assessors were waiting more than the promised month to be paid. A third said it took more than two months; nearly one in 10 more than three months.

Green Loan Scheme Puts Assessors in the Red The Age 16th April 2010

LOHAS may be the biggest market you’ve never heard of encompassing goods and services ranging from organic food, energy efficient appliances and solar panels, to alternative medicine, yoga tapes and eco-tourism. New York Times

Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Gen Yers, health food aficionados, and LOHAS consumers. LO-what consumers???

As I discovered recently, the LOHAS sector is the biggest market I’d “never heard about”. That was until I stumbled across a marketing research organisation called Mobium Group, who put out a regular report called “Living LOHAS”. It’s a comprehensive annual research report that provides an up-to-date fact base on consumer and social trends in Australia relating to sustainability, natural health and wellness.

There has been remarkable innovation in the renewable energy sector over the past decade with a range of technologies being researched and subsequently developed. A key aspect of the renewable energy solution has proven to be the use of small scale solar power generation. In Australia, there has been an emphasis placed on retro fitting Photo Voltaic (PV) systems onto existing homes to reduce the demand for fossil fuel based energy production.

It’s been flabbergasting the amount of negative stories that are being uncovered with the various federal government environmental programs, which is adding an unfortunate darker shade to what were seen to be ‘green’ initiatives.

Sustainability refers to the ability of human society to persist in the long term in a manner that satisfies human development demands but without threatening the integrity of the natural world or society. It’s an aspiration. It provides direction.