Carbon War Room Conference Results
- By Hannah Mahony -
- Sep 25, 2012
The Carbon War Room’s 2012 Creating Climate Wealth conference that took place last week in Berlin has since disclosed the fantastic results and solutions that were produced from the discussions and debates from the two day event. Below are the issues that were tackled in each session alongside the produced solutions:
Distributed Energy Generation
Issue: Distributed renewable generation offers particular benefits to remote applications, but potential users aren’t switching due to complexity, finance, and risk.
Solution: “Richard Branson’s 10 Island 100% Renewable Challenge” Multiple millions invested in distributed generation renewable projects via a risk assessment tool which includes both large insurers and financial institutions, increasing the attractiveness of these investments, building political capital for island nations and creating local wealth.
Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment
Issue: Though they generate major savings, energy efficiency upgrade projects in Germany are currently seen as risky, unsexy, difficult, and hard to finance.
Solution: “Green Ripple” – Hotels as pollination points. Showcase solutions, make efficiency cool to the clientele that stay in the hotel, show that upgrades can be done, earn a profit for the hotels, and serve as an aggregation point for the tech providers.
Finance and Investment
Issue: “Sustainable” investments are struggling to attract capital because they are seen as risky, low ROI, and difficult to properly assess or analyze.
Solution: “Climate Wealth Portal” – Harness the potential of social enterprise and aggregate existing data to create a useful and credible online investment tool for sustainable investments. Track investment, demonstrate returns, and drive up demand.
Industrial Energy Efficiency
Issue: Industrial efficiency technologies exist but lack demand – people are in a hurry, they don’t care, they are confused, and they can’t afford the retrofits.
Solution: “The Carbon Rating Agency” – Apply efficiency grades to all companies in the supply chain. Appoint Chief Energy Efficiency Officers.” Create a transparent forum for sharing best practices. Make efficiency key to staying competitive and relevant.
Maritime Shipping
Issue: Many shipping efficiency technologies exist but it is hard to tell how much is gained from any single one f them, plus they are expensive.
Solution: “Major Tom’s Blowtorch” – Install technologies in stages so that results can be guaranteed. The current financial market for shipping in Germany will allow rapid payback and an influx of venture capital.
Trucking and Transport Logistics
Issue: Trucks waste a lot of fuel and a lot of money by driving empty or half full.
Solution: “Full Trucks Empty Streets” – A real-time route optimization system for data sharing, involving collaboration between telecoms and IT companies, supply chain managers, and logistics companies large and small. The platform will match customers with goods to ship with trucks that have spare room.
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By Hannah Mahony. Social engagement executive, Virgin Group Digital. Tweets @hannahmahony
