MINISTER OPENS NEW FACILITY FOR A SUSTAINABLE LIGHTING FUTURE


Environmental Panorama
International
July of 2008


17 July 2008 - Environment Minister Peter Garrett today opened a new facility for the development of leading edge technology for improving energy efficiency in lighting.

The BluGlass facility in Silverwater, Sydney, houses the development of unique technology aimed at sharply reducing the cost of highly efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs) - key to a sustainable lighting future.

“Yesterday the Government released its Green Paper on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme to tackle climate change by reducing carbon pollution. Improving our energy efficiency, including through improved lighting, will be essential in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.

“Light emitting diodes are already in use in countless applications including traffic signals, mobile phone screens, and street lighting and offer a more efficient, less energy intensive alternative to traditional forms of lighting.

“They will play an increasingly important role in the future of lighting worldwide, including in our homes,” Mr Garrett said. “The BluGlass process is an Australian innovation, and advances in this area by this leading edge company will make significant inroads in reducing the costs of LEDs.”

BluGlass was created from research at Sydney’s Macquarie University. In 2007 the Australian Government awarded BluGlass a $5 million grant to progress its innovative technology.

Mr Garrett said lighting currently represented around 25 per cent of greenhouse emissions from the commercial sector and around 12 per cent of emissions from households.

“Changing your lighting is a quick, easy way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save on energy bills. The work being done here at BluGlass will help ensure the future viability and affordability of LEDs.”

Mr Garrett said the Government had accelerated the phase-out of traditional incandescent light globes on World Environment Day this year, and import bans on the inefficient globes would come into effect from November 2008, with the support of the lighting industry.

“With residential energy use expected to grow by 56 per cent from 11000 to 2020, the accelerated phase out is part of a suite of measures the Government will take to help householders take practical action to tackle climate change, reduce energy usage and save money.”

Mr Garrett said the Government had committed more than $1 billion through the Budget for energy efficiency including:

??low interest loans to assist families to invest in water and energy savings
??assistance for landlords to install insulation in rental homes
??the expansion of labelling and new standards for energy-efficient appliances, and
??grants of up to $50,000 to make every Australian school a solar school through the
National Solar Schools Program.
“Action to tackle climate change can begin at home and I commend the work of innovators like BluGlass in helping provide Australians with the tools for action.”

+ More

'NATIONAL LANDSCAPES' PROGRAM TO INCLUDE

14 July, 2008 - AUSTRALIAN ALPS - The Australian Government today announced the Australian Alps will be included in Tourism Australia's National Landscapes program and will feature prominently within Australia's future international tourism marketing.

The National Landscapes program highlights the visitor experiences offered by Australia’s distinctive natural and cultural environments and is aimed at attracting Tourism Australia's key target market - 'experience seekers' - who are travellers of all ages who share a passion for experiencing new adventures and destinations which enable them to engage with a local culture.

Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP told the ACT Tourism Industry Council: "The program is to promote Australian landscapes which will be major drawcards for international visitors because of their natural and cultural values.

"This initiative will package an elite set of distinctively Australian natural experiences which can now be marketed on the international stage. The regions included in this unique program are set to develop an international profile which will attract high-yielding, long-stay, visitors.

"The program provides a foundation for regional tourism businesses, local governments and national park authorities to collaborate in developing and enhancing quality accommodation, food, art/craft, information and experience-based products, services and infrastructure that capitalise on the natural and cultural attractions of these unique Australian regions.

"Regional tourism businesses have a great opportunity to benefit from Tourism Australia's marketing of the National Landscapes program.

"By the same token, we need their innovation and cooperation to make the program a real success.

"The Australian Alps region has been included as it is one of Australia’s most unique natural areas, covering 1.6 million hectares of protected wilderness. Our alpine and sub-alpine environments are a dramatic contrast to the well-known images overseas of the Australian Outback and the region offers a tremendous variety of visitor experiences and possesses a rich Indigenous and European cultural heritage, an abundance of natural diversity, and spectacular wilderness.

"They are also home to Australia's greatest ever engineering project – the Snowy Hydro – which was built by migrants from all over the world – those migrants are responsible for the rich diversity of Australia's music, food, art, religious and cultural traditions today."

Minister for the Environment, Heritage, and the Arts, the Honourable Peter Garrett said: "Australia is home to some of the greatest natural wonders and the national Landscapes Program provides us with an opportunity to celebrate them with the world.

"Nearly two thirds of inbound tourists seek an Australian nature experience and the National Landscapes program demonstrates how properly managing and taking care of our environmental and cultural assets can bring enormous long-term economic benefit to these regions and the broader economy.

“Australia’s national parks play a vital role in the future health of our tourism economy as so many of our world-renown tourism experiences are provided within their borders."

For further information on the National Landscapes Program, visit www.australia.com.

 
 

Source: Australian - Department of the Environment and Heritage
Australian Alps National Park
Australian Antarctic Division
Press consultantship
All rights reserved

 
 
 
 

 

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