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.
