Watching Our Carbs [28th March 2008]

[28th March 2008]

This is a report written by Cheryl Stevens, intern to Lord Taylor, on the Carbon Trust reception.

The Carbon Trust Parliamentary Reception was held on the 10th of March on the House of Commons Terrace. The main purposes of the event were to discuss reducing carbon in the economy and to display current innovations that help lower carbon emissions. This may sound boring but I promise that it is not! This event was very informative. I had fun learning about these new inventions.

When I arrived, I saw some displays for inventions. My tour began with the low carbon combustion engines and compressors table. I had an engaging conversation with inventor Steve Lindsey, Technical Director of Lontra (www.lontra.co.uk). During our discussion I discovered that the particular compressor he showed me could actually be made to fit into anything as small as a refrigerator to something as big as a ship! It is quite remarkable. He let me test out this creation and we got our photograph taken in the process. It was interesting that turning tiny knobs could make the product work. While at this table, I also met Dr. Garry Staunton, Technology Director at Carbon Trust (www.carbontrust.co.uk). We spoke briefly about those inventions Carbon Trust helps such as Mr. Lindsey’s compressor. Tadj Oreszczyn, Professor of Energy and Environment at University College London, joined our conversation. He told me about heat loss within houses due to party walls and how he is researching and working towards preventing this. I found it is a common issue in buildings yet many of us overlook it.

Will Gibson, Director of Telensa Communications showed me his street lighting device. I did not know what to expect as I have always assumed all street lights served one purpose, to light the street. However, these particular lights correspond with a central controlling device that helps the lights save energy. They can monitor the amount of light used, communicate with other devices and adjust lighting for the time of day. Who would have ever guessed a light could ‘think’ for itself? And then I met Dennis Loveday, Professor of Building Physics at Loughborough University. He helped with an interesting innovation, a new form of air conditioning for buildings. Good news for Texas! It is a mechanism where drops of water filter through ceiling tiles and cool rooms, without the large expense of traditional air conditioning.

Peter Bance is CEO of a company Carbon Trust has worked with called CeresPower (www.cerespower.com). He explained that fuel cell work is at the heart of what they do. CeresPower started seven years ago. They have since built their foundations and are continuing to succeed. It seems as though CeresPower has been successful in getting its message across. Mr. Bance told us that British Gas is a major corporate investment with a forward order of Ј100million. I thought to myself, “Ј100million!? They mean business!” I am looking forward to hearing about them in the United States.

Tom Delay, CEO of Carbon Trust, spoke about how we must move to a low carbon economy for the future. This whole reception has actually taught me this useful lesson. Everywhere I turn, I find new ways to lower carbon. Mr. Delay believes Carbon Trust sees the opportunities that unveil, not the costs and risks associated with those opportunities. He also mentioned the vital areas where they support business such as insight activity, which helps to clarify prospects dealing with lowering carbon and climate change. Other areas include business solutions, innovations, corporate venturing, and investments.

Alan South, Chief Innovation Officer at Solarcentury (www.solarcentury.com) spoke with me after the speeches about his company’s solar panels. They help to ensure buildings and homes are built greener by installing solar panelling for roofs. This made me think houses and buildings may be as interesting as the solar-panelled London City Hall. The panelling reduces carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. During the daytime, the sun shines on the panels and adapts it to become electricity for the building or home. Excess energy is saved and can be used at night. I immediately thought how crucial this invention is for the USA. Soon after, Mr. South informed me that they are, if fact, in the process of trying to get their invention to the USA.

I met Dr. Andrew Dunster BSc PhD CChem MRSC, Principal Consultant of Construction Materials at BRE (www.bre.co.uk). I was very impressed by the list of degrees on his business card. His company works to help build an environmentally friendly world, specialising in areas such as testing and consulting. Dr. Dunster showed me cement blocks they have created with low energy calcium sulfoaluminate. These cements go through specialised manufacturing processes to reduce their use of carbon dioxide emissions. Never did I ever think that I would be learning about (and lifting!) cement blocks in parliament! As funny as it is, this invention does help the environment which is always a plus in my book.

Paul Cullen CEng in Product Management at CeresPower explained their fuel cells to me. They were small square disks that could fit in my back pocket. Each uses hydrogen and oxygen to covert to necessary energies. They can be piled together and the more there are, the more powerful the cells are. It is this process that has gained CeresPower the reputation it has today.

I enjoyed my time at the Carbon Trust Reception. Since I will be studying environmental law, I found the innovations and their purposes very inspiring. If I were to change anything about this event it would be to have given a list of the companies and innovations that were going to be present. Such a list would have given me a better understanding of these products before attending.