In Control

If challenged I will vehemently deny being a Greenie (of the big-G variety, at least), but maybe, just maybe I am becoming a small-g greenie. I am not about to join any band of duffel coat clad tree-huggers (do they still wear duffel coats?). However, I must admit I am seriously concerned about big picture environmental issues like global warming and the tightening water crisis here in Australia. In particular it concerns me that so many powerful people still deny the dangers of excessive CO₂ emissions from vehicles and coal fired power stations.

I am also worried that so much of the debate, so many of the arguments, are based on what amounts to little more than superstition, hearsay and cynical manipulation of public opinion based on political/economic expediency (so what's new?). Take the case of an Australian Government minister attempting to disallow a windfarm because of the risk to an endangered species, the orange bellied parrot. It turned out to be a load of baloney, and the minister eventually had to back down. The real reason for his decision was that this was a marginal electorate etc., etc ... (you know how it works!). Of course, when he was found out he resigned in disgrace (Sorry, bad joke. Government ministers don't resign over major blunders any more, do they?).

The result of all this is that the truth is drowned out by the noise of cynicism and ignorance. Things get done that should not be done and things fail to be done that desperately need to be done. In the long run our planet, our children and our grand children will suffer the consequences.

My early childhood was in post-war (WWII, that is!) Britain. We were a far from wealthy household. I remember clearly how in our family we had things that were a permanent part of the household - things like potato peelers and dish brushes, crockery and linen. These things simply were. A potato peeler or dish brush would last for year after year, and it was quite an event if one had to be replaced. Take the dish brush. It was made with a wooden handle and real bristles. The red paint would gradually peel off, reducing it to bare wood, but that brush would just keep on going. It was so familiar and comfortable it was practically a member of the family.

Fast forward 50 years or so.

We have a program on Australia's national TV broadcaster the ABC, called The New Inventors. A remarkable "first" happened tonight. One of our customers, Brian Gay, became the first inventor to appear twice with his inventions. And both his inventions rely on SPLat controllers!.

The first invention appeared about a year ago. It is called Suspense and is an kind of aquatic exercise tank.

The other invention, featured on TV tonight, is Brian's water conservation shower, Quench. The Quench shower uses a unique recirculation system to allow you to take long, hot showers without squandering vast amounts of water, and with an saving in energy of up to 70% or more. Quench won the Housing Industries Association "2007 Best new product award".

".. SPLat Controls is a sound company with highly professional engineering and excellent quality production. Their contribution to the success of our companies has been most significant." - Brian Gay, HydroCo, Australia

You can see movies of both these products in action.

Projects using SPLat have been featured on TV twice this week! The day before yesterday it was Brian Gay's watery inventions. Last night it was the new Melbourne City Council office building, known as CH2. It was featured on Catalyst, a weekly, highly regarded science show on ABC, our national broadcaster.

CH2 is an amazing office building that works with the environment rather than against it. It uses about 85% less energy and 70% less water than conventional office buildings. Architect Mick Pearce looked to termites for inspiration for the HVAC design of the building. Termites keep their nests at around 30°C (85°F) - despite outside temperatures varying between 40°C (105°F) in the day and below freezing at night. Pearce uses a whole array of methods to make the building thermally efficient, including intelligent opening and closing of windows to make maximum use of natural air movement and cooling.

Australia's ABC television just aired an incredible documentary about oil, where it comes from and what burning it is doing to our planet. They have posted the whole program here. It makes a very convincing case for why and how our planet could soon be plunged into a runaway super greenhouse effect.