Energy Trends in Africa: Will Africa be the Global Green Energy Leader?

Why you should attend this webinar:

•Understand the issues associated with oil and gas exploration
•Gain a realistic understanding of the growth opportunities for drilling
•Recognize the future for water treatment companies in the United States oil and gas industry
•Learn more about one of the most talked about industries in North America

It is zero hour for a new US water policy! At a time when many countries are adopting new national approaches to water management, the United States still has no cohesive federal policy, and water-related authorities are dispersed across more than 30 agencies. Here, at last, is a vision for what we as a nation need to do to manage our most vital resource. In this book, leading thinkers at world-class water research institution the Pacific Institute present clear and readable analysis and recommendations for a new federal water policy to confront our national and global challenges at a critical time.

What exactly is at stake? In the 21st century, pressures on water resources in the United States are growing and conflicts among water users are worsening. Communities continue to struggle to meet water quality standards and to ensure that safe drinking water is available for all. And new challenges are arising as climate change and extreme events worsen, new water quality threats materialize, and financial constraints grow. Yet the United States has not stepped up with adequate leadership to address these problems.

The inability of national policymakers to safeguard our water makes the United States increasingly vulnerable to serious disruptions of something most of us take for granted: affordable, reliable, and safe water. This book provides an independent assessment of water issues and water management in the United States, addressing emerging and persistent water challenges from the perspectives of science, public policy, environmental justice, economics, and law. With fascinating case studies and first-person accounts of what helps and hinders good water management, this is a clear-eyed look at what we need for a 21st century U.S. water policy.

This session will focus on the completed projects of two design firms. These case studies will highlight the innovative solutions that both firms deploy in their efforts to reduce fresh water use and waste-water run-off. The panelists are Lisa Petterson of SERA Architects Inc. and Jeffrey Miller of Miller Company Landscape Architects. The specific projects they will present are described below. Each panelist will share how water conservation measures where achieved in their projects, the measured impact of these solutions and lessons-learned that impacted their future work. The session will end with questions from attendees.

In 2008, SERA Architects was commissioned to design a high-rise multi-family development to meet the then newly released Living Building Challenge Standard. The team recognized that Net Zero Water would be particularly challenging due to the water needs of a residential building. We applied for a grant to identify regulatory barriers project teams would face when creating Living Buildings. In the undertaking, we found ourselves doing more than just identifying barriers. Ultimately the team’s work resulted in passage of three alternate methods to the state building code and a house bill which legalized the use of rainwater and graywater in Oregon. As a result of these policy changes, the team is celebrating completion of one of the largest rainwater collection projects in Oregon and is now designing what will be one of the largest rainwater-to-potable systems ever built.

Miller Company Landscape Architects is an award-winning landscape architecture firm located in San Francisco. Case study projects illustrated in this presentation include over 20 green school yards the firm has designed and built in San Francisco. These projects include independent and public schools commissioned by SFUSD, SFPUC and include edible and native gardens, rainwater catchment systems and educational components.

Generating electricity requires significant quantities of water, primarily for cooling. This demand can be particularly challenging at a local level representing in many cases a community’s single largest consumer. In addition, wastewater from these facilities can have a significant impact on water quality within a region as well. Since 2003, the California Energy Commission evaluated new power plant proposals based on policies that encourage the use of degraded water supplies rather than fresh water by power facilities and where feasible, use zero liquid discharge systems to eliminate wastewater impacts. In addition, efforts to significantly increase the efficiency of water used by power facilities as resulted in significant reductions in overall water demand by new facilities as compared to older plants. This course will explore the water dependencies and efficiency opportunities associated with power plants and the policies that now govern this relationship in California.

From the beginning, water has been at the center of our lives. We choose to live by it, harness its energy, and certainly depend upon it for sustenance. Historically we collect our stormwater and whisk it away in the most expedient and efficient manner never stopping to consider its ability to make additional contributions. Over the last few decades and with increasing frequency, stormwater has been treated as the important resource it presents. Designers and artists, together with engineers and agencies are looking to celebrate stormwater’s presence in our communities through creative expression, interpretation, and the visible additions of green infrastructure. There are inspiring examples from around the world to motivate us to join efforts with our colleagues and our communities to make an impact and to celebrate water.

The global challenge of water stress and scarcity has been accentuated by the growing population, progressing water pollution and rapid economic development in the emerging regional markets. This is driving the demand for advanced water and wastewater treatment technologies and solutions, such as membrane systems, which established a $5.5 billion market size in 2012. It is one of the fastest-growing technology segments, witnessing double-digit growth rates. The increasing penetration of membrane systems across the water cycle has led to innovative management approaches, the improvement of water supply, treatment, conservation, as well as to the much-needed rise in reuse and recycling water.

Europe generated approximately 265 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2012, and the increasing volumes are attributed to packaging and food disposed from households. With an increasing concern about energy security, waste-to-energy plants have emerged as a sustainable practice to address the disposal of municipal solid waste and also generate energy. This briefing summaries the European Thermal Waste-to-Energy Plant sector from 2009 to 2016.

Why You Should Attend:
- Gain understanding of the WTE plant market in Europe
- Receive insight on a perceptible shift in the fuel mix from coal and nuclear power to alternate and renewable sources
- Discuss why, in Europe, more than three-quarters of 480 WTE plants are older than 10 years
- Understand why grate technology is still the most commonly used solution in Europe
- Discover how improving energy efficiencies and lowering air emissions will result in an increased use of process and automation

Our survey shows that sustainability is a priority for 7 out of 10 business leaders and the CBI estimates there is £20 billion potential in the market place. How can your business be a part of this growth in the economy?

Why You Should Attend:
· Receive an overview of the 2010-2012 municipal water and wastewater treatment infrastructure projects, including insights into new and existing industry challenges
· Discuss analysis into regional funding limitations and identification of regional growth opportunities, based on spending initiatives and infrastructure investments

The strategic importance of corporate water footprinting and management

Outline

This webinar, produced by Sustainable Business and edie.net, will examine how businesses can create product transparency, formulate specific and measurable targets to tackle water footprint reduction, and improvement performance that can turn water risk into a competitive advantage.

Considering and mitigating the water footprint of your business can reduce physical, reputational, regulatory and financial risks. And those companies that proactively respond to the challenge of global freshwater scarcity can turn that risk into an opportunity.

Cranfield University's reader in water management, Tim Hess will be joined by Sophie Flak, VP sustainable development at Accor and Inder Poonaji, head of safety, health and environment sustainability at Nestle to explore a number of themes, including:

- Using your water footprint activity to drive your overall sustainability strategy
- What can we learn from carbon footprinting activity
- Developing effective water use minimisation strategies,
- Managing water as a valuable asset and mitigating the effects of water shortages worldwide
- The need for global standards
- Taking it to the next level: supply-chain water footprinting

Contact:

Tom Idle
Tom.Idle@fav-house.com
+44 (0)208 651 7065

Will Parsons
Will.Parsons@fav-house.com
+44 (0)20 8651 7161