Environmentally friendly
Innovative solutions tackling pollution, energy efficiency, renewable energies, green buildings and smart electricity grids were among recent entries in the Australian Clean Technologies Ideas Competition.
Concepts that could considerably impact households include a patented, proven and highly energy-efficient, low-cost air conditioning technology that reduces AC energy consumption by 30-85 per cent (from SMAC Technologies) and a way to combine existing roofing and solar products to produce a cheap, efficient solar concentrator (submitted by SolMax).
Announcing the finalists, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said all entries highlighted the world-class calibre of Australian business creativity.
"This competition encourages developing high-tech, high-skill businesses to reduce our reliance on carbon and boost energy efficiency", Senator Carr said.
"More than 25,000 Australians are employed in our clean technology industries, which were worth $22 billion in 2010.
"The development of clean technology ideas such as those submitted to this competition will grow these industries, creating new jobs, new products and new markets", he added.
The winner will be announced on 6 October 2011 and will then represent Australia at the international Cleantech Open Global Ideas Competition in the United States, competing against entrants from 90 countries.
