Marlon Kobacker is a respected environmentalist who has made important contributions to sustainable development. He now leads the advisory firm Clean Energy Corporation Australia (CECA), which continues to make progress in renewable development initiatives.
Kobecker graduated from the University of New South Wales, earning a Masters’ Degree from its School of Renewable Engineering. After completing postgraduate work he turned to teaching, and developed a new course on Solar Architectural Technologies which is still taught today.
He later moved on to professional consultancy and has fulfilled a variety of project leadership roles with Cundal, Edge Environments, AECOM, and Arup. He speaks frequently at conferences on topics related to sustainable design and clean energy.
Kobacker has also authored numerous books and articles on these subjects.
He is now an internationally recognized expert in sustainable design who holds accreditations from both the US and Australian Green Building Councils, as well as the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia.
Kobacker recently took some time from his busy schedule to speak on sustainable development. Excerpt;
What is meant by “sustainable development”?
Sustainable development refers to building processes that meet environmental assurances. It’s based on the understanding that we need to function as a society that leaves a healthy environment and sufficient resources for future generations. With our dependence on fossil fuels and expanding power grids, we need to discover alternatives that will both meet our power needs and minimize environmental impact. Our economy, culture, and technology need to implement solutions that are fair to everyone.
Why is that so important?
If development is sustainable, it continues to provide benefits no matter how broadly it’s distributed. Without sustainable practices, we deplete native fossil fuels, add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, and face rising energy costs in maintaining complex infrastructures. The Industrial Revolution created an era of plenty, but people were slow to understand that this had a cost. With soaring populations, nature can’t go on absorbing our pollution. Sustainable development is essential to preserving our quality of life, and perhaps life itself.
What can green technologies do for us?
Green technology is the development of materials, processes, and equipment that can replace existing technologies having a negative impact on the environment. These new techniques will allow us to meet our needs while reducing the demand on natural resources. This will also lead to cleaner and safer conditions everywhere.
What kind of green technologies do we have today?
This is an exciting time, as there has been a lot of progress over the past few decades. One of our most promising alternatives is solar energy. By capturing the Sun’s energy, we can reduce or even eliminate our need for oil, coal, and gas. Solar power has been available since the 1970s, but only recently has the technology become much more efficient and affordable. Yesterday’s cumbersome silicon-based solar panels are now far surpassed by cells made from a material known as “CIGS” (copper indium gallium selenide).
Is it true we’re running out of fresh water?
Yes and no. This isn’t a present danger in many countries, but in arid regions of the world water is always precious. It’s an increasing concern as global warming and industrialization continue. Even in developed nations with safe drinking water, we constantly see stories about contaminants in public water sources. Growing populations and rising amounts of waste water are also a concern. It’s important for future generations that we find ways to conserve and recycle water.
How can we help?
Reducing wasteful habits is the first step. This means not just water conservation, but better methods for dealing with solid waste to reduce toxicity. Other sound practices include recycling and buying products made from recycled materials, as well as green products that don’t damage the environment. People can also support the development of new technologies such as fuel cells, electric cars, wind power, and other alternative energy sources both financially and socially.
Sustainable development means incorporating all of these green strategies into the design of new structures, both during and after construction. Alternative energies, sustainable materials, waste reduction, and water conservation will all contribute to future communities that will be healthier and more sustainable well into the future.
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