The machine developed for turning plastic waste into bricks is a great example of turning action that MUST be taken for the environment, into a business opportunity. It's like recycling waste heat and saving on electricity costs. Dunedin City Council Energy manager Neville Auton is already working on a few innovative ideas for creating enormous savings and efficiencies in Council operations. We need them! Indeed energy and its cost should be a focus of Council thinking into the future. It is one of only a few variables that determine the viability of businesses, industries and communities and will become much more important as energy costs inevitably rise. If Dunedin could get into a situation where our energy was not only increasingly renewable, but its costs were lower than other centres that would give us a competitive advantage in attracting businesses and residents.
It should be part of our long term vision for the city.
