Press Release: 16 October 2007

Switching to renewable energies relies on harnessing people power

Frustrated by politicians’ lack of progress in addressing climate change, despite the increasing number of opportunities and increasing urgency for action, communities are ready to put into practice renewable energy solutions that are available now.

What is missing, according to international strategic solutions consultants Karen Faerber and Philip Hall, is a common framework that underpins and unites the energy strategies and solutions not only for communities in regional Australia, but for all Australia.

Speaking at the Renewable Energy and Regional Australia Conference in Bendigo recently, Ms Faerber, from Faerber Hall’s US office, says that communities are eager to support policy measures to accelerate development of available low-emission technologies. “Governments, however, have been slow to move away from energy policies and practices that maintain 'business as usual'. The pressure required to overcome the political inertia must, therefore, come from community activity.”

“Driving the change from the bottom up makes use of the most abundant and powerful of all renewable energies – the will of people to embrace change. Local governments and community organisations are best placed to advocate change in behaviours that focus on how we produce and consume energy. They are also best placed to reward changes in behaviour, encouraging a steady increase in the occurrence of such changes. If such programs are consistent and persistent, the adoption of these new behaviours will build to that critical mass at which change no longer occurs gradually, but occurs dramatically – a tipping point.”

Mr. Hall, a native of Bendigo and co-presenter at the Conference, suggests that the widespread adoption of renewable energy solutions can be brought about in a relatively short timeframe. “By putting in place a common framework through which desired changes in people’s behaviour can be identified and weighted, and the performance toward their achievement can be assessed, rated, monitored and rewarded, we can more quickly reach the rate of change that will make a difference to the environmental issues we are facing. The PE²RL^® Index system provides us with such a framework”.

The PE²RL^® Index, which stands for "Personalised Environment & Energy Responsible Living", is an assessment and rating system developed by Faerber Hall for use by governments and organisations as a framework to facilitate a gradual, informed change in the overall behaviour of citizens and employees, including the move to new practices such as renewable energy technologies.

The system, based on Faerber Hall’s experience in defining practical strategies for managing the risk of change, business transformation, and sustainable development, provides a framework on which we can think and talk about action, monitor and assess progress of action, and encourage and enable action at all levels of the community.

According to Ms Faerber and Mr Hall, the PE²RL^® Index system not only provides a basis for facilitating conscious and committed change, but also provides a means for monitoring and evaluating the progress of change, thus giving individuals, organisations, businesses and governments a mechanism for regular feedback on their performance and achievements.

“The more consistently we advocate and reward such changes in each behaviour, the quicker we will reach the tipping point for each behaviour, and the more behaviours that reach their tipping point, the quicker we will reach that critical mass at which change no longer occurs gradually, but occurs dramatically. Once the tipping point for the adoption of renewable energy solutions has been reached, the changed behaviour becomes the norm and can be sustained.”

Faerber Hall is currently in discussion with a major Australian regional city and a global not-for-profit environmental organisation with a view to piloting the PE²RL^® Index in four cities, one each in Australia, China, the UK and USA.

For more information on the PE²RL^® Index system, please contact Philip Hall at Faerber Hall in Australia +61(0)417-595-501, in the US +1-734-678-2056, at philip@faerberhall.com or visit the Faerber Hall website at http://www.faerberhall.com/.

FAERBER HALL PROFILE

Karen Faerber and Philip Hall are strategic solution consultants with over 60 years combined experience across business, science, and technology. They leverage their expertise and extensive years of experience to provide a wide range of strategic management services and deliver realistic solutions that address the unique issues faced by their clients.

Through their company entity, Faerber Hall (a registered consultancy in Australia and the United States), they have worked internationally with a wide variety of public and private sector organisations across a broad range of industries.

Recent engagements include consultant to the Australian Government for development of the Project Implementation Strategy and Plan for the $68.9m Government initiative to provide a comprehensive tsunami warning system for Australia, and serving as Project Director for the South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Monitoring Project – an $8m project sponsored by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) involving 12 South Pacific Island countries.

Karen and Philip are currently collaborating with the UNFCCC and IPCC on the development of practical adaptation strategies for dealing with the impacts of climate change in the South Pacific.

They are also writing and presenting on a wide range of topics, including practical strategies for achieving sustainable business performance, integration strategies for renewable energy solutions, cascading effects of climate adaptation strategies, and practical strategies for the development and implementation of emergency management capabilities.