by Michael Smith
Kew, London, UK: The evening of Tuesday, October 21, 2008, saw the launch of ecoConnect, a new dynamic, green technology business facilitator, at Kew Gardens, which was probably the best venue for such an event, in more than one way.
ecoConnect’s objective is to help promote and commercialize innovative, transformational green technology to the UK’s corporate and business world.
Such technological solutions will be showcased through regular events in London and across the UK.
The ecoConnect online portal will provide news and information on all aspects of green technology in addition to partnership opportunities, contacts and business reviews.
Robert Hokin, Chief Executive of ecoConnect, says: “Environmentally-friendly technology is the key to reducing our carbon footprint. The launch of ecoConnect will promote creative and innovative technological solutions and make them widely available in the UK and elsewhere. There is clearly a hunger within the UK’s business community to implement eco technology and there are scores of practical solutions and great ideas but unless they find a pragmatic way to market many will disappear without a trace. It is ecoConnect’s job to help integrate green technology into our lives. We may blame past technology for creating today’s environmental challenges but I am absolutely convinced that green technology will help us shape a better future.”
Zac Goldsmith, ecologist, Editor of the Ecologist magazine and also the MP for Richmond, gave the keynote speech at the event.
In his little inaugural address Zac, basically, more or less, said that even if CO2 would have no affect on Climate Change and it be, more or less, a natural even or even a non-event, we still need to do all the things that we are talking about doing now, that is to say, reducing our reliance and dependence on fossil fuels and getting away from this dependence altogether. In the same way that we must reduce the waste mountain as we have (1) run out of holes in the ground and (2) cannot simply carry on wasting resources as we do presently.
The event provided all of those that attended an opportunity to look at a number of exciting examples of green innovation. Among transport innovations on show was the hydrogen fuel cell ENV motorcycle – displayed in the hall - and the Lightning Electric Car, which was stationed just outside the entrance.
In addition to that attendees were able to see the latest e-book readers by Libresco, which are made in the Netherlands.
morsbags.com, sociable guerrilla bagging, also was present with a lovely tote bag made from recycled fabric for every visitor. Not that everyone took up that offer. morsbags.com on their website give away the pattern and instructions for people to be able to make their own bags, for personal use, as well as for sociable guerrilla bagging action on the streets.
Also on display was one of the most innovative hand dryers for lavatories and kitchens that work without heat and such and the warm air is produced by compression – a little like the heat that is cased by compression of air in a bicycle pump.
It was good to see those innovations in the “green” and sustainability field and we need more of those, in order to become sustainable in all we do.
We must make green technology integral to our world and ecoConnect, as far as I can see, is going to be a vehicle to make this happen.
I am sure all of us wish ecoConnect the best and look forward to hear and see more of their work.
© M Smith (Veshengro), October 2008
<>
EcoConnect Launch at Kew Gardens
