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A world with limitless energy, how to become a sustainable leader & the future of Google Lens

Your one-stop-shop for this week's tech, energy, sustainability and IoT news.
Hark Friday Five

Here’s what we’ve got for you this week:

  • How limitless green energy would change the world
  • Energy crisis: Plan for three-hour power blackouts to prioritise heating in event of gas shortages
  • Six Ways To Be A Sustainable Leader
  • Renewable energy offset global rise in fossil fuel use in first half of 2022
  • 5 Future Scenarios for Google Lens

How limitless green energy would change the world

windmill turbines stood in evening sun

Green energy may be limitless, but certainly not limitless without cost. Green energy’s success depends on people’s willingness to adopt the technology in the first place. At the same time, constraints in energy, water and other natural resources will bring about new and difficult-to-manage instabilities.

Current electricity generation – primarily by fossil fuels – is the single biggest contributor to climate change. Green energy could represent a radical deviation from business-as-usual, promising a path towards zero-carbon emissions. But limitless green energy could also lead to a world of increased waste and shortages.

Energy crisis: Plan for three-hour power blackouts to prioritise heating in event of gas shortages

Power blackouts could be imposed in some areas in the “unlikely” event of gas shortages. National Grid’s Electricity System Operator (ESO) urges households to help manage their energy use. Energy management is something individuals and businesses need to take seriously this winter, and that has to begin with energy monitoring.

The Energy Supply and Demand Outlook (ESO) for 2014/15 has become gloomier than the rosy early view report in July. It saw LNG (liquefied natural gas) from the US and Qatar acting as the new primary source of supply flexibility.

Six Ways To Be A Sustainable Leader

Sustainability is a challenging goal to achieve, and often there isn’t a dedicated role for it but rather, people need to step up and choose to become a voice of advocacy in the workplace. Leaders can advocate for policies and practices that support a more sustainable future. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so don’t be afraid to try new things. Communicate your efforts to your employees, customers, and other stakeholders. Transparency is key to building trust and credibility.

Continuously strive to improve your sustainability practices over time. If you want your employees to recycle, make sure bins are available and it’s easy to do! This kind of sustainable practice helps to cultivate a better, more sustainable work environment.

Renewable energy offset global rise in fossil fuel use in first half of 2022

Wind and solar power met more than three-quarters of the demand in electricity growth this year. This prevented a possible 4% increase in fossil fuel generation. It also saved £35bn and 230m tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, an energy think tank has said.

If ever there was hard evidence of the benefits of renewables, here it is.

5 Future Scenarios for Google Lens

Image credit: Google

In May, Google CEO Sundar Pichai predicted a future with augmented reality accessed without a smartphone. That said, Lou Wang says phones and desktop computers will continue to dominate the present – so no need to plug into the matrix just yet.

Predictions are illustrative but suggest things like “Hiking Trails Guided by AR” will start to become popular using Google Lens.

That’s everything for this weeks Hark Friday Five, thanks for reading – we’ll see you next week.

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