Crisis and opportunity

As we’re all aware, there has been a lot of negative publicity related to the roll-out of the Green Loans program and subsequent changes with the administration of the scheme (see the relevant post updates).

It would be very easy for us to thrust our hands in the air and say, ‘we’re all doomed,’ but it doesn’t necessarily need to turn out that way. I strongly believe the skills we’ve gained will continue to be in demand.

Why? Firstly, prices (gas, electricity, water) are on the increase. Homeowners want to know what they can do as rising prices begin to eat into the household budget. Irrespective of what the Government is doing, there is a genuine business niche to help identify real cost savings.

People still need to be encouraged to act responsibly and empowered to make sustainable choices in the home because it reduces waste and helps stabilise bills. Household sustainability assessors provide a service with value and this presents a genuine user-pays opportunity.

Secondly, the ‘bigger picture’ scenario is a very real one: economic fundamentals are changing. The foundations of current Western models of industrial and economic systems have origins in the industrial revolution way back in the 1800’s. This was a time where labour was scarce and natural resources abundant and relatively free for the taking.

We’re now moving into an era where there is an abundant supply of global labour, but a shrinking supply of natural capital. We see it in fresh water restrictions, losses of biodiversity, resource shortages, excessive deforestation, pollution of waterways and air, increasing waste into landfill, not to forget the other frightening predictions related to the impacts of climate change.

Success in overcoming these challenges requires an articulate vision for the future, pursued with all the ingenuity that can be mustered to upgrade current 'business as usual' approaches.

The changing pattern of scarcity is creating a new economic revolution, requiring a profound transformation in our thinking and in the way resources, goods and services are produced, consumed, recycled and disposed of. Consequently, another revolution is taking shape, one based on the principles of sustainable development.

Put simply, we have to become smarter and more responsible with our natural resource use. While it's going to offer immense challenges, it’s also providing opportunities for those with the foresight and courage to tap into it. We’re the first-movers into this area as household assessors. Let’s start focusing on how we can turn this to our advantage.

We cannot sit idle and rely only on the Government to push the program and create employment, especially with the continuing hiccups being experienced in the sector. We need to take control of the agenda and begin focusing on how to develop this into a user-pays activity and source new areas of work at the State and local council level. Surviving as a new business is always challenging, no matter what the market.

Green Professionals is here to help as best we can during this challenging time.

Please refer to our technical library for a growing list of useful information and resources to get the key fundamentals of your business right and give yourself every chance of success.