Eco-conference encourages diversification of activities

"Our primary intentions in running this eco-conference were to encourage companies currently engaged in 'green' activities to diversify their scope of activities, as well as keep our dealers informed of the latest trends and opportunities in the market. The eco-friendly movement is rapidly gaining momentum, and we believe that companies stand to gain by enlarging their offerings through providing a range of solutions," comments Wil Jansen, a director of Alliance.

After a welcome by Jansen and Graeme Takis of Fourways, Michael McKechnie, Divisional Head: Digital Air at Samsung Electronics, sketched a broad overview of Samsung's eco-living activities in the airconditioning and heat pump fields.

Details of Samsung's Eco Home and TDM Systems were presented by Samsung's Robert Larkan, while Nancy Waterson, also of Samsung, outlined the advantages of the new Triangle airconditioning range. Tomsong Chen and Frankie Wu, from the international factory manufacturing Alliance Heat Pumps, presented information on the upgraded domestic heat pump unit and introduced the new Alliance commercial sizes that would be available soon.

Clear-cut vision

A highlight of the eco-conference was a motivational talk by Peter van Kets, one of South Africa's top adventurers and international inspirational speakers, who had just returned from an unsupported race across Antarctica to the South Pole commemorating Scott's and Amundsen's race of 100 years ago. Van Kets highlighted the importance of having a clear-cut vision and well-planned strategies to successfully run a business, as well as the need to adapt these strategies to suit changing business conditions.

Other presentations included the tax incentive CL12 by Frikkie Malan of Energy Cybernetics, while James Hilburn of Eco Navitas described various funding models available for green projects. Peter Muller of PMC then closed the day with a summary of the new National Building Regulations from an architect's perspective.