Floods, Cyclones and Solar Panels

It's hard to not think of climate change with all the weather events we've had here.  Of course, no single event can be attributed to climate change.  It's the frequency and intensity of the events that's the indicator.  We've had floods in Queensland for years, almost everyone's heard the references to the 1974 floods.  This year the floods stretched from Rockhampton to Brisbane - a stretch of approx 800km.  The flash flood in Toowoomba is unthinkable because it sits on a tableland- mountain range- with no creeks or rivers at all. The town sits in a crater of an old volcano and all the water came from the sky only.

Then there's cyclone Yasi, a category 5 cyclone. Australians are an understated lot.  One fellow described the night saying, "Yeah..... it was a bit windy...." People who'd experienced serious cyclones before described it as being like nothing else they'd ever known.

I'm happy to be starting to do something practical with climate change.  I've recently been involved on a project to retro-fit energy efficient measures in our ageing apartment complex.  The LEDs are installed and the solar panels are being put into place next week.  The project is being documented by our local paper and film crew that the local council have organised, our story seems to be of particular interest.  I will publish details over the coming week, and when I can share the video footage.