Frances Nicolas
Organization: cool nrg International
Year Founded: 2007
Country: Australia
Website: www.coolnrg.com
Cool nrg designs, develops and delivers innovative energy efficiency action that reaches millions of consumers worldwide, resulting in large cuts in CO2 while reducing the cost of energy bills. Focus: Energy, Environment Geographic Area of Impact: Global Model: Social Business Percentage Earned Revenue: 100% Recognition: Schwab Fellow of the World Economic Forum Background The global fight against climate change has evolved to become the most pressing challenge of our times. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that CO2 emissions must fall between 50-80% by 2050 to avoid dangerous climate change. According to the International Energy Agency, two-thirds of emissions reductions will have to come from cutting energy demand. And yet the search for effective solutions has focused on costly and long-term responses to the problem – nuclear power, large-scale renewables and “clean” coal – that may not deliver significant reductions for many years. Projected investment in action directed at tackling energy supply accounts for between 80-90% of the total, just 10% aimed at reducing demand; energy efficiency has the capacity to cut the equivalent of 25% of global emissions. In addition to tackling climate change, the great win of energy efficiency when aimed at consumers is its potential in reducing heating and lighting costs for the poorest members of society. Innovation and Activities Cool nrg International designs, develops and delivers innovative energy efficiency action that reaches millions of consumers worldwide and results in large cuts in CO2 while reducing the cost of energy bills. Its broad business strategies are to: create high profile climate action campaigns; undertake mass distributions of free energy-saving devices; reach millions of consumers with energy and cost saving campaigns; use and adapt existing regulatory frameworks to deliver residential energy efficiency programmes; campaign to create or shape regulatory frameworks to deliver rapid action on climate change through energy efficiency; develop strategic media, supply and distribution partners; and create significant leadership, brand and financial value for programme partners. Cool nrg is a world leader in energy efficiency under the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Its Luz Verde project, which will distribute 30 million energy-saving light bulbs across Mexico, is the first of its kind approved under the CDM. The project will cut 7 million tons of carbon emissions, and has Gold Standard accreditation in recognition of its anti-poverty and sustainable development outcomes. The Entrepreneur Nic Frances is founder and executive chairman of Cool nrg International. A former stockbroker, Nic left his job at the height of the 1980s economic boom for Liverpool where he built the Furniture Resource Centre into a leading social enterprise. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1996, and in 1998 emigrated from the UK to Australia. There, he led the Brotherhood of St Laurence, a leader in the fight against poverty; his work earned him an Australian Centenary Medal. Cool nrg was established in 2007, building on Nic’s efforts to reverse climate change begun by Easy Being Green, the company he co-founded in 2004. Nic is an award-winning author of “The End of Charity”, a book advocating the reordering of business and political systems to support social enterprise.
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