I remember back when I started Lou Projects, I thought I was going to save the world by building more “sustainably.” Haa.
While the intention was good, the deeper I looked into all the green initiatives and carbon offsetting schemes, the more I realised it’s just not as simple as it’s made out to be.
I know what you’re thinking… I’m just a builder, so I should probably stay in my lane. Fair enough. But when you’re genuinely passionate about something, you start learning more than you expect. And I’ve learned a few things I think worth sharing.
The big issue that’s easy to forget is that the entire world is built from energy. Australia once thrived because we had cheap, reliable energy. We used to manufacture and build a lot – complex things too, and we could do it competitively because energy was affordable.
Now, I constantly hear from suppliers, “It’s not available yet, it’s being shipped from overseas.” Beyond the insane amount of fuel it takes to ship this stuff, not to mention the uncontrollable shipping and customs delays, it’s just sad that we’ve become so dependent on imported materials.
We’re told that cutting emissions starts with more efficient homes and cleaner energy. That’s fine in theory. But as Bjorn Lomborg often points out, the global fight against poverty and the fight against climate change don’t always align. Many of the world’s poorest nations are also its biggest polluters – not out of malice, but survival. When you’re focused on feeding your family or keeping warm, long-term environmental goals take a back seat.
Here in Australia, we contribute less than 1% of global carbon emissions, yet we offshore so much of our pollution by importing goods from countries like China – where most solar panels and wind turbines are made using coal-fired energy. In trying to “look green” on paper, we’ve outsourced both our carbon and our productivity.
What if, instead, we brought back local manufacturing, not through endless subsidies, but through cheap, reliable power? What if we actually rewarded our businesses for producing value onshore, instead of losing out to cheaper options overseas? These possibilities start with energy – and with having some hard conversations.
What fascinates me is that our government shuts down local coal power plants while ramping up coal exports. It makes no sense. We’re still consuming; we’re just letting someone else do the dirty work, and take the profits. If the world is still burning coal, we might as well benefit by keeping the jobs and production here.
We have the resources. We export them by the shipload, but see little benefit on our own balance sheet. Other nations grow wealthy off our minerals, while Australians pay more for the same goods when global prices rise. Meanwhile, countries like the UAE reinvest their resource profits into long-term prosperity for their people.
Australia could do the same, if we get serious about energy.
History shows that every great nation was built on the back of affordable, abundant energy. So maybe it’s time we rethink our approach? Whether it’s a smarter blend of wind, solar, nuclear, or even cleaner forms of coal – no one has the perfect formula. But one thing is obvious: what we’re doing right now isn’t delivering.
Imagine a world where energy was so cheap and reliable that we didn’t need to plaster every roof with solar panels or rely on batteries that eventually end up in landfill (and are manufactured using critical minerals). Isn’t the whole point of the green initiative to reduce waste? Or do we only look as far ahead as the next election cycle?
To bring it back to my original dream of making a difference and saving the world, building a few more energy-efficient homes won’t move the needle enough. What we really need is a productive, energy-rich Australia again. A nation with enough abundance to lift up the vulnerable, reinvest in our environment, and lead meaningful efforts like ocean clean-ups and reforestation.
