Invention's new imperative - James Dyson

It is a sad fact that major wars and national rivalries are good at spawning technological advances. The second world war brought us radar and V2 rockets, a technology that would contribute to NASA's future success. The space race gave us freeze-dried food, scratch-free lenses and the digital processing behind MRI and CAT body scanners.
James Dyson is a design engineer and the man behind the dual cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner
The 21st-century equivalent of these conflicts is here in the form of climate change. To avoid a rise in global temperatures of 4 °C and its well-communicated consequences, climatologists and politicians tell us that we need to reduce carbon emissions. Turning down the thermostat and switching off lights will not suffice. The solution lies with engineers and scientists.
Our homes are the source of 25 per cent of UK carbon emissions. We're told to buy green and cut our energy consumption, yet our energy-labelling system is outdated and applies to only some appliances. The system is ripe for exploitation and products seem to make green claims on the flimsiest evidence. Token marketing gestures may sell products but they don't solve the problem. We need to cut the amount of energy that machines waste and make them as effective as possible at what they do. We need to use design and engineering to get the most out of as little energy as possible.
At Dyson we've spent more than 10 years developing energy-efficient digital motor technology. Such advances take time: there are no quick and easy returns. And sometimes you need to step back and start again. The Dyson Airblade hand dryer is energy efficient because we changed the drying method entirely. Rather than waiting for hot air to evaporate water, we use a sheet of air to "scrape" hands dry in far less time.
The UK has the engineering and scientific expertise to become a leader in high-tech, low-carbon technology. But long-term commitment to this aim and serious investment are needed. If we don't develop the intellectual property now, someone else will. China, a giant polluter, is also the biggest investor in renewable technologies. Green technology is a necessity and a challenge. It is also an opportunity. Let's embrace it.
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James Dyson is a design engineer and the man behind the dual cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner