SustainabilityMatters Articles :: SustainabilityMatters

Posted: Nov 18, 2008

Bio-mimicry for a green economy

The idea of mimicking desert plants and animals from around the world and tapping into their secrets to develop a green economy was presented at the Desert Knowledge Symposium in Alice Springs this month. Read more »

Case study: E-recycling initiative

Networking solutions company Netgear has launched a new recycling program in Australia that gives its customers a quick and easy way to dispose of their old networking equipment, free of charge. Read more »

Infrastructure planned to secure water supplies

Australia’s urban water industry is set to provide an infrastructure boom for the economy over the next decade as the industry completes its $30 billion investment program in new sources of water. Read more »

Recycling wastes from the steel industry

The worldwide steel industry could see waste problems turned into profit using innovative eco-friendly technologies developed by engineers in Australia.
Read more »

Wastewater treatment technology wins prize

Bilexys is the winner of the UQ Business School’s $100,000 Enterprize business plan competition with its invention of a highly efficient wastewater treatment technology that uses bacteria as catalysts to remove dissolved organics from wastewater. Read more »

Case study: Water re-use and harvesting scheme

Grundfos pumps used to boost delivery of recycled water in South Australia. Read more »

Carbon offset providers ranked

The Carbon Offset Watch program, which was launched in Sydney this week, is designed to provide consumers with an independent ranking of carbon offset providers. Kylie Wilson-Field was at the launch and reports on the details of this program. Read more »

Case study: Technology solving lead problems

A simple application technology is being used to treat lead-contaminated wastewater on a building maintenance site. The process is resulting in treated water that is free from lead and other contaminants that can be recycled for beneficial use. Read more »

Water industry supports carbon trading scheme

The Australian Water Association (AWA) has endorsed the general direction of the government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), urging the government to ensure that the integrity of the scheme is not compromised. Read more »

Technology creating more efficient engines

Impulse Engine Technology, a small engineering firm located in Sydney, has recently developed two new technologies which are claimed to make all engines, old or new, more powerful, more fuel efficient and cleaner to run, whether the vehicle uses carburetion, gas, fuel injection or diesel.
In a recent interview with Sustainability Matters, managing director Alexander Chabry discusses the technology, how it works and how it could revolutionise the motor vehicle industry. Read more »

The hype surrounding hydrogen

As fuel prices spike across the globe, many large transport manufacturers are in the stages of developing alternative fuel sources. According to reports, hydrogen is at the forefront of this development as it is an environmentally cleaner source of energy to end users, particularly in transportation applications, as it does not release pollutants or greenhouse gases. Sustainability Matters talks to a global expert in liquid and compressed hydrogen fuelling systems about the latest developments in hydrogen fuel cells. Read more »

Vermiculture key to reducing greenhouse emissions

A study at Griffith University, Nathan Campus, is recruiting earthworms as the latest weapon to resolve waste problems, fight soil contamination and land degradation, and restore fertility without destructive agrochemicals. Read more »

Australian technology helps make Beijing ‘greener’

Siemens membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology, designed and manufactured at its global R&D and manufacturing facility in Windsor in Sydney’s west, is helping Beijing to meet its growing water demand. Read more »

Government gives the green light to act on climate change

The government delivers its green paper on climate change. Read more »

Nanotechnology that harvests energy from movement

Nanotechnology researchers are working on a 'power shirt' which aims to replace batteries. Read more »

Pharma companies getting serious about sustainability

As little as 12 months ago, it was hard to imagine that businesses like pharmaceutical companies would begin to seriously address sustainability, but in a recent study, UK-based consultancy Envirowise, an independent advisory service that helps businesses reduce their environmental impact, found that financial and environmental benefits from resource efficiency could be achieved for pharmaceutical companies. Working closely with the sector, Envirowise says that it has become clear that growing legislation has had a fundamental impact on the drive to improve environmental management and resource efficiency in the industry. Read more »

The building blocks towards a more sustainable future

Launched in 2002, the Green Building Council of Australia is a national, not-for-profit organisation, which says it is committed to developing a more sustainable property industry in Australia through the adoption of green building practices. The council, headed up by some of the property sector's most respected identities, has the support of both the industry and government and has recently announced that it has over 600 members. Read more »

UniSA thinks budget misses sustainability

For Australia's economy to be sustainable, nation-building investment is critical, but the Rudd/Swan budget didn't deliver on sustainability, according to UniSA academic, Dr Geoffrey Wells. Read more »

Efficient use of compressed air

Compressed air is often the highest energy cost for many businesses, but unfortunately this resource is often seen as unlimited. It is therefore important that this valuable energy source be utilised efficiently, in all processes, at all times. Read more »

Automated e-waste recycling plant