Articles
Sustainability - a global opportunity
According to Consult Australia CEO Megan Motto, a new report highlights the international opportunities available for Australia to lead the way when it comes to sustainability. The right policy framework could give Australia a distinct competitive advantage and enable us to bring best practice to the global arena.
[ + ]Supplying Sydney’s water
Sustainability is ‘business as usual’ for the largest water utility in Australia, Sydney Water. The utility’s annual report defines sustainability according to seven corporate goals based on social, economic and environmental aspects and it’s now being mapped to the UN Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting framework. Nefley Hetherington*, Strategic Directions Manager, Sustainability Division at Sydney Water, talks about the utility’s achievements and visions for the future.
[ + ]Taking control of e-waste
Electronic waste or ‘e-waste’ is one of the fastest growing waste streams in Australia. It has been reported to be growing at three times the rate of municipal waste, mainly a result of technological change, shorter life spans of equipment and increased consumption.
[ + ]Water efficiency in Australia at the crossroads
Widespread flooding across Australia has the potential to push back hard fought water-efficiency gains made over the past decade. It’s concerning to think that the devastating floods may have shifted the water management mindset in Australia and effectively masked what still is a critical water challenge for communities across the entire nation.
[ + ]Groundwater management and engineering
Underpinning the feasibility assessment, design and construction phases for a range of engineering infrastructure works requires a sound knowledge and understanding of how hydrogeology (groundwater) can be impacted and managed. With prolonged drought, emerging climate change impacts and population growth, increased demand for groundwater to augment water supply and greater recognition of the groundwater value presents new challenges and requirements for the engineering sector.
[ + ]Sustainability in telecommunications
Bell Labs, the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Government opened the Centre for Energy Efficient Telecommunications (CEET) at the University of Melbourne on 28 March 2011.
[ + ]Advance towards making biodegradable plastics from waste chicken feathers
In a scientific advance literally plucked from the waste heap, scientists have described a key step towards using the billions of waste chicken feathers produced each year to make one of the more important kinds of plastic. They described the new method at the 241st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, which was held in Anaheim in March 2011.
[ + ]National program targets sustainability and profitability in manufacturing
The Gillard Government has established a national Clean 21 Technology Innovation Network to help small and medium businesses reduce running costs and become more competitive, sustainable and help protect the environment.
[ + ]Manufacturers and producers go green
A meat processor and a dairy manufacturer are among 16 Australian manufacturers going green to tackle climate change and ensure a healthier future for all Australians.
[ + ]Wastewater facility saves energy and water
The pristine waters of the scenic Fraser coast, about 250 km north of Brisbane, are a popular playground for migrating humpback whales and dolphins. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fraser Island is the largest coastal dune system and sand island in the world and home to myriad rare and protected wildlife species. And Hervey Bay, an internationally renowned holiday destination, has an aquatic environment teeming with marine life.
[ + ]Beverage containers made from by-products
PepsiCo announced last month a beverage container packaging called the Green bottle to compete with the PlantBottle which was announced by Coca-Cola Company in 2009 and is already in use. Both the bottles are being made from by-products of each company’s food production facilities.
[ + ]Results from green IT survey
The Green IT: The Financial Services Industry Benchmark report, launched globally by Fujitsu, contains the findings of the first multicountry survey to determine the maturity of green IT practices and technologies within banking, finance and insurance organisations in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and India.
[ + ]I/O solution helps provide safe drinking water
Moore Industries-International has helped a water plant in central New York to maximise its effectiveness while reducing costs. The company’s NET Concentrator System helped the Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA) modernise the control system at its water treatment plant in Marcellus, NY. Through the use of this distributed I/O and remote I/O solution, the OCWA has achieved improved efficiency.
[ + ]Sydney Water & Ku-ring-gai Council join forces
Ku-ring-gai Council and Sydney Water have joined forces to switch on a new water recycling plant that will ensure Gordon golf course is always green.
[ + ]Stormwater harvesting could ease mains water demand
A decade of drought and extreme rainfall unpredictability has left councils across Australia in no doubt of the pressing need to plan for infrastructure to secure future water supply.
[ + ]