Industry News
Fact sheets highlight building retrofit savings
The City of Melbourne and Sustainable Melbourne Fund have released a series of fact sheets on multimillion-dollar building retrofits funded through environmental upgrade finance. The fact sheets highlight targeted energy and emissions savings and other key project details. [ + ]
Earthquake risks for CCS, fracking and wastewater injection wells
A paper by Stanford geophysicists Professor Mark Zoback and Professor Steven Gorelick has claimed that carbon capture and storage (CCS) has a high probability of triggering earthquakes where large volumes of carbon dioxide are injected into the brittle rocks commonly found in continental interiors. [ + ]
Have your say on co- and trigeneration in NABERS Energy ratings
NABERS is seeking industry submissions on its proposal for how cogeneration and trigeneration systems are dealt with in the NABERS Energy rating, as outlined in a position paper released last week. [ + ]
Solar scientist honoured at UN University
An engineer from UNSW has been honoured at the United Nations University in Tokyo for her research into trapping and harvesting sunlight in thin-film silicon solar cells. [ + ]
Sunny side up: solar’s the new renewable energy star
Investments in solar power overtook those in wind power for the first time in 2011, and the latest deals suggest this is only the start, says a new report by energy industry experts GlobalData. [ + ]
NZ businesses encouraged to join transformational sustainability program
New Zealand’s Sustainable Practice 360 program helps organisations make the transition to greener operations and has a new intake of businesses planned for October this year. The program will be delivered through Otago Polytechnic’s Centre for Sustainable Practice. [ + ]
Conference for Australian business and sustainability sector
The inaugural Australian Sustainability Conference & Exhibition (ASCE) is to be held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre from 8 to 9 November 2012. [ + ]
LED street lighting trial in world’s largest cities shows up to 85% energy savings
LED (light-emitting diodes) street lighting can generate energy savings as high as 85%, an independent, global trial of the technology has found. The program also indicates that citizens of pilot cities prefer LED lighting, citing the social and environmental benefits. [ + ]
NSW government sustainability program helps businesses save $6.3m a year
A bank, a confectioner, a glass manufacturer, a waste management operation and a zoo are among 34 leading businesses and organisations saving $6.3 million annually through a NSW Government sustainability program. [ + ]
Review of Renewable Energy Target a threat to investment and jobs
Major investment and jobs are at risk if the federal government changes the 20% Renewable Energy Target, the head of one of Australia’s largest companies told the audience at Clean Energy Week on Wednesday. [ + ]
Australia to catch the wave and hang ten (per cent, that is)
A study by CSIRO has found that the waves in the ocean could supply about 10% of Australia’s electricity by 2050. This is equivalent to powering a city the size of Melbourne. [ + ]
Over 140,000 New Zealanders demand a clean energy future
Earlier this week, groups from around New Zealand converged on parliament to deliver a 140,000-plus signature petition, calling on John Key’s government to abandon its fossil fuels agenda in favour of clean energy. [ + ]
Publication of National Waste Policy Implementation Report 2011
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, on behalf of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Standing Council on Environment and Water, has released the National Waste Policy Implementation Report 2011. [ + ]
McDonald’s rewarded with stars for going green
Kilsyth South McDonald’s is the first Australian restaurant to be recognised with Green Star certification. The establishment has been awarded a 4 Star Green Star - Custom Design rating for developing a new benchmark for the design of environmentally sustainable restaurants. [ + ]
Australian Government and telcos encourage mobile phone recycling
Australia’s telecommunications manufacturers and carriers together with Senator Don Farrell, Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, have launched the industry’s online video encouraging mobile phone recycling. [ + ]