Energy

Article (23)
  • Developing a sustainability culture for your organisation
    Are you considering the need for energy reduction strategies due to projected volatility of energy costs or increased pressure from the investment community to lower your corporate carbon footprint? Perhaps you’re just looking for ways to operate smarter and more efficiently. Whatever the motivation is for your company, the good news is that up to more than 40% of energy-efficiency improvements can be made right now with little or no capital investment.
  • Sharing energy efficiency
    This past year has seen great change and uncertainty in the energy and regulatory market for business. From increases in energy costs due to network augmentations and more increases on this front expected, to the splitting of the Renewable Energy Target (RET) into two parts, to the introduction and/or adjustments of a variety of state-based schemes, along with more stringent requirements for the commercial building disclosure scheme, and now, an expected carbon tax along with a plethora of grant and tax-break incentives to come with it. While my intent is not to discuss the specifics of what all these changes will mean, one thing is for certain, energy prices will increase and the effects on many businesses will be difficult to ignore.
  • Improving the physics of grocery store display cases to save energy
    Shoppers don’t usually give a second thought as they reach into a cooler to grab milk, cheese or prepackaged lunches. Open-front refrigerated display cases, which make up roughly 60% of the refrigerated cases in grocery stores and supermarkets, provide quick access to chilled products such as dairy, meat, fish and produce. While they are popular with shoppers and grocery stores, they’re less popular with electric utilities and others concerned with energy efficiency.
  • Transition to renewable energy in Europe
    The transition to renewable energy is set to deliver an economic pay-off in the years to come. Various studies show that a shift to alternative energy sources will raise the GNP in the coming decade and create new jobs, as Prof Eicke Weber, spokesperson for the Fraunhofer Energy Alliance, points out. Fraunhofer scientists are developing concepts and solutions for the transition as it takes shape.
  • Are we setting the right priorities to address our energy challenges?
    You might use one to dry your hair or wash your dishes. There’s one in every elevator and ventilation system. And in industry they run machines, pumps, fans, conveyors and more. I’m talking about electric motors. They are quite literally everywhere and they use a lot of energy.
  • Energy management standard launching
    With energy one of the most critical challenges facing the international community, the publication on 15 June of the ISO International Standard ISO 50001 on energy management systems is an eagerly awaited event because it is estimated the standard could have a positive impact on some 60% of the world’s energy use.
  • Getting smart with energy management
    Emissions from electricity production are one of the major contributors for global warming, being responsible for up to 40% of the carbon footprint in some developed countries. The demand for electrical energy will continue to grow and the question really becomes, what do we need to do to meet this demand without increasing the carbon footprint?
  • Trigeneration precinct for commercial buildings in Sydney
    In April 2011, two major players in Australia’s corporate landscape switched on a system to generate lower-emissions electricity at Coca-Cola Place in North Sydney and share its benefits with Deutsche Bank Place across the harbour. The NSW Minister for Resources and Energy, Hon Chris Hartcher, MP, officially launched the trigeneration precinct for these two commercial buildings.
  • Are Australian businesses ready for a low-carbon future?
    Australian business readiness to move to a low-carbon economy is higher than expected but an unclear regulatory environment is hampering progress. That’s the finding of a new Economist Intelligence Unit report, commissioned by GE, released on 16 May 2011.
  • Electric cars recharged quicker with Australian technology
    A new generation of nanoscale cathode materials, developed by Australian scientists, is set to revolutionise electric vehicles globally. This technological innovation will enable electric vehicles to be recharged in about the same time as it takes to fill a tank of petrol.
  • Energy management standard for publication
    ISO has announced a third quarter 2011 target for publication of its ISO 50001 International Standard for energy management. ISO 50001 will help organisations to improve their energy performance, increase energy efficiency and reduce climate change impacts.
  • Art gallery proving energy efficient
    Christchurch Art Gallery has been reducing its energy costs and becoming more energy efficent, following the introduction of a steam humidifier and landfill gas, electricity and chilled water pipelines from the civic offices. From early 2011, chilled water and electrical power will be transported from the tri-generator on the roof of the civic building on Hereford Street directly to the art gallery.
  • Industry input sought on extending NABERS rating scale
    Australian buildings are becoming so much more energy efficient; the NABERS program has opened up a discussion on extending its traditional five-star rating scale.
  • Boosting energy and resource efficiency in the manufacture of PET bottles
    How can the efficiency of energy and resources be increased, in the long term, in the manufacture of PET bottles? As part of a project sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research, and run by the Research Center of Karlsruhe*, experts have been investigating just this in the stretch blow-mould process chain. The project started in 2009 and should be completed by 2011. The first results have now been published.
  • Progress on energy management standard
    The future ISO 50001 standard for energy management was recently approved as a Draft International Standard (DIS).
  • Energy-efficiency legislation powering up government agenda
    Energy-efficiency legislation is powering up the government agenda but how should the government ensure any new schemes are widely adopted? Peter Garrett, Managing Director, mySmart CTI, comments.
  • Investing in renewable energy
    A number of key renewable energy and energy-efficiency initiatives have been announced as part of the 2010-2011 Australian Federal Budget. Treasurer Wayne Swan said the government accepts the science of climate change and the need for combined global and domestic action. A number of industry associations welcomed the budget speech saying that energy efficiency and smart electricity networks could be an important part of the solution.
  • Technology - the key to sustainability
    The NSW Minerals Council recognised that climate change was a major issue more than a decade ago and the mining industry is now positioning itself to be part of the solution - it is currently developing sophisticated technology to reduce emissions and to capture and store carbon.
  • Changes to RET scheme
    The federal government announced last week that it will be dividing its Renewable Energy Target scheme into two parts: the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) and the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET).
  • A holistic perspective of energy management
    How can lighting designers use intelligent controls to improve building energy management? Philips Dynalite Energy Management Segment Manager, Brett Annesley, explains how an environmentally sustainable development (ESD) strategy can deliver energy efficiency outcomes, while addressing indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and changing occupancy requirements.
  • Student’s vision of clean energy may come true
    A young engineering student may have found a brilliant way to fulfil every scientist’s ‘unattainable’ dream of renewable energy.
  • Lighting the way through the ‘green’ building rating maze
    Energy management and environmental performance are becoming increasingly significant across today’s commercial building sector. Building owners, developers and occupiers face a complex mix of design, application and classification requirements to meet Australia’s two key ‘green’ rating tools for office buildings - Green Star and NABERS Energy. Brett Annesley, Dynalite Segment Manager - Energy Management, sheds light on the issues from a lighting control and automation perspective.
  • Paint IT green
    Once upon a time, the IT department was ignored when it came to sustainability. But now, more and more Australian companies are wising up to the benefits of green IT. Andrew Collins explains how these new technologies can cut carbon emissions, power usage and your power bill.
Feature (7)
  • LED lights trial
    A new lighting trial reveals barriers and trends to making LED lighting viable for widespread use.
  • Algal synthesiser offers renewed hope of rapid CO2 emissions reduction
    A new technology that may hold the key to rapid, large-scale CO2 emissions reduction from existing coal- and gas-fired power stations and other smoke-stack industries such as smelters and refineries has been unveiled as a curtain-raiser to three major trial installations along the east coast of Australia next year.
  • Better way to harness waste heat
    New MIT research points the way to a technology that might make it possible to harvest much of the wasted heat produced by everything from computer processor chips to car engines to electric powerplants, and turn it into usable electricity.
  • Turning food waste into biogas
    McCain Foods will boost its conversion of food waste to biogas, saving on energy use and reducing landfill over the next year, says Graham Harvey, the Australia/New Zealand Operations Director,.
  • 'Alarming' use of energy, materials in newer manufacturing processes
    Modern manufacturing methods are spectacularly inefficient in their use of energy and materials, according to a detailed MIT analysis of the energy use of 20 major manufacturing processes.
  • 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.
  • NZIFST goes the extra mile on food sustainability
    According to the organisers of the 2008 NZIFST conference which will be held in June in Rotorua, New Zealand, many people in the food industry are confused about what food sustainability means and how they can put it into practice.
Product (19)
  • Master of Energy Systems university course
    The University of Melbourne has launched a new graduate program to train future leaders in energy business and technology. The new Master of Energy Systems has been developed in close consultation with industry, in response to rapid changes to today’s global energy sector.
  • Mueller Accu-Therm plate heat exchanger
    Mueller plate heat exchangers can be assembled to suit user requirements. Each exchanger is selected using software to match the specific performance requirements of individual applications. The units also incorporate an expandable design enabling an increase of heat transfer surface area without any changes to the unit footprint.
  • Dimpleflo modular heat exchangers
    The Dimpleflo modular heat exchangers can be used to recover energy from any warm or hot product or effluent.
  • Eaton Energy Saver System (ESS)
    The rising demand for high availability, reliability and efficient power is a continuous challenge for data centre operators. Improving energy efficiency can help address environmental, regulatory and economic pressures.
  • BlueScope Steel Colorbond Coolmax roofing material
    In response to the growing worldwide issue of urban heat islands, BlueScope Steel has developed a roofing product named Colorbond Coolmax steel. It is a high solar reflectance material which, in moderate to hot climates, has a surface temperature that can be up to 6.5°C cooler than Colorbond steel in the colour Surfmist and up to 18°C cooler than Zincalume steel.
  • KSB PumpMeter pump monitoring system
    PumpMeter comprises pressure sensors as well as an analysing and display unit attached to the pump. It measures suction pressure, discharge pressure, differential pressure and head.
  • EcoStruxure energy management solution
    Schneider Electric has announced its EcoStruxure solution architecture, an approach which unites its expertise in power, data centres, process and machines, building control, and physical security to enable intelligent energy management solutions for users seeking to optimise energy efficiencies across multiple domains of their business.
  • Innovec Controls LEDDL LED lights
    Innovec Controls has launched its energy-saving, low-voltage LED downlight and dimming control systems for the Australian domestic housing and commercial markets.
  • Metal Work Pneumatic Pneumo-Power electric generator powered by air
    Pneumo-Power incorporates an electric generator powered either by exhaust air (reduced environmental impact) or a compressed air supply to create 24 VDC locally where wiring may be costly or impractical to install.
  • Heat exchanger design
    The Deep Dimple design of the Dimpleflo heat exchanger range achieves good heat transfer coefficients when processing slurries and viscous products or waste streams.
  • Energy-efficient lighting
    The Nimbus LED.next lighting claims to deliver energy savings of up to 70% compared with conventional fluorescent and incandescent lighting and is claimed to be more than twice as energy efficient as low-voltage halogen lighting.
  • High-speed doors for conveyors
    DMF has completed a number of projects which involve installing fast action roll doors on conveyor systems.
  • Containerised data centre
    The Datapod system is a containerised data centre solution that provides flexibility in the IT environment. Consisting of preconfigured, modular, data centre building blocks, the system is scalable and can be deployed rapidly to meet the growing demands for increased data centre capacity.
  • Notebook range
    The MacBook Pro notebooks are designed with the environment in mind. They use a unibody enclosure that is formed from a single piece of solid, recyclable aluminium, replacing dozens of parts. The display is made of recyclable glass. The packaging is 41, 37 and 34% smaller (13, 15 and 17", respectively) than the original MacBook and MacBook Pro packaging.
  • Energy efficiency for data centre
    Rittal, provide of IT infrastructure technologies, has launched a cold aisle containment system which enables data centre managers to increase energy efficiency by optimising the operating temperature of their IT equipment.
  • End-suction pump
    The Grundfos NBG/NKG end-suction pumps have energy-efficient motors that conform to the MEPS Standard. Optimised flow geometries of the impeller and pump casing have reduced the hydraulic friction and thus the amount of energy consumed.
  • Fuel-saving system
    A fuel-saving system claimed to also cut engine wear and reduce environmental emissions from mobile and stationary diesel engines is being introduced to Australian industry by FuelSave.
  • Energy-saving lighting
    The Halogen Energy Saver is claimed to last on average twice as long as the incandescent light bulb and use up to 30% less electricity, which amounts to up to 36 kg of CO2 during the life of the light bulb.
  • Print control software
    A single office worker can print out up to 15,000 A4 sheets of paper a year. By a conservative estimate, a business of, say, 5000 people creates 65 t of CO2 through the paper they use each year.
News (66)
  • Low-carbon energy network
    The City of Sydney will begin final negotiations with energy provider Cogent Energy to build and operate a low-carbon energy network to power central Sydney and slash greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Research finds demand for heat exchanger technologies
    Frost & Sullivan’s 'Trends in Heat Exchanger Technologies' research finds that offering enhanced thermodynamic properties will help manufacturers sustain in this marketplace.
  • Macroeconomic report looks at NZ green growth opportunities
    The executive summary of a significant macroeconomic report on green growth opportunities for New Zealand has been released.
  • Australian scientists revolutionise processing of starch
    Australian scientists have developed an analyser that will monitor the behaviour of starches as they are cooked, revolutionising food manufacturing processes.
  • Australians appointed to develop energy efficiency in Dubai cities
    An Australian technology services company has been appointed to assist in driving down energy consumption in three new iconic city precincts in Dubai.
  • Victorian demountable classrooms go green
    Sustainable building provider Vento Australasia is participating in a Victorian state government initiative to provide inspiration to the next generation of energy-efficient relocatable classrooms.
  • Ford rides into e-bike market
    Alongside the exciting line-up of new vehicle and technology introductions on its stand at Frankfurt Motor Show, Ford is also unveiling a rather surprising addition to its range - an e-bike.
  • Report highlights energy-saving technologies for industrial refrigeration
    NSW Minister for the Environment Robyn Parker has launched an Energy Saver technology report at Tamburlaine winery, in the Hunter Valley, which has slashed its power use by half.
  • Australia urged to increase investment in renewables
    A KPMG annual survey of global renewable energy mergers and acquisitions showed an increase of over 70% for deals closed in 2010 compared to 2009, with 2011 showing no sign of a slowdown in activities.
  • First successful Solar Flagships Program applicants announced
    Two leading-edge solar technologies from BP Solar and Wind Prospect CWP have become the first successful applicants for the federal government’s $1.5 billion Solar Flagships Program.
  • Grant for a 'greener' Holden Commodore
    A $39.8m Green Car Innovation Fund grant will help Holden transform the way it designs, engineers and manufactures the Commodore, reducing fuel consumption by more than 7%.
  • Energy efficiency vital for future profitability
    A survey conducted by the Economists Intelligence Units (EIU) as part of a global overview of trends in energy efficiency shows nine out of 10 executives in the manufacturing and power utilities sector see energy efficiency as critical to profitability over the next two decades.
  • Bendigo Bank and Carbon Down encourage businesses to save energy
    With energy prices set to rise, Victorian businesses are being encouraged to reduce their energy consumption and protect their business against price impacts through an energy-saving initiative from Bendigo Bank and Carbon Down.
  • BOC signs $1 billion contract with Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers
    BOC has announced that it has secured a long-term industrial gas supply contract to the value of an estimated one billion Australian dollars with Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers, which is planning to use clean energy technology to enrich the world’s crops with urea.
  • Renewables programs key to effective climate response
    Australia’s clean energy industry has welcomed the news of a price on greenhouse emissions from 2012, but warned that renewable energy programs will still be needed to deliver the cheapest transition to a de-carbonised economy.
  • Combining technologies to solve organic waste problem
    Consulting engineer and environmental solutions company SEMF is to provide the engineering and project management capability for the development of a processing plant capable of producing high-quality biological soil conditioner and renewable energy from abattoir waste.
  • Baseload power station opened in Queensland
    Origin Energy (Origin) and the Queensland Premier Anna Bligh have opened the new Darling Downs Power Station which will play an important role in assisting Queensland maintain a secure, efficient and reliable electricity supply, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • New Green Star material calculators drive best practice
    Three new material calculators will ensure the Green Star environmental rating tools remain at the leading edge of best practice, says the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).
  • $63 million to bring Toyota engine line to Victoria
    The Gillard government will invest $63 million to bring production of Toyota’s next-generation, four-cylinder engine for the Camry and Hybrid Camry to Australia.
  • Multibillion-dollar environmental funding program previewed
    A multibillion-dollar environmental funding program has been previewed at one of the largest ever gatherings in Australia of environmental experts.
  • Origin to explore geothermal opportunities in Indonesia
    Origin Energy Limited (Origin), as part of a consortium, has been successful in bidding for a geothermal exploration concession in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia.
  • Electrical distribution SCADA solution for power efficiency
    Schneider Electric has launched its PowerLogic SCADA software, which is a complete monitoring and control solution for electrical distribution networks. Having applied the insights and experience of working with major industry segments, Schneider Electric’s PowerLogic SCADA delivers a reliable, flexible and high-performance solution to reduce outages and increase power efficiency.
  • Better Place extends Tokyo trial
    Better Place has announced that it has extended its switchable-battery electric vehicle taxi pilot in Tokyo to operate through the end of the year.
  • Toyota to plug in tri-generation plant
    Work has begun to install energy-saving technology at Toyota Australia’s corporate headquarters in Port Melbourne. The installation of the tri-gen plant is the next stage of Toyota Australia’s plan to reduce energy use at its headquarters by 40% from 2007/08 levels.  
  • New research in clean energy storage
    New research in clean energy storage could light the way to energy from the sun, even after dark.
  • $30m for Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources
    The Hunter will continue to be at the forefront of sustainable energy research and development with the establishment of the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources.
  • New report shows greener building sector can make real difference to climate change mitigation
    The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has today released its Second Plank Update Report 2010 - hailed as a clarion call to government on the significant potential of additional energy-efficiency measures in the building sector.
  • Schneider Electric submits response to federal government’s energy-efficiency issues paper
    Schneider Electric has submitted a response to the energy-efficiency issues paper released by the Australian government-established Task Group on Energy Efficiency.
  • EnergyAustralia - Smart Grid, Smart City bid winner
    The Energy Networks Association Chief Executive, Andrew Blyth, has congratulated one of ENA’s member companies, EnergyAustralia, which was announced as the successful bidder for the government’s $100 million Smart Grid, Smart City demonstration project.
  • NZ contractor wins clean energy centre contract
    Taupo firm Ross Construction has been awarded the contract to build the New Zealand Clean Energy Centre. Stage one of the facility, costing in excess of $2m, will be built on land leased from Taupo District Council near the intersection of Napier Highway and the new ETA.
  • Researchers closer to developing cheaper, greener means of producing hydrogen
    An important step towards developing a relatively cheap, efficient and carbon-neutral means of producing hydrogen has been taken by a team of researchers with the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley.
  • Practical completion reached for Investa’s much anticipated Ark
    North Sydney’s skyline has a new iconic landmark addition following the practical completion of Investa’s Ark development. The development, with an estimated end value of AU$240 million, began on the site of the old North Sydney Telephone Exchange in 2006 and was designed by Rice Daubney Architects.
  • New research centre in Melbourne to focus on energy-efficient networks and technologies
    Alcatel-Lucent CEO Ben Verwaayen, Australia’s Victorian state Treasurer John Lenders and University of Melbourne Professor Rod Tucker have announced that Alcatel-Lucent’s research arm, Bell Labs, the University of Melbourne and the Victorian state government are partnering to establish a research centre in Melbourne that will be devoted to innovation in energy-efficient networks and technologies.
  • Solar and wind energy experts to convene in Sydney next month
    Next month, 150 clean energy industry representatives will convene at the Australia-Germany Solar and Wind Energy Industry Conference 2010 at Sydney’s MLC Centre.
  • Energy efficiency tips
    With a power price hike of 64% planned for NSW over the next three years and a 20% instalment due 1 July 2010, now is the time to ensure you don’t pay for what you don’t use! The NSW Business Chamber has provided tips on how to be energy efficient.
  • Formula Hydrogen speeding to a world record
    The RMIT University team behind Australia’s first hydrogen racing car is celebrating another milestone, with the clean and green racer reaching a world record speed for its class in trials recently held in Germany.
  • COAG commitment on new building energy efficiency fulfilled
    Changes will be made to the 2010 Building Code of Australia to increase the energy efficiency of new buildings, fulfilling a COAG commitment.
  • US Dept of Energy selects Eaton and HP to improve IT energy efficiency
    Eaton has announced that it is collaborating with HP on a federally funded project to improve energy efficiency in information technology (IT) systems. Among the 14 projects chosen by the US Department of Energy, the joint proposal from Eaton and HP was selected as the third-largest grant recipient at US$7.4 million.
  • Energy saving work with Silicon Valley companies
    Researchers from the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) are working with Silicon Valley companies to demonstrate energy-efficient data centre technologies.
  • City's low-carbon plan for 2030
    Plans to turn Sydney into a low-carbon city, using locally-produced electricity from the sun, wind, marine, green power and waste gases, are being developed by the City of Sydney Council as part of its Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan.
  • Hybrid motorcycle to optimise energy use
    Schneider Electric will partner with custom motorcycle manufacturer Orange County Choppers (OCC) in the US to design and build a hybrid motorcycle that optimises energy use.
  • AGL confirms leading position in sustainability with inclusion on DJSI
    AGL Energy has been recognised as one of the world’s leading electric utilities in sustainability performance by being named on the global Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World).
  • New Australian data centre innovation to generate $150m in export revenue and 30 local jobs
    Datapod and APC have announced a strategic partnership and the launch of the Australian-developed Datapod system of containerised data centre solutions.
  • Australia excels with energy-efficient innovation
    New data centre technology that will use half the electricity of an average data centre system has been officially launched today by Richard Marles MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry.
  • Canberra starting point of electric vehicle recharge network
    Better Place Australia has announced Canberra as the starting point of the national rollout of electric vehicle recharge network.
  • Australia's energy use has increased
    Australia's total energy use has increased by 15% over the last six years, according to a report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
  • Automated battery switch unveiled
    Better Place has achieved a milestone in accelerating the mass-market adoption of electric vehicles by demonstrating, what it claims is, the world’s first battery switch technology along with electric car charging spots.
  • National strategy for energy efficiency
    The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has signed a memorandum of understanding for energy efficiency, with a commitment to consider signing an Intergovernmental Agreement on the National Strategy.
  • Budget for clean energy
    The Rudd government has announced a $4.5 billion investment for clean energy initiatives in its 2009/10 budget.
  • Web forum provides facilities with tools to achieve energy savings
    Fluke Corporation has established a web forum that will provide managers with a place to learn low-cost energy-saving techniques and share their own ideas and experiences.
  • Clean energy gets $20 million boost
    Australia took a step closer to becoming the clean energy hub of the Asia–Pacific with the announcement that Newcastle will house the $20 million national Enterprise Connect Clean Energy Innovation Centre.
  • 'Greenest' notebook announced
    Toshiba's ultra-portable notebook, the Portégé R600, has been nominated as the worlds ‘greenest’ notebook, according to a recent Greenpeace survey: The Green Electronics Survey 2008.
  • Stimulus package for clean energy future
    Australia could create millions of new jobs by embracing a Global Green New Deal fast-tracking, energy-efficiency and renewable energy infrastructure, according to Environment Business Australia.
  • CSIRO environmental sustainability grant awarded
    CSIRO has awarded grants to teams of students in nine universities across three states, to educate and assist communities in making environmentally sustainable personal and business decisions.
  • Smarter air traffic to save fuel
    Smarter air traffic control could save 500 kg of fuel and reduce airport noise by 35% for a typical Boeing 747 flight between Sydney and Melbourne ,according to a team of Canberra-based researchers.
  • Forum helps business go green
    Companies in the printing, manufacturing and electroplating industries can learn how to cut waste and cut their costs, at a free forum hosted by the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change.
  • Green building seminar program introduced
    Designbuild, a trade-only building and design exhibition, will include a Green Building Seminar program complementing its focus on sustainability and green building this year.
  • Competition presents eco-future of home appliances
    A compact washing machine that uses nuts that grow on trees rather than laundry detergent; a device that turns plastic shopping bags into compost; and a detergent-free compact dishwasher that uses the cleaning power of water alone are the products emerging from Electrolux’s Design Lab competition.
  • Green IT hits the CIO radar
    Adoption of eco-friendly computing is fast emerging as a priority for technology decision makers. A report by independent market analyst Datamonitor, 2008 Trends to Watch: Green IT, predicts a surge in CIO interest and vendor initiatives in the green IT space.
  • Strategy sets the path for sustainable, secure energy
    Prime Minister Helen Clark and Energy Minister David Parker have launched the New Zealand Energy Strategy, which sets the country firmly on a path towards clean, renewable energy.
  • Government grants for two renewable energy projects
    The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, has announced more than $8 million in grants for two renewable energy projects from the Australian government’s Renewable Energy Development Initiative.
  • Step towards launch for sustainable housing challenge
    The New Zealand sustainable building competition, SHaC09 will tour the country next week with project coordinators updating tertiary organisations on the progress of the project.
  • The case for healthy buildings
    The Sustainable Built Environments 2007 conference will explore the latest theories on green buildings and sustainability, and how they are being put into practice.
  • Bright ideas fund for energy-efficient hot water
    An innovation fund to encourage smart innovations that will lead to the uptake of solar water heating and heat pump water heating technologies has been launched by Jeanette Fitzsimmons, Government Spokesperson on Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EECA).
  • Company drives for paper certification and carbon neutrality
    Spicers Paper has announced that it and its suppliers will move towards the goal of providing 100% certified sustainable papers by 2009 and will strive for carbon neutrality as a business ahead of the New Zealand national target of 2012.
  • Low energy high-rise survey launched
    Investa Property Group and Stockland Corporation are working with the Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering at the University of Sydney to understand the barriers to achieving better energy performance for existing office buildings.
Case Study (33)
  • Trigeneration precinct for commercial buildings
    In April 2011, Investa Property Group and Cogent, a subsidiary of Origin, established a trigeneration facility that reduces the carbon footprints of two commercial buildings in Sydney.
  • Grocery retailer monitors and manages energy
    US-based grocery retail company Supervalu has installed energy monitoring hardware and has enrolled in a demand-response program with Net Peak Energy Group. The program organises payment to the retailer for effectively ‘selling’ their electricity back to their utilities when demand is high. Additionally, the program can call for the retailer’s distribution centres to shed up to 1.2 MW of power.
  • Remarkable development in Queenstown
    The mountains surrounding Queenstown on New Zealand’s south island overlooking Lake Wakatipu are aptly known as The Remarkables. If you’re familiar with this part of the world you’ll appreciate the effort that went into establishing a 6.4-hectare master plan for the Kawarau Falls Station (KFS) development.
  • Trigeneration at the new Royal Children’s Hospital
    Rapid developments in medical technology, the paradigm shift to patient and family-centred care, and the inability of aging hospitals to accommodate the latest models of care, have all contributed to the current worldwide boom in hospital redevelopment.
  • 6 stars for office complex
    Macquarie Group’s iconic headquarters in Sydney’s Darling Harbour has set high standards in environmental sustainability and workplace functionality, achieving a coveted 6 Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. Owned and managed by Brookfield Multiplex, the $316 million complex incorporates a range of technologies such as harbour water cooling, passive chilled beam air conditioning and an innovative lighting control system.
  • Lighting the way for Queensland Rail with LEDs
    Power usage is a major cost to business and lighting can be a surprisingly high contributor, especially for commercial or industrial sectors. However, new lighting technology innovation is bringing to market products and solutions that help customers meet pressing environmental challenges and increase energy efficiency.
  • Sustainable construction using building information modelling
    As building growth intersects with environmental concerns and the rising cost of energy, architects and building engineers are turning to the Building Information Modelling (BIM) approach to building design. BIM enables architects and engineers to explore a project’s key physical and functional characteristics digitally before it is built, helping to deliver projects faster and more economically, while minimising environmental impact.
  • Lighting upgrade at distribution centre
    3M recently commissioned The Energy Efficient Lighting Company (EELCO) to replace the standard power-hungry high bay lights used throughout its Pemulwuy medical goods distribution centre.
  • Green energy from chicken waste
    Food processing and other organic waste streams are often high in energy potential and produced in significant quantities. Trade waste is an expense and green credentials are gaining importance in the eyes of the consumer.
  • Environmental win for Alcoa
    Reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and energy use, thanks to innovative technology, have secured Alcoa a win at the 2010 WA Engineering Excellence Awards.
  • Food manufacturer saves energy
    Mars Petcare Australia has implemented a customised compressed-air system from Champion Compressors, optimising production, reliability and energy efficiency.
  • Flowmeters recover lost revenues
    ABB flowmeters have enabled a US university to cut steam losses in its generation plant and recover more than $1.25 million a year in lost revenues. The solution has also created a campus-wide awareness of the need for energy efficiency.
  • Natural ventilation and cooling
    Ormiston Road Senior College in Auckland, due for completion in October 2010, was recently awarded a 5 Star Green Star rating by the independent Green Building Council of New Zealand. A total of 68 points were achieved overall, six points shy of a 6 Star rating. The use of Windcatchers allowed the college to secure one point for Green Star Innovation.
  • Bringing light to heritage landmark
    Today’s emerging sustainability requirements in the building industry are creating new types of considerations, particularly when designing modern solutions for heritage-listed properties.
  • Drive controls solar tracking device
    The unique harmonic drive principle continues to open new applications in all areas of modern engineering. It is available in a wide selection of mechanical configurations and is used extensively in robots, machine tools, radars and any applications with a rotating shaft where positioning, tilting and panning is required because of its high accuracy and no backlash.
  • Manufacturing facility slashes pressure - and power bills
    A recent energy audit at its manufacturing facility paves the way for Geofabrics to optimise its on-site compressed air system and derive ongoing energy savings.
  • Zero-emissions home constructed
    Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry The Honourable Richard Marles MP launched a zero-emissions demonstration home called AusZEH in Melbourne in April. The home at Laurimar in Melbourne’s north-east plans to set a precedent for sustainable living in Australia and is expected to use up to 70% less energy than a traditional home of similar size.
  • Crowne Plaza Melbourne increases energy efficiency
    Crowne Plaza Melbourne is a 4.5 star hotel which is now recognised internationally with ‘Green Globe Bronze’, a worldwide benchmarking and certification program which facilitates sustainable management and operations. Green Globe certification standards cover: environment and energy (70%), conservation (10%) and corporate social responsibility (20%). The hotel is now working to achieve ‘Green Globe Silver’ status.
  • Wyndham Civic Centre lights up
    Werribee City Council recently completed the upgrading of the lighting in the car parks and roadways of the Wyndham Civic Centre in Victoria. After careful consideration of the available energy-efficient lighting options, including T5 and CFL options, the council chose a Pecan Lighting Grid Tied Solar Public Lighting (GTSPL) system using Beta-LED LEDway luminaires. The supplier, Lateral Technology, worked with the council’s engineering consultants to provide technical and historical information on the system.
  • Smart lighting reducing energy
    Cummins designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. Cummins serves customers in approximately 190 countries and territories through a network of more than 500 company-owned and independent distributor locations and approximately 5200 dealer locations.
  • Meeting building codes for lighting systems
    Clothing wholesaler Gazal Apparel recently consolidated its warehousing operation to its distribution centre in Banksmeadow, NSW. In order to maximise space at the centre, high-density pallet racking and mezzanine flooring were installed. During the upgrade, consulting engineers Heggies highlighted to Gazal’s management the Building Code Association (BCA) Section J requirement for minimum energy efficiency standards.
  • Compressed air solution for production facility
    Australian recreation vehicle manufacturer Jayco optimises production at its new Dandenong production plant, with the aid of a customised energy-efficient compressed air solution from Champion Compressors.
  • Turning household garbage into power
    WSN Environmental Solutions and joint venture partner LMS Generation have reached a major milestone, generating over 50,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy from waste at the Eastern Creek waste-to-energy complex in its first year of operation.
  • Sewerage plant creates own power
    Melbourne Water will soon be using the sewage at its Western Treatment Plant in Werribee to produce nearly all of the plant’s power needs.
  • Lighting solution at bus maintenance facility
    State Transit - Sydney Buses recently installed an EELC lighting system to replace the standard ‘power-hungry’ high-bay lights used at its bus maintenance facility in Burwood. Replacing 75 standard 400 W high-bay lights with the EELC 1248A_3LT8 light fittings, the new system has reduced power consumption by approximately 100,000 kWh pa and provided significant maintenance-cost savings.
  • Paronella Park sustainability
    Paronella Park, Queensland, will soon achieve energy sustainability thanks to a much-needed upgrade to its original hydro-electric system. The old system had worn out decades ago but the refurbishment of the disused unit had been a challenge that the owners, Mark and Judy Evans, could not overcome despite many attempts over many years.
  • Hitting the compressor ‘sweet-spot’
    Properly matching an air compressor to the application is the first step towards improving energy efficiency. Rather like a tennis racquet, each compressor variant has a 'sweet-spot' - defining the duty zone at which the compressor operates with the highest efficiency. Represented graphically, the sweet-spot is a distinct zone within a given range of operating hours per year, and percentage loads.
  • Sustainability for sea change town
    Australia's tree change and sea change movement has seen the resident populations of traditional holiday towns swell in recent years. This growth puts a strain on essential services like electricity to keep up with demand. Factor in the environmentally sensitive nature of these locations and the need to come up with sustainable, low carbon emission households and a developer's task can get extremely complex.
  • Sydney Water office with sustainable features
    The NSW government has moved 1400 jobs to Parramatta with the official opening of Sydney Water’s headquarters in May. The building at One Smith Street, Parramatta (built and owned by Brookfield Multiplex), was designed to achieve a 5-star green rating.
  • Power station switches to LEDs
    Maser Communications has finalised an agreement with one of NSW's largest power stations to supply Dialight Industrial LED fixtures for all future general area and task lighting applications.
  • Web forum for commercial and industrial facilities
    ActionEco is a web forum established by Fluke Corporation which is designed to give managers a place to learn low-cost, energy-saving techniques and share their own ideas and experiences. Available on www.ActionEco.org, it is designed to help organisations find ways to reduce their carbon footprint while cutting energy costs and increasing operational efficiency.
  • Maximum efficiency in refrigerated environment
    Ensuring that a cold storage or refrigerated production facility is operating at its optimum efficiency means not only will a company reduce its carbon footprint but it can also save money due to a reduction in energy usage.
  • 'Green' bakery takes the cake
    Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, a family company and Melbourne institution for more than a century, has built one of the country's greenest, most environmentally sustainable bakeries at Keilor Park
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