After setting a target in January 2007 to reduce potable water consumption by 80% on the Melbourne Market Authority (MMA) site, CEO Peter McLennan has led the organisation on a dynamic water-saving quest that has achieved this goal. This in turn 'flows' to a water cost reduction from around $13,000 per month to less than $3000 per month even after factoring in the 20% increase in Melbourne Water Company water levies in July 2008.

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.

Fairfield City Council in western Sydney has proved its commitment to water-sensitive urban design by installing a Rocla ecoHarvest stormwater harvesting system in the centre of the CBD.

The supermarket sector is embracing the green building movement and has progressed from bolt-on options to integrated design approaches that result in low-energy solutions that improve occupational amenity, and reduce capital expenditure and operating costs.

The increasing popularity of bio-retention basins in water-sensitive urban design has created a new role for the MassBloc earth retention system.

Over the past eight months, Bathurst Regional Council has been conducting a trial of a new technology that promises to offer significant improvements in energy consumption and the production of biosolids from sewage treatment.

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.

BHP Billiton, as one of Western Australia's big water users, has a target of 10% potable water saving documented into its environmental policy and sustainable growth strategies. The new administration and maintenance facility at Port Hedland's Finucane Island is part of BHP Billiton's Western Australian Rapid Growths Project (RGP4).

In April 2009, KSB Aktiengesellschaft, Germany, booked an order for four large water pumps to be supplied to a new pumping station in Western Australia.

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.

Inverter technology being introduced to Australasia by industrial drives manufacturer Bonfiglioli has been selected for use at one of the world's biggest photovoltaic energy installations.

Enough sewage to fill 16 Olympic-sized swimming pools is processed each day by Yarra Valley Water treatment plants dotted around Melbourne. And because reliability is everything when it comes to sewage, it seems strange at first that many of the 17 Hurll Nu-Way Aerzen blowers at the front line of treatment are at least 10 years old, with some nearing 30 years of service.

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.

Each time the residents of Brisbane and its surrounding suburbs put their bins out for collection they are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through Thiess Services’ Swanbank Waste Management Facility (SWMF) — turning everyday waste into usable green energy.

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.