Articles
Grundfos meets Asia-Pacific water challenges
Grundfos is a pump manufacturer with an annual production of 16 million pump units and a geographical footprint in 55 countries. Tan Chee Meng and Eric Lai oversee the company's municipality and industry business segments in the Asia-Pacific - a region with a high dependence on water. [ + ]
LEDs set to improve sustainability of Australia's street lighting
Because of their longevity, controllability and above all efficiency, LEDs are now an attractive substitute for conventional mercury vapour, high-pressure sodium, metal halide and linear and compact fluorescent technologies used in minor roads and other public spaces. A further major environmental advantage is that LEDs do not contain the toxic substance mercury. [ + ]
The State of Waste 2014
Australia generates 48 Mt/year of waste (latest National Waste Data Report 2014). Despite steady increases in the rate of recovery (average 52%), the waste generated between 2002 and 2009 grew by 40%, while the population increased by only 10% (SoE Report NSW, 2013). There are more of us and we are generating more waste each year per person. [ + ]
Microbes to clean up nuclear waste and generate biodiesel
Researchers from Michigan State University have developed a concept that will allow biodiesel plants to eliminate the creation of hazardous wastes while also removing their dependence on fossil fuels. [ + ]
CSIRO risks backing the wrong horse as it reacts to budget cuts
What happens to CSIRO when the federal government decides to strip away A$111 million over four years from its A$733 million annual contribution to the organisation's budget? We are beginning to find out. [ + ]
Curtin University promotes sustainability institutes
Curtin University recently held a sustainability showcase that promoted the work being conducted at its various research centres. Four clips from four centres and institutes were created and uploaded to YouTube. [ + ]
Fungi can clean polluted soil
A Finnish researcher has found that fungi can be harnessed to clean polluted soil which cannot be cleaned using traditional composting. [ + ]
VPO makes waves in Maroubra
As part of its drive to reduce overheads and carbon emissions, Maroubra Seals Sports and Community Club asked Forum Group to appraise the business case for voltage power optimisation (VPO). [ + ]
Monitoring power use in irrigation systems
Although water is the number one key input into an irrigation system, energy also plays an obvious role. This is so much the case that it is becoming an increasingly expensive input in running irrigation systems, both in agricultural and municipal applications. [ + ]
Electric roads to be studied in Sweden
The Volvo Group, in collaboration with the Swedish Transport Administration, will study the potential for building electric roads, where city buses can be charged from electricity in the road at the same time as the bus is in operation. [ + ]
Richmond Marketplace makes energy savings
ISPT is the owner of Richmond Marketplace, home to a variety of retailers. Many of these retailers have their own sustainability targets to meet, but with ISPT owning the property, there is limited incentive for tenants to invest in energy-efficiency measures. [ + ]
Flexible infrastructure solutions for data centres
Companies in the data centre sector often require increased storage capacity at short notice, with operators expecting a high level of responsiveness from vendors and contractors. Computer Room Solutions (CRS) is involved in the design, development and commissioning of data centre infrastructure. [ + ]
How water contributes to liveable cities
Liveability is now part of the Australian vernacular. Every few months we hear news that Australian cities are topping international tables on liveability. But what does it mean to live in a liveable city? And while we think water is critical in having liveable cities - what does that mean? [ + ]
UQ cuts carbon emissions with LEDs
As part of The University of Queensland's ongoing sustainability program, its Property and Facilities Division recently replaced all lighting in three car parks on the St Lucia campus with energy-efficient LEDs. [ + ]
Success installing wastewater treatment plants on slaughterhouses
The wastewater with high organic content, such as the type discarded on slaughterhouses, can be cleaned of up to 96% of its pollutants thanks to technology developed by Mexican scientists, which also promotes the generation of renewable energy through the biogas produced during the process. [ + ]