CSIRO has developed a new model for coalminers, intended to forecast future mine water needs. The model was unveilled at the 20th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2013), held in Adelaide from 1 to 6 December, the theme of which was 'Adapting to change: the multiple roles of modelling'. [ + ]

Construction is almost complete on new innovative diamond-shaped 25,000 m² purpose-built facility for the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). The impressive 'intelligent' facility, on Adelaide's North Terrace adjacent to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, has been designed to foster researchers' creativity and productivity. [ + ]

The North South Interconnection System Project (NSISP) has transformed the way SA Water's entire metropolitan water supply network operates. It supplements the state's existing water supply network and is part of an innovative, long-term solution to meeting the demands of drinking water needs in South Australia. [ + ]

Currently, there are over 15 million passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Australia, and 1 million new cars are bought every year, making us the 11th largest car market in the world. Unfortunately, new cars, which are manufactured or sold in Australia, are particularly inefficient by world standards, in part due to a lack of strong vehicle emissions standards. [ + ]

Australian businesses are still expressing their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, even though Energy Action has observed that there is perhaps a nuanced shift in the motivations that are leading companies to invest in energy efficiency and sustainability management. [ + ]

iota installed its Surepoint telemetry system to help improve service for the Merricks Beach Backlog Sewer Project which is managed by South East Water. [ + ]

Much like any other industry, facility managers are facing increasing operational cost pressures and, as a result, are looking to energy efficiency improvements as a method to tackle this. But no longer are simple energy-monitoring solutions sufficient in achieving significant cuts in consumption. In today’s environment, integrated and cloud-based solutions are the next step in improving operations and delivering real value for businesses. [ + ]

Solar panel manufacturer Yingli Solar has completed a contract through its installation partner EnviroGroup, a specialist provider of renewable energy products and systems, to supply dessert producer Exquisine with solar PV panels for its manufacturing facility in Thornbury, Victoria. [ + ]

At the recent Retrofit & Refurb Conference & Expo held in Sydney, AE Smith's National Sustainability Engineer and accredited NABERS assessor David Odd was invited to share his experience on achieving and maintaining high NABERS ratings in existing buildings. [ + ]

The University of Queensland's Global Change Institute (GCI), officially opened in August, was constructed to be a hub for research into sustainable building solutions. The building's purpose is reflected in its design, with environmentally friendly features meaning the institute is carbon neutral and consumes zero net energy. [ + ]

With the help of Commercialisation Australia, Urban Ecological Systems Australia (UESA) has developed a patented $5m integrated glasshouse and aquaculture polyculture system whereby herbs and barramundi can be simultaneously and sustainably produced. UESA has now won a five-year organic produce supply agreement with Coles. [ + ]

A report commissioned by Environment Canterbury Regional Council has found that good waste management is a difficult proposition for many farmers and members of the rural sector. [ + ]

The University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) has begun rolling out its new waste management system - 'recycling from the desktop' - which is expected to reduce the university's waste to landfill by about 75%. [ + ]

New environmental regulations and expected population growth have led Unitywater to expand its existing sewage treatment plant in Maleny, Queensland. The centrepiece of the upgrade will be GE's LEAPmbr membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment technology, expected to allow the plant to double the amount of water treated per day to one million litres. [ + ]

Sabormex, a global exporter of diversified food and beverage products, is capitalising on the benefits of its high-efficiency wastewater treatment plant by installing a GWE complete biogas re-use system to replace fossil fuels with green energy. [ + ]