What if businesses were told that they could use less energy and get paid more for it? Demand response programs in Australia and New Zealand can do just that. [ + ]

Sustainability Matters talks to Ivor Frischknecht, CEO of ARENA, about the current and future trends for the renewable energy mix in Australia. ARENA is an independent statutory authority tasked with the objectives of improving the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies and increasing the supply of renewable energy in Australia. [ + ]

Nanoscientists at the University of Oslo are currently developing the next generation of solar cells which will be 20 times thinner than current solar cells. [ + ]

Most people would be reluctant to put solar panels on east- or west-facing roofs as they fear that they may be losing too much power production and increasing their return on investment too much. However, RETI has produced some surprising results in the difference in performance between different orientated panels. [ + ]

An integrated water project servicing the towns of Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy in Queensland has been designed for growth across the region without causing environmental damage to the pristine environment. TRILITY was contracted by the Gladstone Regional Council to provide the new infrastructure, including a wastewater treatment facility and seawater desalination plant. [ + ]

Corrosion of sewer assets is a worldwide phenomenon, particularly in countries with a warm climate. It is estimated that concrete sewer pipes in many areas of Australia are being corroded at an average rate of 1-3 mm per year or more. Hence, instead of providing service for 50 to 100 years as recorded in water utilities asset registers, sewer pipes are failing after 20 years or less. Internal surveys by several major water utilities in Australia show that the abnormally fast depreciation of assets and the mitigation of corrosion problems alone are costing the Australian water industry hundreds of millions of dollars a year. [ + ]

The New York Jets are the proud owners of the NFL’s largest PV system at a team headquarters. The 690 kW photovoltaic (PV) array from Yingli Solar is located on the vast, unobstructed roof of the team’s main training facility outside Newark, NJ - an ideal location for solar energy. [ + ]

Auckland War Memorial Museum has achieved a milestone in its sustainability efforts by cutting its carbon footprint during 2012 by 21%, taking its reduction over the past two years to 31%. This result means the museum expects to spend 35% less on electricity and gas in 2013 compared to what was spent in its benchmark year of 2010. [ + ]

A novel degradable plastic could dramatically improve the efficiency of native tree revegetation from seed in marginal low rainfall areas, which typically give low germination and establishment. [ + ]

Recently, RRS Company decided to install and test photovoltaic technology on its own with a 2 MWp totally integrated rooftop system. RRS Company decided to use Yingli Solar modules because of the good results that Yingli has been achieving in other European countries. [ + ]

As part of a multimillion-dollar project to build Victoria’s largest underground recycled water treatment plant at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Compressed Air and Power Solutions (CAPS) Australia was selected to supply aeration blowers for the facility. [ + ]

GE Lighting will provide a complete energy-efficient lighting solution for the Cirebon Superblock Mall located in West Java, Indonesia. [ + ]

Perth’s Kingsway Sporting Complex is a hub of sporting and social activity. After three years of problems with its irrigation system, the City of Wanneroo took ownership of the pump station and established a working relationship with Grundfos. [ + ]

Port Augusta’s power station north of Adelaide was first commissioned in 1954. When Alinta recently decided to install a desalination plant for the power station operation, the tender was awarded to Aqueous Solutions. However, the tender required a very high recovery rate of 94%. [ + ]

When the National Parks and Wildlife Service needed to power some of its facilities across Northern NSW, Nickel Energy provided advice on the best solution. [ + ]