Emerson Network Power has released guidelines for organisations to consider when deciding to retrofit or replace a data centre in the quest for greater efficiency. [ + ]

Recycling keeps paper, plastics and even jeans out of landfills. Could recycling rare-earth magnets do the same? Perhaps, if the recycling process can be improved. [ + ]

As energy represents approximately a third of the operating costs for water plants, the water industry is faced with quite a dilemma. Australia faces yet another challenge: that of drought-proofing one of the driest countries in the world. The recent Schneider PlantStruxure NOW! 2012 User Conference included discussion on water and wastewater trends and the impact on Australian industry. [ + ]

The Australian Water Association has released a new position paper on water efficiency. [ + ]

Compressed air solutions specialist Sullair Australia has secured a landmark contract to provide 23 compressor packages - including ancillary equipment - for Australian coal seam gas producer QGC. The contract forms an integral part of QGC’s Queensland Curtis Liquefied Natural Gas (QCLNG) Project. [ + ]

Kyocera Solar recently supplied 348 kW of solar modules that now cover the roof of the Townsville RSL Stadium in North Queensland. The photovoltaic installation is now the largest in North Queensland and will supply the equivalent of two-thirds of the stadium’s energy requirements by utilising the clean, renewable energy of the sun. [ + ]

Rising energy prices are foremost in people’s thoughts these days and although most are aware  that investing in energy efficiency ‘pays back’, split incentives can be a barrier to investment. Environmental upgrade agreements (EUAs) are a new finance mechanism that promises to overcome this barrier. [ + ]

Although the Clean Technology grants have proved both effective and popular, the government has put the grants on ‘pause’ subject to a full budget review. As one of the major barriers to organisations implementing efficiency plans is cashflow, the freeze is a real blow for Australian businesses. Despite the freeze, the temporary pause on these grants needn’t mean the end of Australian businesses’ efficiency plans. There are still ways to implement efficiencies without the need to invest heavily. [ + ]

Some Australian electric utilities operate a substantial number of diesel-fuelled power stations for remote communities that are too distant to connect to the main electricity grids. These communities can include hundreds of residents, along with local commercial activities and civil infrastructure to support the region. The wet season can make it difficult to access some communities by road for up to 1-2 months. Photovoltaic (PV) power generation has been identified as the most consistent source of renewable power to cover the daily power consumption profile of these communities. [ + ]

The past decade of sustainability, monitoring, research and innovation in Australia’s on-site water treatment industry was summed up recently by CQUniversity Senior Research Fellow Ted Gardner. [ + ]

Each year, millions of tonnes of waste materials are sent to landfills across Australia. While Australians are very good at recycling, there will always be waste that is not physically able to be recycled, or where it is not financially viable. Much of that waste, however, has a significant energy content, and a large portion of that energy is from renewable sources. [ + ]

waterAustralia has a mission to create growth and international business opportunities for companies that supply to the water sector. Les Targ, CEO waterAustralia, talks to Sustainability Matters about the organisation’s achievements to date and what he sees for the future of the water industry. [ + ]

Two of Australia’s leading clean-up scientists have urged governments and policymakers to earmark a portion of the carbon tax to cleaning up the mess that may be left by the nation’s old coal-fired power stations as they shut down. [ + ]

Australia’s water supply is far from plentiful, so water recycling is a key method of managing this precious resource. But many Australians are still opposed to the use of recycled water - especially when it comes to their drinking supplies. [ + ]

Murdoch University researchers have come up with a potential solution to one of sustainable energy’s greatest challenges: power storage for use in non-generation times. [ + ]