Strathfield Council has completed a major sustainability project at Hudson Park Golf Course using turf which could deliver potential savings of up to $40,000 annually. [ + ]

Solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity continues to grow rapidly across the world and is now, after hydro and wind power, the third most important renewable energy source in terms of globally installed capacity. PV represented about 0.5% of global electricity demand and 1% of peak power demand at the end of 2011^. [ + ]

Baptist Community Services NSW & ACT (BCS) is a not-for-profit Christian care organisation that serves some of society’s most vulnerable people. BCS joined the Sustainability Advantage Program to integrate more sustainable practices into the BCS operation, with a focus on four areas: resources, people, buildings and supply chain. [ + ]

Bundaberg Regional Council required a more efficient and robust solution for its Woodgate Vacuum Sewer Station. The overall efficiency of the plant was being hampered by the performance of the lobe-style pump. Hydro Innovations recommended the installation a Gormann-Rupp Ultra VS3A60-B (3″) two-stage, self-priming, centrifugal sewage pump. [ + ]

As electricity prices soar, many commercial and industrial facilities are seeking viable solutions to reducing their energy consumption. Lighting is one area where savings can be made. [ + ]

Private equity and infrastructure funds are preparing to fly in the face of the downturn and kickstart an increase in deal activity in the renewable energy sector over the next 18 months, according to ‘Green Power: 2012’, KPMG’s annual survey of global renewable energy mergers and acquisitions (M&A). [ + ]

Renewable energy think-tank Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) has released its response to the government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) legislation as it was recommended by the CEFC Expert Review in April 2011. The $10 billion CEFC was announced by the Australian Government as part of the Clean Energy Future Package to invest in firms and projects utilising renewable energy, energy efficiency and low-emissions technologies, as well as manufacturing businesses that focus on producing the inputs required. [ + ]

Cardia Bioplastics is pleased to announce that it has signed a deal with US packaging company Sealed Air Corporation. The Melbourne-based company will supply its Biohybrid sustainable resin to produce the film for Sealed Air’s Fill-Air R5 inflatable packaging, enforcing Sealed Air’s environmental commitment to renewable and recycled content, plus reduced, re-used and recycled product. [ + ]

Hunter-based invention Granex will soon be powering and heating The Forum Sports and Aquatic Centre at the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan campus, thanks to a $770,000 grant from the Australian Solar Institute. [ + ]

FMSA recently completed an environmental retrofit of its office building in North Melbourne, which included installation of three 85 kW Yanmar gas powered air conditioning systems. This helped to reduce its energy usage and energy costs while improving the efficiency of its building. [ + ]

A leading Queensland quarry operator has demonstrated that extractive industries and local ecosystems can successfully co-exist, through clever and sustainable practices. Hanson Australia has been recognised as a leader in the field, collecting the state industry’s environmental innovation award for its site rehabilitation program at Wolffdene Quarry. [ + ]

Australian agriculture directly accounts for 10% of the country’s overall greenhouse gas emissions and a new research collaboration called the Methane Research Cluster aims to reduce that impact. The research team aims to address one of the key contributors of methane emissions - burping livestock. [ + ]

To get back on track, the manufacturing industry should focus on R&D and innovation, including renewable resources and building materials, and build a market in these areas. These comments were raised by Graham Larcombe, Director of Strategic Economics Group, who spoke at the ‘Sustainability in manufacturing’ forum during National Manufacturing Week in May. [ + ]

In order to meet continued pressures being placed on commercial and government organisations to conserve fresh water supplies, Sydney International Airport, Terminal 1 (T1), created an environmental planning strategy to design and construct a water treatment plant in order to recycle its wastewater and reduce its dependency on fresh water. [ + ]

Municipal waste management company Berliner Stadtreinigung (BSR) and chemical company BASF have successfully completed a joint pilot project involving the use of organic waste bags made of the biodegradable plastic Ecovio FS. The bio-based bags meet European standard EN 13432 for compostable plastics, and in accordance with the amendment to the German Organic Waste Regulations at the end of 2011, they can be used to collect organic waste. [ + ]