Case Studies
Students take on construction waste
Murdoch University has partnered with Master Builders WA, the building and construction industry association, to tackle real-life construction waste issues on building sites. [ + ]
Bacteria break down toxic chemicals in groundwater
University of New South Wales (UNSW) researchers have improved a standard remediation practice in order to speed up the degradation of toxic industrial chemicals in contaminated groundwater.
[ + ]A solar thermal field for Cyprus
CSIRO scientists have designed and installed a solar thermal field - a half-acre plot of land consisting of 50 special mirrors called heliostats - for a research institute on the island nation of Cyprus, Europe. [ + ]
Floating solar technology implemented at wastewater plant
Infratech Industries has launched a floating solar system that will generate an estimated 57% more power than fixed land-based systems. [ + ]
ABB supplies EV charger for renewable energy research
Power and automation company ABB has been awarded a contract for the supply and installation of an electric vehicle (EV) charging solution for the Australian Energy Research Institute.
[ + ]Flour power: sustainable development at former industrial site
International design practice HASSELL is overseeing architecture, interior design, urban design and landscape architecture for a $120 million development at a disused flour mill. [ + ]
JUST certification for sustainable property consultancy
Sustainability-focused property consultancy Viridis Australasia has become the first organisation in Australia - and the 13th worldwide - to be awarded JUST certification. [ + ]
Scratch-resistant glass is good for the environment (and your phone)
University of Queensland start-up company TenasiTech has received more than $3 million in investor support for the development of scratch-resistant and environmentally sustainable acrylic glass, suitable for use in the computer, electronics and automotive industries. [ + ]
Concrete plant provides an education in environmental management
Building materials supplier Hanson recently hosted a site tour at its Lytton concrete plant for students from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). There, the students witnessed a combination of complex production processes and sound environmental management in practice. [ + ]
Making wheat drought-proof
A University of Queensland PhD candidate has developed a cheap and simple technique allowing scientists to better adapt grain crops such as wheat to drought conditions, which are predicted to become more frequent and severe due to climate change. [ + ]
Saving energy with smart facades
Glass-fronted office buildings are some of the biggest energy consumers, and regulating their temperature is a big job. Now a facade element developed by Fraunhofer researchers and designers for glass fronts is to reduce energy consumption by harnessing solar thermal energy. A demonstrator version will be on display at Hannover Messe. [ + ]
Under construction: Australia's largest single-building rooftop solar system
Property group Stockland has selected Todae Solar and Canadian Solar to install a 1.22 MW rooftop solar system on Stockland Shellharbour Shopping Centre in the Illawarra region of NSW. Once completed, the system will be Australia's largest single-building rooftop solar system. [ + ]
Limiting leaks at water storage reservoir
An applicator of Rhino Linings Australasia recently won the tender to repair the inside and outside of the 80 metre-diameter, above-ground, steel potable water storage tank located at the Hospital Hill Reservoir in Murwillumbah, NSW. [ + ]
Fabric recycling inspired by a sandwich toaster
Four Monash University graduates have worked with the Vinyl Council of Australia (VCA), PVC manufacturers and recyclers to find solutions for recycling PVC-coated polyester fabric into new product. [ + ]
Additives for biodegradation of plastic don't work
Researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) have revealed that several additives that claim to break down polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate simply don't work in common disposal situations such as landfills or composting. [ + ]