A new report identifies 50 best practice initiatives that can be used across a wide variety of new and existing properties, as part of a push towards net zero carbon buildings. [ + ]

Queensland University of Technology is leading research on a $14 million national project that aims to expand Australia's growing bioproducts industry while advancing the war on waste. [ + ]

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has published its 10th annual State of the Energy Market report, highlighting the changing dynamics across the entire energy sector. [ + ]

Consultation has commenced on the new draft standard for On-Site Battery Systems. Released by Standards Australia, the consultation draft is designed for this emerging technology to ensure that the different views amongst stakeholders are considered and appropriately balanced with community safety expectations. [ + ]

The Body Shop has launched a campaign for a global ban on testing cosmetics products and ingredients on animals by 2020. [ + ]

According to new IPSOS research commissioned by MobileMuster, Australians are holding onto five million unusable mobiles — a figure that has increased by almost a million in the last year. [ + ]

Technology and services company Itron has signed a contract with the Tonga Water Board to deliver its OpenWay Riva IoT solution for water. [ + ]

Healthy Mexican restaurant franchise Zambrero has announced it has donated over 15 million meals to those facing food scarcity through its Plate 4 Plate initiative. [ + ]

A joint research project between India and Australia has produced a new set of guidelines for India's building code that aims to reduce the energy consumption of the second most populated country in the world. [ + ]

Utility company SUEZ has been awarded a seven-year waste collections contract for the City of Parramatta. [ + ]

Australian scientists have published the most comprehensive and high-quality records of greenhouse gases ever. The records track the past and current changes in all 43 greenhouse gases that contribute to human-induced climate change. [ + ]

Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg has announced the appointment of David Parker AM as chair of the Clean Energy Regulator, responsible for administering legislation to reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of clean energy. [ + ]

A new urban park in the ACT, Hassett Park, was awarded the 202020 Vision Green Design Award at the Good Design Awards. [ + ]

MPower has been awarded the contract to build a large-scale energy storage system in Rarotonga, the capital of the Cook Islands. [ + ]

The rollout of Australia's biggest smart pole installation has begun as Newcastle City Council unveils an ambitious smart city plan. [ + ]