Industry News
Sustainability and climate change governance survey
In 2011, NCSI conducted an online Corporate Environmental Sustainability & Climate Change Governance Survey. The survey was aimed at Australian senior and executive corporate managers and looked at current Australian corporate practices and aspirations concerning environmental sustainability and climate change. [ + ]
Range anxiety leads electric vehicle infrastructure to step up a gear
Electric vehicle (EV) drivers suffer from the fear of being stranded, as charging facilities leave a lot to be desired, claims a report by power experts GlobalData. The report suggests that this fear could be mitigated by the further implementation of charging stations, which will hopefully encourage electric vehicle usage. [ + ]
FSC certification for Kimberly-Clark tissue and paper towel products
Kimberly-Clark is pleased to announce that all its Australian manufactured tissue and paper towel products (excluding Scott Facial Tissue) are now certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), considered the ‘gold standard’ in forestry certification by leading environmental organisations such as WWF and Greenpeace. [ + ]
Price hikes on waste levies unrelated to carbon price
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Greg Combet and Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Mark Dreyfus have cautioned businesses not to mislead customers by claiming recent price hikes in state government waste levies are as a result of the carbon price coming into effect. [ + ]
Combet warns of price gouging on refrigerant gases
The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, is concerned that prices being circulated by wholesale refrigerant gas suppliers show significant price hikes unrelated to carbon pricing. In many cases, these price rises have been similar in quantum across different wholesalers. [ + ]
Wave-energy project to be developed in Victoria
Wave-energy technology company Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) and global security company Lockheed Martin have entered into a teaming agreement with the goal of developing a 19 MW wave-energy project in Portland, Victoria. It is said to be one of the largest wave-energy projects announced to date and could provide energy to approximately 10,000 homes. [ + ]
Last chance to enter 2012 savewater! awards
Only seven days remain for businesses, individuals and organisations to be nationally recognised for their water-efficient projects and efforts. Entries for the national 2012 savewater! awards close on Friday 20 July. [ + ]
waterAustralia appoints USA representative for the Australian water sector
waterAustralia, in partnership with the Industry Capability Network (ICN), has appointed Rubin Mallows Worldwide to represent the Australian water industry in the USA. The appointment is part of a strategy being funded under the Commonwealth Government’s Supplier Access to Major Projects program administered by the ICN. [ + ]
Landholders continue to warm to carbon sink opportunities
Carbon sink operator CO2 Australia experienced a surge of interest in June from landholders wanting to find out more about the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI). Now that the carbon tax and CFI are officially in operation, CO2 Australia predicts a further increase in enquiries from landholders wishing to participate in the scheme. [ + ]
Former Chief Defence Scientist appointed to new Energy Chair at UNSW
Former Chief Defence Scientist Professor Robert Clark has been appointed to the newly created Chair of Energy Strategy and Policy at the University of New South Wales. [ + ]
Improved rates of dairy effluent compliance in 2011-12 season
Out of 977 dairy farms in Canterbury, New Zealand, 70% achieved full compliance with dairy shed effluent consent conditions in the latest season, up from 65% in the previous season. [ + ]
Water suppliers and utilities unite
The ‘Australian Water Supplier Compact’ (the compact) was launched in April to bring together local suppliers and urban utilities to maximise benefits for the Australian water industry, the economy and for the environment.The compact records the expression of commitment by Australia’s urban water utilities, represented by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) and Australian companies that supply into the water sector, represented by waterAustralia and the Water Supplier Advocate. [ + ]
Kids get $75,000 for environment projects
$75,000 has been awarded to 17 schools and community groups across the country to undertake educational environment projects. The funding was made available through the Go Green Grants program, an initiative launched by Corporate Express and Junior Landcare earlier this year. [ + ]
Australian rooftop solar power: down but not out
Residential solar PV will be around as long as the sun shines, but long-term growth could be constrained by the limits of the electricity network. That’s the conclusion of energy research specialist Energeia, which recently found that the the residential solar PV market is falling 56% in 2012, after growing 58% in 2011. [ + ]
Smart power produced from wastewater
Victoria’s Smart Water Fund has enlisted the methane-producing potential of algae and Flinders University expertise in a move to reduce the carbon emissions and the power bills of the state’s water sector through increased renewable energy use. [ + ]