Industry News
Brightgreen wins sustainability award
Melbourne-based LED lighting company Brightgreen took out the top honour - the Premier’s Recognition Award - at the Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2012 on Tuesday night. The lighting design company was recognised for developing the DR700 LED replacement light bulb, which is claimed to reduce power costs by up to 80%. [ + ]
Two-thirds of the world’s new solar panels were installed in Europe in 2011
The 2012 Photovoltaics Status Report, published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, summarises and evaluates the current activities regarding manufacturing, policies and market implementation worldwide. [ + ]
Sustainability education guidebook released
A guidebook on school and community learning partnerships for sustainability, Conversations on School - Community Learning Partnerships for Sustainability (A Guidebook), was launched in Melbourne this morning. [ + ]
$1 million in funding released for innovative water projects
The Smart Water Fund has announced that it will make available $1 million in funding to support innovative urban water projects. This will be the fund’s 10th round of funding, with applications opening in mid-October. [ + ]
Most biofuels are not ‘green’, claims Empa
A new study led by Empa gives an up-to-date picture of the ecobalance of various biofuels and their production processes. The study claims that only a few biofuels are overall more environmentally friendly than petrol. [ + ]
ABB Australia finalist in 2012 Banksia Environmental Awards
Power and automation technology group ABB has been selected as one of the finalists in the 2012 Banksia Environmental Awards in the Clean Technology - Harnessing Opportunities category for its sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas recycling technology. [ + ]
Cameras, action on food waste
Budding filmmakers have the chance to do something about the global problem of food waste - now totalling 1.2 million tonnes a year in NSW alone, and valued at $2.5 billion. [ + ]
Tapex recognised by plastics industry for environmental leadership
At the PlastixANZ Plastic Industry Awards in Melbourne on 12 September, Tapex was recognised by the industry for its environmental leadership with the Plasback program, winning the Steinert 2012 Environment Achievement Award. [ + ]
CRC aims to boost clever water use
A new Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) will work with more than 70 research, industry and government partners to find new and better ways to use and re-use Australia’s scarce water resources. [ + ]
Landmark energy program findings set to be revealed
The results of Australia’s groundbreaking Solar Cities projects are set to be revealed as each of the project leaders prepares to meet and share their learnings with industry leaders at the Solar Cities 2012 conference. [ + ]
Helping Adelaide become Australia’s most ecologically sustainable airport
Adelaide Airport Limited (AAL) has entered into a three-year partnership with the Centre for Energy Technology (CET) at the University of Adelaide to provide valuable research support and help develop innovative clean energy solutions. [ + ]
Logan Water Alliance recognised at Queensland Engineering Excellence Awards
The Logan Water Alliance has been honoured by industry peers at the 2012 Queensland Engineering Excellence Awards, taking out the Reports, Procedures and Systems awards. [ + ]
Partnership for smarter flying
The University of Sydney and Qantas have entered into a four-year partnership to develop a flight planning system that will help the airline fly optimised routes, reduce fuel consumption and improve operational effectiveness. [ + ]
UniQuest start-up secures first Southern Cross Renewable Energy investment
A novel Australian solar technology with the potential to significantly increase the efficiency of solar panels will be the first investment by the Southern Cross Renewable Energy Fund under the Australian Government’s Renewable Energy Venture Capital Fund. [ + ]
Timaru dairy effluent compliance improves in latest season
Seventy-seven per cent of dairy farms in the Orari-Opihi-Pareora zone achieved full compliance with dairy shed effluent consent conditions in the latest season. [ + ]