Was it sustainability gold for the London Olympics?
14 August, 2012 by Carolyn JacksonWhile our athletes strived for gold at the London Olympics 2012 (achieving seven gold medals, 16 silver and 12 bronze), the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) tried to achieve the ‘most sustainable Games ever’ and match the sustainability standard first set back in 2000 by Sydney.
Opportunities for efficient buildings in NT
10 August, 2012The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has called on the Northern Territory’s political leaders to strengthen their commitment to more efficient, productive, resource-friendly and sustainable buildings and communities.
Federal grant for semiconductor manufacturer to reduce energy use, pollution and expenditure
10 August, 2012Technology company Silanna Semiconductor has been awarded a federal government grant worth nearly a quarter of a million dollars to reduce its energy use and cut its carbon emissions intensity by more than 21%.
Clean technology grants to cut manufacturing emissions
06 August, 2012New grants from the $1 billion Clean Technology Investment Programs will help four Western Australian-based manufacturers become more efficient and reduce their power bills.
NZ funding to promote sustainable resource use in primary sector
01 August, 2012New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is opening two funding rounds this month to promote sustainable resource use in the primary industries. MPI’s Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) provides co-funding for small to medium-scale innovation projects.
Fact sheets highlight building retrofit savings
31 July, 2012The City of Melbourne and Sustainable Melbourne Fund have released a series of fact sheets on multimillion-dollar building retrofits funded through environmental upgrade finance. The fact sheets highlight targeted energy and emissions savings and other key project details.
Have your say on co- and trigeneration in NABERS Energy ratings
31 July, 2012NABERS is seeking industry submissions on its proposal for how cogeneration and trigeneration systems are dealt with in the NABERS Energy rating, as outlined in a position paper released last week.
Conference for Australian business and sustainability sector
30 July, 2012The inaugural Australian Sustainability Conference & Exhibition (ASCE) is to be held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre from 8 to 9 November 2012.
NZ businesses encouraged to join transformational sustainability program
30 July, 2012New Zealand’s Sustainable Practice 360 program helps organisations make the transition to greener operations and has a new intake of businesses planned for October this year. The program will be delivered through Otago Polytechnic’s Centre for Sustainable Practice.
LED street lighting trial in world’s largest cities shows up to 85% energy savings
30 July, 2012LED (light-emitting diodes) street lighting can generate energy savings as high as 85%, an independent, global trial of the technology has found. The program also indicates that citizens of pilot cities prefer LED lighting, citing the social and environmental benefits.
NSW government sustainability program helps businesses save $6.3m a year
27 July, 2012A bank, a confectioner, a glass manufacturer, a waste management operation and a zoo are among 34 leading businesses and organisations saving $6.3 million annually through a NSW Government sustainability program.
Low Carbon milestone: Australia’s major companies avoid 1 million tonnes of carbon pollution annually
24 July, 2012Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Mark Dreyfus today applauded members of Low Carbon Australia’s Carbon Neutral Program for avoiding more than 1 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution and providing a role model for other businesses.
Plastic recycling volume doubles for NZ program
18 July, 2012The Agrecovery Rural Recycling program has experienced unprecedented growth over the last two years, with collection of waste plastics reaching record levels. Container plastic collected and sent for recycling by Agrecovery in the 12 months to June 2012 was 157,390 kg.
FSC certification for Kimberly-Clark tissue and paper towel products
16 July, 2012Kimberly-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.
Landholders continue to warm to carbon sink opportunities
13 July, 2012Carbon 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.
