Articles
Methane research shapes up at wastewater plant
A wastewater treatment plant in the US has used a dynamic imaging particle analysis system to monitor the condition and presence of methanogens in its anaerobic digestion process to find a potential correlation with methane production. [ + ]
Renewable future for business and industry
A funny thing happened on the way to Australia's energy future: the humble householder became a literal powerhouse of change. Alongside that domestic energy revolution, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is working to bring the renewable energy benefits discovered by those householders to the rest of Australia's community, including businesses and industry. [ + ]
The essentials of building automation
There are few markets as fast paced or lucrative as the technology market, particularly in the context of building automation solutions. [ + ]
Let's talk trash
Energy-from-Waste (EfW) is a progressive solution to Australia's growing waste management problem. Australian Ethical International Equities Portfolio Manager Nathan Lim explains. [ + ]
How small businesses can walk the sustainability talk
Emissions reduction is very much on the agenda for businesses large and small. The challenge Australian businesses are grappling with is how to reduce their environmental impact without detriment to the bottom line. The perception is that being green can be extremely costly. Well-known practices like solar and hybrid fleet can be expensive to use or require a major capital outlay.
[ + ]Network modernisation: a requirement for utility companies
The electricity system in Australia is changing at a rapid pace. It is now facing complex external pressures from consumers cutting back on energy usage, excess capacity in the grid, a shift towards other energy options and changes to regulation. [ + ]
NSW Land and Environment Court Decision: 'One man's waste…'
A recent case in the NSW Land and Environment Court has highlighted the discord between NSW's planning laws and the environmental protection laws, which could impact the way that waste and recycling processors are approved and regulated. [ + ]
An increase in water consumption, but more diverse sources used
The Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) latest report into national water performance compares 78 urban water utilities providing services to over 20 million people. [ + ]
Update on Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan
Unilever has announced that it is on track to meet most of its Sustainable Living Plan goals - a set of targets designed to help the company grow while minimising its impact on the environment. [ + ]
Award-winning project puts solar energy on the map
The Australian PV Institute (APVI) has been awarded the National ENERGY GLOBE Award for its development of Australian solar maps and tools. [ + ]
The first Emissions Reduction Fund auction
The winners of the first Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) auction have been announced. But don't despair: there are many more auctions to come. [ + ]
Choosing the right approach to leverage big data for energy savings
To help take advantage of big data, facility managers in Australia are considering the pros and cons of their approaches to BMS and what methods are the most compatible. [ + ]
Wastewater re-use using UV disinfection
The UV disinfection industry has experienced tremendous growth over the last 25 years - particularly in Europe, the USA and South-East Asia. The development of new UV technologies over this period is a perfect example of an industry investing to meet market demand - in this case, demand for an effective, low-cost and environmentally friendly way to disinfect wastewater for re-use. [ + ]
Using wastewater to grow algae
Researchers from Rice University have found they can easily grow high-value strains of oil-rich algae while simultaneously removing more than 90% of nitrates and more than 50% of phosphorous from wastewater. [ + ]
Water and Australia's wine industry
With over 2500 wine producers in Australia, the wine industry has a significant role to play in our economy. Being particularly vulnerable to water shortages, it is crucial for the wine industry to realise the importance of implementing long-term water management strategies. It has been suggested that in order to operate sustainably, Australian wine organisations need to engage with supply chain-oriented approaches to water and environmental management. [ + ]