An innovative technology developed by South East Water and adapted for the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI) is being used in research to save the lives of children in developing countries. [ + ]

UK waste management company FCC Environment is using the latest energy-efficient compressor and filtration solutions from Atlas Copco to help turn waste into energy at its Nottingham waste processing site. [ + ]

Energy consumption and energy efficiency are of primary concern to many compressor users. There are many well-known methods for keeping on top of energy consumption; however, there are some less famous yet clever ways to cut your bills down further. [ + ]

Researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) have found that certain types and locations of biofuel crops have various benefits, and that it is unwise to focus solely on biomass yield. [ + ]

Hurll Nu-Way is a supplier of continuous anaerobic digester gas mixing systems, manufactured in the UK by Utile Engineering, utilising sliding vane gas compressor technology. The company says the technology is the most efficient and cost-effective method for mixing, absorbing approximately one-third of the power required for 'pump' mixing. [ + ]

A world-first research program, led by CSIRO, is monitoring honeybee populations by tracking the insects with tiny sensors - a technique known as 'swarm sensing'. With 5000 bees taking part in the program, this is the first time such large numbers of insects have been used for environmental monitoring. [ + ]

Totally Environmental (Australia) has recently launched a food and green waste composting technology that could stop the millions of tonnes of food waste ending up in Australian landfill sites every year. [ + ]

For more than a century, the quantity of electricity consumed in Australia was more than the year before. That all changed in 2010, as explained by Hugh Saddler, Principal Consultant, Energy Strategies, pitt&sherry, in The Australia Institute report 'Power down: Why is electricity consumption decreasing?' [ + ]

Although biofuels can clearly contribute to energy security and resource efficiency, they can also be sometimes considered controversial. This is primarily because the raw materials used in their production are grown using land that could have been used for food crops. Another issue revolves around the environmental impact caused by certain by-products. Weber Ultrasonics in Germany has developed a process that could provide a solution to these problems. [ + ]

Cogeneration is not a new concept, yet many cogeneration plants perform at a suboptimal level because of sizing issues which determine the utilisation, potential heat recovery and ultimately the return of investment of the cogeneration plant. Many consider sizing a cogeneration plant a 'black art' and relegate it to the equipment suppliers. However, it is the customer who has to make the final, informed decision. [ + ]

Latin American beer-brewing company Compañía Cervecera de Nicaragua (CCN) is employing technology which can convert food and beverage wastewater to green energy. [ + ]

Water usage is a major consideration within manufacturing and many are searching for sustainable processes to minimise the use of this precious resource. The answer may lie in the industry's willingness to embrace the use of sustainable technologies. [ + ]

In water treatment plants, the quality of water output is determined by how well the filtration system is operating. A key ingredient in keeping the filtration system working at its best is the frequency and quality of backwashing processes. [ + ]

Sirromet Wines has installed a 200 kW solar power system at its headquarters near Brisbane. A total of 800 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, each rated 250 W, have been fitted in separate arrays to the roofs of the two largest buildings at the Mount Cotton winery. [ + ]

Scientists at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have developed agricultural waste blends which can be used in a process that literally grows custom packaging products, providing a cost-effective and green alternative to extruded polystyrene foam packaging. [ + ]