A research team has developed a better way to protect groundwater from acids, heavy metals and toxic chemicals - such as those found in mining, industrial and domestic waste - which would otherwise contaminate the water for decades, rendering it unusable and undrinkable. [ + ]

The Keep Australia Beautiful National Litter Index (NLI), released yesterday, shows that the occurrence of litter nationally is declining. [ + ]

Independent standards company BSI incorporating NCSI has released its second biannual industry survey looking at current Australian corporate practices concerning environmental sustainability and climate change. [ + ]

Lend Lease has announced the appointment of Geoff Dutaillis to the role of group head of sustainability. Commencing in September, he will report to Group COO Dan Labbad. [ + ]

Not-for-profit social business Pollinate Energy is sending three young Aecom professionals to India, in order to improve the livelihood of families living below the poverty line and support local microentrepreneurs. [ + ]

As part of an RMIT University research project, a demonstration home will be built in the Melbourne suburb of Melton to showcase building techniques designed to eliminate construction waste. [ + ]

Research and consulting firm GlobalData has released a report forecasting the global wind power market up to the year 2020. The report finds that despite demonstrating a slowed growth rate, China will continue to be the largest wind power market. [ + ]

DiUS Computing has established a partnership, through its commercialisation subsidiary Percepscion, with Global Network Resources - a Silicon Valley-based technology supplier. The partnership will allow smart-grid-friendly electric vehicle charging solution ChargeIQ to make its debut in the North American market by the end of 2013. [ + ]

The Australian Government has released its 2013-14 priority list of products that will be considered for voluntary certification or regulation under the Product Stewardship Act, including end-of-life handheld batteries. [ + ]

The latest ANUpoll, conducted by the Australian National University and answered by 1200 people, revealed that public concern about the economy and job security has doubled since 2010, while concern about the environment and global warming has halved. [ + ]

Identifying ways to reduce energy usage takes on added importance when you’re consuming almost 1% of New South Wales’ total electricity demand each year. That’s the challenge facing Sydney Water amid the unprecedented transformation of Australia’s energy sector over the past decade. [ + ]

A study into the potential risks of carbon offset programs has identified invasive high-biomass weeds, such as gamba grass, as a possible threat and deterrent for landholders wishing to get involved in such programs. [ + ]

The first ever Solar Decathlon China - a global, student-led, green building research and innovation competition - concluded yesterday with first prize going to Team UOW Australia, a partnership between the University of Wollongong and TAFE Illawarra. [ + ]

The CitySwitch Green Office program, coordinated by the City of Sydney, has received a $1 million cash injection from the Australian Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism as part of the Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program. [ + ]

The latest GlobalData report states that European countries are looking for more diverse energy sources. This will mean boosted investment in their transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure. [ + ]