Industry News
Symposium to help industry shift to low-carbon economy
To help industry effectively transition to become competitive in a global low-carbon economy, the Carbon Market Institute is bringing together academia and industry to identify and address the skills, competencies and capabilities required. [ + ]
Quick and easy energy measurement with new metering device
The ambitious goals set by the German government to promote energy efficiency have put pressure on companies to change their energy-use policies. But the sustainable management of energy resources and the associated energy-saving measures can only be implemented if users have a reliable means of quantifying their power consumption. A new metering device, which was presented at the Sensor+Test 2012 trade fair in Nuremberg from 22-24 May, has enabled them to do just that. [ + ]
Australia’s greenest data centre scoops national award
The iseek Communications Data Centre, located at Brisbane Airport, has been chosen from a host of high-profile projects to win the WSP Award for Best Sustainable Development - New Buildings at the Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovations and Excellence Awards 2012. [ + ]
South Australian wind power figures vindicate radical energy plan
Yesterday, energy consultants EnergyQuest broke the news that wind power supplied 31% of South Australia’s electricity in the last quarter - up from 21% 12 months ago. Just six years ago, the contribution of wind in South Australia was close to zero. [ + ]
$5.2 billion saving to households and businesses under new national energy efficiency framework
The Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, yesterday introduced the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) legislation to Parliament following agreement between the Gillard government, the New Zealand government and states and territories. [ + ]
The impact of the carbon tax on SMEs
Despite the introduction of the carbon tax being just weeks away, MYOB research reveals close to half of Australia’s small to medium business operators (SMEs) are uninformed about the legislation’s likely impact on their livelihood. [ + ]
National water modelling scheme to improve Australia’s water management
Australia’s first national river-basin modelling platform, Source, was formally launched yesterday by Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, the Hon Don Farrell, at eWater’s Source 2012 Conference. Senator Farrell also announced nearly $4 million of Australian Government funding to support the application of the platform across Australia, with funding matched by the NSW, Victorian, Queensland, South Australian, ACT and Northern Territory governments. [ + ]
Queensland Urban Utilities to participate in $100 million critical water research program
Queensland Urban Utilities will invest $1 million over nine years to participate in the newly established Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Water Sensitive Cities. The centre will undertake a national research program, which aims to revolutionise urban water management in Australia by influencing and guiding more than $100 billion in water investments and $550 billion in private sector urban investment over the next 15 years. [ + ]
Australian solar technology breaks the 20% barrier
Australian solar research has produced photovoltaic solar cells that recently broke the 20% barrier for conversion efficiency in capturing the sun’s energy, the highest-ever efficiency for a low-cost, commercial silicon solar cell. [ + ]
EnergyAdvice joins global Energy Experts Alliance
Australian energy consultancy company EnergyAdvice has been welcomed into the Energy Experts Alliance - a global energy management collaboration between energy advisory companies assisting the world’s biggest businesses to manage their global energy use and costs. [ + ]
Cost efficiency still drives sustainability in the property industry
More than 54% of property industry respondents rate cost and other efficiencies as the most important sustainable feature of a building, compared with just 25% who felt achieving NABERS and Green Star ratings to be the most important sustainable feature, according to a survey by leading engineers, project managers and technical consultants Aurecon. [ + ]
Low Carbon Australia and Climate Change Authority appointments
The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, has announced that the Hon Mike Rann has been appointed to the Board of Low Carbon Australia. The government is also pleased to announce it will appoint Anthea Harris as the Chief Executive Officer of the new Climate Change Authority. [ + ]
NZ’s $4.6 billion national grid investment
The Sustainable Electricity Association of New Zealand (SEANZ) has welcomed the government’s Budget announcement that $4.6 billion would be spent upgrading the national electricity grid over the next 10 years. [ + ]
Savvy students’ solution can cut costs of power bills
Consumers could save on power bills thanks to an energy-saving solution devised by two savvy students at the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies. [ + ]
Thousands of students to participate in largest recycling challenge
Australia’s largest schools recycling program, MobileMuster’s 2012 Schools Recycling Challenge, has kicked off again for the fifth year running. This free schools program, offered by the telecommunications industry, is designed to educate and engage students in learning about product stewardship and the importance of keeping old mobiles and their accessories out of landfill. [ + ]
