Green energy charity Ashden has announced the selection of seven sustainable energy pioneers working across Africa, India, Cambodia, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Peru as finalists for the Ashden Awards 2012. [ + ]

The use of a more streamlined process to recycle wastewater could have saved Brisbane from severe flooding in 2011 and mitigated recent flood risks in NSW, a leading water expert says. [ + ]

The communities of Booleroo Centre and Melrose in South Australia's southern Flinders Ranges will save nearly six million litres of water each year through the use of an innovative water-saving technique. [ + ]

Engineering, architecture and environmental consulting company GHD has received a Service Provider Innovation Award at the Smart Water Fund’s Innovation and Excellence Awards for its alternative water atlas for Melbourne. [ + ]

In the UK, Sainsbury's is eliminating 500 trucks from the road each year simply by reducing the inner diameter of its toilet rolls. [ + ]

San Francisco has received a boost towards its goal to meet 100% of electricity needs with renewable energy in the next 10 years with a new renewable energy tool, the Urban Wind Map. [ + ]

The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has released two new waste policy reports: the Liquid Waste Assessment Report and Waste Classifications in Australia. [ + ]

CSIRO oceanographers have embarked on a 10-day, $2 million research voyage they believe will generate the most complete profile yet of one of Australia’s most influential environmental features, the East Australian Current. [ + ]

Mundijong, in rural Western Australia, is embracing new away from home recycling. The initiative, which is expected to divert more than 10 t of beverage containers from landfill annually (equivalent to more than 400,000 small plastic drink bottles), is a partnership between the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s Packaging Stewardship Forum and the Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire. [ + ]

Nominations are now open for three categories of the MobileMuster local government awards - Best Promoter, Working with Schools and National Excellence. [ + ]

Geelong’s Botanic Gardens and Eastern Park will be greener thanks to the construction of new stormwater irrigation infrastructure. The Australian Government is providing funding of $415,000 for the Eastern Park project, which is part of $2.79 million in Australian Government funding for the broader Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse - Geelong’s Plan project. [ + ]

The early-stage breakthrough of a University of Sydney researcher and his German collaborators could see the realisation of 40% efficiency for low-cost solar cells suitable for rooftop panels. [ + ]

Car constructor and green homes builder Mick Fabar plans to stun car enthusiasts, politicians and environmentalists alike at Meguiar’s MotorEx in Sydney’s Olympic Park Dome on 21 July, when he unveils ZERO’D, a 600 horsepower, turbocharged, biodiesel V8-powered sedan built with a ‘zero carbon footprint’ approach. [ + ]

A new report by GlobalData predicts a steep rise in the market for compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) as energy-efficient lighting becomes increasingly important as an immediate solution to rising electricity consumption and as CFLs become more compatible with existing lighting infrastructures. [ + ]

Small-scale renewables could play a big part in New Zealand’s electricity future, says Brendan Winitana, Chair of the Sustainable Electricity Association of New Zealand. [ + ]