Black & Veatch has appointed Cindy Wallis-Lage as President of its global water business. She will lead the company’s efforts to address billions of dollars in water infrastructure needs around the world. [ + ]

Research launched by the City of Melbourne and University of Melbourne will give building owners across Melbourne access to information that can help their buildings absorb less heat and stay cooler during hot days. The research assesses the benefits of white roofs. [ + ]

ABB, 4R Energy, Nissan North America (NNA) and Sumitomo Corporation of America have formed a partnership to evaluate the re-use of the battery packs that power the Nissan Leaf, the world’s first and only all-electric car designed for the mass market. The purpose is to evaluate and test the residential and commercial applications of energy storage systems or backup power sources using lithium-ion battery packs reclaimed from electric vehicles after use. [ + ]

Following more than three years of comprehensive research, planning and extensive consultation with the local community and the regulator, SITA Australia (SITA) has received the state government permits to develop a soil processing facility to treat and recover contaminated soil at its Taylors Road Landfill in Dandenong South. [ + ]

The national coalition of healthcare groups, the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), has today released its Position Statement on wind turbines and human health, rejecting the claims of anti-wind groups that wind power poses a threat to health. [ + ]

The Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, today announced the latest schools to receive grants as part of the Gillard Government’s National Solar Schools Program. [ + ]

Superior Pak, a Transpacific Company, received AS4123 accreditation of the 240-litre bins in November 2011. This independent third-party product certification indicates the Superior Pak product meets the highest industry standard. [ + ]

The Steel Stewardship Forum has been established to bring together all of the participants in the Australian steel supply chain with a view to achieving sustainability improvements across the whole chain. The launch of the Forum’s website has been seen as an important step in communicating information on the Forum and the progress it is making.

Campbell Scientific has acquired the Sirco range of water-sampling systems that can be used to monitor water quality, including stormwater, wastewater, groundwater sampling and other water-quality monitoring applications. [ + ]

Australian Egg Corporation Limited (AECL) research suggests that egg production has the lowest carbon footprint of all the main protein foods. [ + ]

The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has released a guide to assist in the development of effective markets for the re-use of construction and demolition waste. The ‘Construction and Demolition Waste Guide - recycling and re-use across the supply chain’ draws on Australian case studies to highlight the best practice waste management and resource recovery in the construction and demolition sector and to address a common perception that the re-use of this type of waste is too difficult. [ + ]

International water scientists have issued a call for action over the growing threat to the world’s groundwater supplies from over-extraction and pollution. [ + ]

Smarter use of local energy resources can cut both power bills and carbon emissions, according to a new report from the University of Technology, Sydney. [ + ]

Arup Global Planning Leader David Singleton has been appointed the new Chairman of the Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC). [ + ]

National Water Commissioner Laurie Arthur has released a set of three reports that demonstrate Australia’s maturing water markets continue to play a vital role in helping irrigators manage their businesses. [ + ]