Paint IT green
01 December, 2009Once upon a time, the IT department was ignored when it came to sustainability. But now, more and more Australian companies are wising up to the benefits of green IT. Andrew Collins explains how these new technologies can cut carbon emissions, power usage and your power bill.
Algal synthesiser offers renewed hope of rapid CO2 emissions reduction
23 November, 2009A new technology that may hold the key to rapid, large-scale CO2 emissions reduction from existing coal- and gas-fired power stations and other smoke-stack industries such as smelters and refineries has been unveiled as a curtain-raiser to three major trial installations along the east coast of Australia next year.
Better way to harness waste heat
20 November, 2009New MIT research points the way to a technology that might make it possible to harvest much of the wasted heat produced by everything from computer processor chips to car engines to electric powerplants, and turn it into usable electricity.
Energy-efficient lighting
10 November, 2009 byThe Nimbus LED.next lighting claims to deliver energy savings of up to 70% compared with conventional fluorescent and incandescent lighting and is claimed to be more than twice as energy efficient as low-voltage halogen lighting.
Heat exchanger design
10 November, 2009 byThe Deep Dimple design of the Dimpleflo heat exchanger range achieves good heat transfer coefficients when processing slurries and viscous products or waste streams.
Meeting building codes for lighting systems
10 November, 2009Clothing wholesaler Gazal Apparel recently consolidated its warehousing operation to its distribution centre in Banksmeadow, NSW. In order to maximise space at the centre, high-density pallet racking and mezzanine flooring were installed. During the upgrade, consulting engineers Heggies highlighted to Gazal’s management the Building Code Association (BCA) Section J requirement for minimum energy efficiency standards.
Compressed air solution for production facility
05 November, 2009Australian recreation vehicle manufacturer Jayco optimises production at its new Dandenong production plant, with the aid of a customised energy-efficient compressed air solution from Champion Compressors.
Energy saving work with Silicon Valley companies
13 October, 2009Researchers from the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) are working with Silicon Valley companies to demonstrate energy-efficient data centre technologies.
City's low-carbon plan for 2030
08 October, 2009Plans to turn Sydney into a low-carbon city, using locally-produced electricity from the sun, wind, marine, green power and waste gases, are being developed by the City of Sydney Council as part of its Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan.
Turning food waste into biogas
22 September, 2009McCain Foods will boost its conversion of food waste to biogas, saving on energy use and reducing landfill over the next year, says Graham Harvey, the Australia/New Zealand Operations Director,.
Hybrid motorcycle to optimise energy use
17 September, 2009Schneider Electric will partner with custom motorcycle manufacturer Orange County Choppers (OCC) in the US to design and build a hybrid motorcycle that optimises energy use.
High-speed doors for conveyors
11 September, 2009 byDMF has completed a number of projects which involve installing fast action roll doors on conveyor systems.
Lighting solution at bus maintenance facility
11 September, 2009State Transit - Sydney Buses recently installed an EELC lighting system to replace the standard ‘power-hungry’ high-bay lights used at its bus maintenance facility in Burwood. Replacing 75 standard 400 W high-bay lights with the EELC 1248A_3LT8 light fittings, the new system has reduced power consumption by approximately 100,000 kWh pa and provided significant maintenance-cost savings.
Turning household garbage into power
11 September, 2009WSN Environmental Solutions and joint venture partner LMS Generation have reached a major milestone, generating over 50,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy from waste at the Eastern Creek waste-to-energy complex in its first year of operation.
Sewerage plant creates own power
11 September, 2009Melbourne Water will soon be using the sewage at its Western Treatment Plant in Werribee to produce nearly all of the plant’s power needs.
