Award for technological solutions to tackle basic supply challenges
27 June, 2012The Siemens Stiftung (foundation) has launched a worldwide competition aimed at identifying and granting better access to appropriate technological solutions as one of the key levers for sustainable development. The ‘empowering people. Award’ was announced at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20.
Australian businesses believe carbon pricing is here to stay, says EIU survey
27 June, 2012 | Supplied by: GE EnergyAlmost three-quarters (72%) of Australian firms believe the carbon price is here to stay, in one form or another, and 85% of firms directly impacted already have a carbon reduction strategy in place, according to a new business survey.
Award to commemorate Bob Hawke’s Landcare action
26 June, 2012A new agricultural accolade will be named in honour of former Prime Minister and Landcare advocate Bob Hawke.
Price gouging, due to carbon price, could lead to class action litigations
26 June, 2012Businesses that try to price gouge - or improperly inflate prices - following the introduction of the carbon price in July could be opening the door to a new wave of consumer class actions.
Preparing for the carbon price
25 June, 2012 by Chloe Munro*Preparations for Australia’s carbon pricing mechanism shifted into high gear on 2 April when the Clean Energy Regulator came into being.
Timber towers and social sustainability
25 June, 2012The second of the three little pigs built his house out of wood and although in the fairytale the wolf blew it down, the head of UniSA’s Zero Waste Research Centre - Professor Steffen Lehmann - says piggy number two may have been onto something.
The evolution of sustainable communities
25 June, 2012 by Adam Beck, Executive Director - Market Development and Sustainable Communities | Supplied by: Green Building Council AustraliaBuilding rating tools have evolved and are not just about the building but the spaces in between - the entire communities. Adam Beck discusses this evolution and the Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA’s) recent launch of the Green Star - Communities rating tool to recalibrate Australia’s understanding of sustainability at the community scale.
Building tomorrow’s markets: governments and businesses join UNDP to boost sustainable agriculture
19 June, 2012The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) yesterday presented an initiative to boost sustainable agriculture in developing countries through partnerships between governments, businesses and smallholder farmers to coordinate the production and export of key commodities like coffee, grains and cocoa.
ALS Water Sciences Group joins GHD
19 June, 2012The Water Sciences Group (WSG) of Australian Laboratory Services (ALS) has joined engineering, architecture and environmental consulting company GHD.
Castle Hill RSL Club cuts carbon footprint with cogeneration
18 June, 2012 | Supplied by: Simons Green EnergyOn 15 September 2011, Castle Hill RSL Club’s C2K Aquatic Centre turned on a new source of electricity and heat in order to improve energy efficiency while reducing its energy costs and its carbon footprint. After just five months of operation, the results prove that the cogeneration system installed by Simons Green Energy has significantly reduced energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Financial services licensing for emissions units
18 June, 2012From 1 July 2012, various types of emissions units will be financial products under the Corporations Act. Financial services in these products will be regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Communities share in $42 million for smarter energy use
15 June, 2012The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, have announced over $42 million in grants to improve energy efficiency across community buildings and facilities.
Rate your community with the Green Star - Communities tool
15 June, 2012A new sustainability rating tool is set to transform Australia’s cities and communities. The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released Green Star - Communities, an independent, national rating tool which will drive more sustainable, productive and liveable communities.
Christchurch Civic Building wins top Green Building awards
15 June, 2012At Property Council New Zealand’s annual industry awards, the Christchurch Civic Building ‘Te Hononga’ took out the best of the best in the Resene Green Building category, taking the newly established title of ‘Best in Category’. It also won excellence awards in the Hawkins Construction Heritage and Adaptive Reuses category and the Hays Commercial Office category.
Conference to discuss energy economics in a post-Kyoto world
12 June, 2012This month, more than 200 economists, academics and key industry figures from 30 countries will gather in Perth for the International Association for Energy Economics’ (IAEE) 35th Annual International Conference, to be held from 24-27 June at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.