SustainabilityMatters Feature Articles

Recycling water in your backyard

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:39:00 +0000

Unit blocks, gated communities and other strata-titled properties could collect, manage and recycle water on site to take pressure off mains water, a Griffith University report has found.

E-waste solution and action

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:31:46 +0000

In a national first, a new waste policy and recycling schemes for TVs, computers and tyres was endorsed by environment ministers at the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) meeting in Perth on 5 November.

Clean algae biofuel project

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:51:34 +0000

Australian scientists are achieving the world's best production rates of oil from algae grown in open saline ponds, taking them a step closer to creating commercial quantities of clean biofuel for the future. Construction of a multimillion-dollar pilot plant in WA’s north-west will start in January.

Cost of installed solar photovoltaic systems in the US fell in 2008

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:37:11 +0000

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have released a new study on the installed costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems in the US, showing that the average cost of these systems declined by more than 30% from 1998 to 2008. Within the last year of this period, costs fell by more than 4%.

Troubled waters: Australian water reform 2009

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:54:06 +0000

Australia’s water is still in trouble according to a new report by the National Water Commission. 'Australian water reform 2009' is the Commission’s two-yearly assessment of progress in implementing the National Water Initiative - the blueprint for water reform that was agreed to by the Australian government and state and territory governments in 2004.

Turning food waste into biogas

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:38:09 +0000

McCain 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,.

Model for measuring water use in the minerals industry

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:21:58 +0000

The mining industry is developing a new system to measure and account for water use across the sector to ensure the scarce resource is used sustainably and efficiently.

Geoengineering no replacement for reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:34:17 +0000

The Royal Society of London has released a major report on geoengineering - "the deliberate and large-scale intervention in the Earth's climate system, in order to moderate global warming". In this article, The Royal Society of New Zealand provides commentary on the UK report, highlighting issues of particular relevance to New Zealand.

New Energy Pipeline Research Centre

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:14:31 +0000

The Energy Pipelines Cooperative Research Centre is one of 10 new centres to be allocated funding in the latest round of the government’s Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) program. The Australian Pipeline Industry Association (APIA) has welcomed the announcement, by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research saying that it is encouraged that pipeline infrastructure is seen as a critical part of the nation’s battle to reduce carbon emissions.

Golf course opens on old landfill site

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:08:43 +0000

The NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt, along with the Member for Menai, Alison Megarrity, have officially opened The Ridge Golf Course on the site of the old Lucas Heights landfill.

NEWater plant in Singapore - first stage completed

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:07:31 +0000

Black & Veatch has announced that the first phase of the Sembcorp Changi NEWater Plant (SCNP) in Singapore was completed on schedule. The plant uses the main advanced water treatment process steps of micro-filtration (MF), reverse osmosis (RO) and ultraviolet radiation to produce NEWater, high-grade reclaimed water. When completed in 2010, the plant will supply 15% of Singapore’s current water needs.

Sun sets on real green jobs while politicians fiddle

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:10:53 +0000

In the wake of the federal government’s 50,000 green jobs announcement, Conergy, a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of renewable energy systems, is reminding Australians that there are real green jobs in the solar industry crying out for the promised support of our elected politicians.

Redefining sustainability

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:00:25 +0000

The challenge for business now is to transcend compliance obligations and move towards truly sustainable operations, taking a holistic approach to environmental, social and economic values. This has become a key competitive issue and is increasingly likely to become a differentiator between those who succeed and those who do not.

Leak detection advances using fibre optics

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:41:54 +0000

Fibre-optic technology is making it possible to monitor pipeline its entire length with thousands of monitoring points providing a near real-time picture of what’s actually happening.

Are current groundwater remediation technologies sustainable?

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:09:51 +0000

As the remediation industry matures and becomes more conscious of the impact of remediation activities on the environment, the question now arises whether these technologies are sustainable remediation approaches to be considered in the future.

'Big infrastructure' not the answer

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:13:39 +0000

Australians have continued to make their mark on the international water scene as part of Singapore International Water Week, sharing local experience with nations struggling with extreme water challenges. And one message is that ‘big infrastructure’ is not always the solution.

The safe use of recycled water

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:24:56 +0000

Continued population growth, droughts and limited water storage capacity are placing ever increasing pressure on Australian water supplies. One of the responses to this pressure has been increased use of recycled water. However, increased use has to be balanced against protection of public health; the greatest risk is from enteric microorganisms.

Environment groups unite to oppose emissions trading legislation

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:18:32 +0000

A series of compromises by the federal government on its pre-election commitment to take strong action on climate change has led to national and peak state-based environment organisations today uniting in opposition to the proposed emissions trading legislation.

Paperless proof, the e-government magic act

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:50:18 +0000

A French-developed security platform which turns email into the electronic equivalent of registered mail could help deal with the bureaucratic paper mountains throughout Europe.

Grants to help industry tackle climate change

Thu, 21 May 2009 02:43:35 +0000

Reducing reliance on town water through effective water recycling and harnessing the benefits of solar power are two of the initiatives among the 23 successful projects to be awarded over $3 million in Re-tooling for Climate Change grants. New guidelines for the next round of grants have now been released, broadening the eligibility criteria.