Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast
Business and Policy
What’s new in Business and Policy clean technologies?
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Organic Liquid and Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Service
Nat Geo & Kathmandu Launch Global Series On Eco-Tourism
Emissions Reduction Fund remains central to Coalition climate policy
De-smogging mining director Ian Plimer’s anti-climate rant in The Australian
Predictions for 2019 – B Corp
Grand Canyon National Park turns 100: How a place once called ‘valueless’ became grand
The State of Green Business, 2019
Environmental Sustainability Policy
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Transport
What’s new in Transport clean technologies?
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Euro 6/VI vehicle emissions standards
#4b8b93Ford’s luxury Lincoln brand to make an electric vehicle with Rivian
The HUMMER Returns As An Electric Vehicle — 1,000 Horsepower, 0–60 MPH In 3 Seconds
Tesla Model 3 Protected Owner, Family During Australian Fires
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Tesla Says 2020 Deliveries Should Comfortably Exceed 500,000
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The dirty secret of electric vehicles
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Another Study Argues Electric Cars Are Bad for the Environment. It’s Demonstrably False
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‘Tipping point’: Electric vehicle ownership costs to undercut gas and diesel cars post-2022
With the launch of self-driving ride-share service ‘Waymo One,’ what’s next for cities?
The pace of corporate electric fleet commitments is picking up
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
New CISC Committee Celebrates Cleantech
At the AGM and Christmas Drinks, we welcomed the new Management Committee of Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast. President & Secretary Megyn Carpenter, Vice President Peter Kelly and Treasurer Jackie Capiaghi. New Management Committee members Mark Leckenby of Enopte and Josh Bennett of Q-Image joined Leanne Hellmrich, Darren Walters, Adam Prescott, Will Waters and Glenn Eales. Megyn thanked Jackie for the her work with the financials over the past 3 years.
Megyn acknowledged the tremendous support of the Sunshine Coast Council, in particular Scott Breust and Cr. Steve Robinson, for their commitment to CISC announcing that CISC has been awarded Community Partnerships annual funding of $10,000 over three years to assist with operational expenses.
Megyn said “This funding will give a huge boost to CISC. As a volunteer association, I believe we have come a long way in the past couple of years. We have fantastic support and there are huge opportunities for businesses in the cleantech industry, especially with the national conference being held here in May 2019.”
Encouraging CISC Members to attend the National Clean Technology Conference and Exhibition in May 2019, Megyn said “CISC Members receive a 40% discount to the conference giving savings of up to $500. With CISC annual membership being kept at $99, being a member of Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast has fantastic benefits.”
Jackie, Andrea, Megyn and Kaz 
New Management Committee member Josh Bennett, Dr Rob Pitt and Andrew from Q-Image 
Sandie Johnston of Envirocom spoke about the changes in waste and how businesses can operate in this new environment. 
Nick Moore, here with Beau Frith, gave an update of the National Clean Technology Conference and Exhibition talking about the opportunities available for cleantech businesses. 
Scott Breust from Sunshine Coast Council gave an update on the numerous opportunities for cleantech businesses in the coming 6 months. 
Mark Leckenby of Enopte spoke about clean energy and new solar and battery technology. 
Lily Tannock, Leanne Hellmrich, Stephanie Moraz, Darren Walters 
Scott Breust of Sunshine Coast Council congratulated CISC members, Intelligent Automation & G-Switch for winning the cleantech category of the 2018 Sunshine Coast Business Awards. 
Megyn said “Thankyou to our CISC business members for supporting the association and the industry. Your membership is our reason for being and we are happy to support businesses who are doing the right thing for people, planet and profit.” 
Bernie, David, Des and Greg celebrating cleantech.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Water Management Articles
What’s New in Water Management Clean Technologies?
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Visit a Dam this Weekend
With some travelling restrictions being lifted, our local dams are great places to go for walking or having a picnic. Visit Ewen Maddock Dam, Baroon Pocket Dam or Wappa Dam for some fresh air.
New National Water Grid Authority
Stanthorpe’s water officially runs out, trucks bring supplies from dam near Warwick
Farmers in Queensland’s salad bowl region warn food prices will rise due to drought
Darling River water bought back from irrigators in $30m deal struck with Federal Government
‘Broken system’ causing water crisis for farmers
Thirsty echidnas, kangaroos, goannas and birds drink from trough on NSW farm
Pipeline probe for parched Queensland town
National Bushfire Recovery Agency
Future Drought Fund
Canberra’s drinking water catchment now ‘endangered’ area
Lower Darling River to run dry with more fish deaths possible as authorities plan to stop flows from Menindee
Disaster narratives: Flooding in Townsville
Murray cod rescue mission as fisheries officers scoop up ailing Menindee fish by hand
Dead Fish And Drying Rivers Reveal What’s ‘Rotten’ About The Murray-Darling
Global Cooling Prize
#4b8b93 -South Australian sardines earn the blue fish tick for sustainability
What caused the death of a million fish in the Murray-Darling Basin?
Cool Australia – Water Pollution
Research Honored For Contribution To Water Management
Your Watershed column: Integrated Water Management Planning — a Plan for All
Joint Approach to New Research of Land and Water Management
Orchards & a Water Management Legacy
AMI Smart Water management market 2018-2025 Segmentation by Regions Overall Analysis
Treating City Wastewater as a Resource
Coast Guard Issues Final Rule on Ballast Water Reporting
Murray-Darling Basin
Investors Increasingly Engaged on World Water Issues
Drowning in Dirty Water, Permian Seeks $22 Billion Lifeline
NSW Councils Come Together to Weigh-up Water Issues
Innovation will permeate the dialogue at Stockholm World Water Week
All natural? These fracking byproducts could fight water scarcity
TasWater unable to tell Deloraine residents when boil water alert will be lifted
Toshiba to Showcase a Comprehensive Series of Water Management Technologies at SIWW2018
South Africa and Japan cooperate on water management
Cutting-edge membranes may be the future of waste water management
New Zealand gov’t urged to act on drinking water management
Sustainable Land And Water Management Project Takes Off
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Waste Management Articles
What’s new in Waste Management clean technologies?
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Products Made from Recycled Plastics
EIS highlights benefits of proposed energy recovery project at Lithgow
East Rockingham EfW plant construction on track for early 2020
Construction underway for Australia’s first thermal waste-to-energy facility
The state of waste in Australia – a 2019 review
EIS highlights benefits of proposed energy recovery project at Lithgow
East Rockingham EfW plant construction on track for early 2020
Construction underway for Australia’s first thermal waste-to-energy facility
The state of waste in Australia – a 2019 review
Organic Liquid and Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Service
Better recycling through chemistry
The community composting movement: how to make a closed-loop food-and-waste system sexy
The rise of plastic insecurity in China’s Yangtze River economic belt
The single biggest source of ocean trash – and it’s not what you might think
Australian businesses called on to help Clean Up Australia
Report highlights urgency needed to improve Queensland’s waste management
Container refund scheme prompts calls for crackdown on ‘bin chickens’ cashing in on recycling
Researchers scramble for answers after deaths of up to 20,000 guillemots off Dutch coast
Here’s what happens to our plastic recycling when it goes offshore
No More Foam!’ Mayor Marks Start of NYC Styrofoam Ban
It’s time to break up with plastic
This Guy Made A Surfboard Out Of Trash
Resource recovery industry development program
Queensland biomass mapping and data
REMONDIS intends to develop $400M QLD waste to energy facility
Biofutures – Queensland Government
HP joins rival Dell’s consortium to turn ocean-bound plastic trash into products
Waste Management: Great For Dividend Investors but Expensive for Growth Investors
Waste Management Promises Changes at High Acres Landfill; Opponents Say They’re Not Enough
Is Waste Management (WM) Stock Outpacing its Business Services Peers This Year?
Meeting: Solid Waste Management District
What a Waste: An Updated Look into the Future of Solid Waste Management
Getting Smart About Trash
Qld Waste Strategy and Disposal Levy
What will it take to end plastic pollution?
Inside the global war on plastic pollution
Australia needs to start recycling and reusing its own waste, says industry struggling under China’s ban
Straw No More in Adelaide as Mayor backs ban with War On Waste II set for launch
What is rubbish and what is recycling? Test yourself with this quiz
Now China refuses to be dumping ground for the world’s waste, where on Earth will it all go?
Small cities win big on waste management
Waste management lessons for Kenya from the Swedish model
Closing the Loop—European Circular Economy Package to Improve Waste Management
Management insights for a waste management company
New tool improves residential waste management services
People are calling Woolworths out for using unnecessary plastic packaging just days after the plastic bag ban
A rubbish idea: how blockchains could tackle the world’s waste problem
Everyone Is Applauding This National Geographic Cover But The Real Shock Lies Inside The Pages
Pernod Ricard: Getting Rid of Plastic Straws is a Call to Corporate Responsibility
A New Role for Brands – Vancouver
Four ways to manage healthcare waste sustainably
Singapore’s first zero-waste grocery store is opening
How can industries innovate in the year of climate action?
What are the world’s biggest plastic polluters doing about the problem?
Plastic is not the problem, it’s what you choose to do with plastic that’s the problem: expert
Ministers commit to eliminating all packaging going to landfill
Google is changing the sustainable office game
Food giants Unilever, Nestle and PepsiCo will get tougher on single-use plastics
Mixed reaction to environment ministers’ recycling agreement
Behind Europe’s quest to scale industrial symbiosis
Meet Daisy, Apples latest robot recovering and reusing iPhone components
Is the future of farming vertical?
Environment and Liveability Strategy 2017
How Singapore firms are shrinking their packaging footprint
Fact check: Does a Toyota Corolla emit less than a Tesla?
Global effort could cut ocean plastics by 77% by 2025
EU ambassadors approve new rules on waste management and recycling
Be Promoted Globally by Austrade
Waste management recognised by the United Nations
Making the best out of waste: These 8 startups are helping Indian cities manage trash
Waste Action Collective: Dehradun citizens’ initiative to deal with waste disposal
Nepal lacks e-waste management laws
Clarkson: Catalina Waste Management Program converting building waste into useful supplies
The War on Waste ABC Series with Craig Reucassel
Coles to follow Woolworths’ lead and phase out plastic bags around the country
Biofutures
Towards Zero Landfill Project
Contact lens recycling scheme brings Australia closer to zero waste vision
How to win the climate wars – talk about local ‘pollution’ not global warming
Thirsty world must wake up to looming water crisis, expert says
‘Nobody is safe’: Plastic found in drinking water on five continents
Regional Development Innovation Awards 2017
In an Aussie first, creators of “poo powerd car” hope to leave their mark on the world
Scientists create edible water orbs to replace plastic bottles
What if we could build roads with recycled plastic?
Victorian Government launches “waste to energy” fund
Central Australian salt mine proposal to double as waste facility
Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub
TENDER: Redlands City Council Waste Collection and Disposal Tender. EOI Closing 2 June 2017
Plastic eating bacteria discovered in Japan could solve the problem of plastic pollution
Transforming waste into fuel with Australian innovations.
This company has a genius solution to food waste
Kiwi company turns plastic waste into high-quality concrete
Olympic Medals for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games are to be made from recycled mobile phones in an effort to promote sustainability and save costs.
In a collaboration of the country’s five largest waste and resource recovery companies, the new National Waste & Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) will be the national policy setting body.
The Mobile Muster diverted more than 5122 kilograms of mobiles, batteries, chargers and accessories from landfill in a year.
Queensland mechanical engineers have developed an end-of-life tyre recycling process that produces oil with less emissions (and no loss of engine performance). It also produces carbon and steel leaving nothing wasted. Reducing the 1.5 billion tonnes of tyres discarded each year has to be good.
France bans plastic cups, plates and cutlery.
Waste 2017 Conference & Exhibition at Coffs Harbour, 2-4 May 2017
The Energy from Waste Conference in London next week will include a site visit to the recently-opened Greatmoor Energy from Waste facility.
Takeaway coffee cups cannot be recycled with other cardboard products due to their liquid-proof liner made from plastic. A dedicated coffee cup recycling system is being trialed in Sydney to save them being dumped in landfill. Coffee cups in the UK are shredded and made into polymer, a durable plastic which can be used for carry trays, placemats, coasters, outdoor furniture or even used in shop fit-outs.
Calling for a more circular economy, plastic would be repeatedly recycled instead of ending up as trash or marine pollution. Unilever has committed that all of the plastic packaging used in its products will be 100 per cent reusable, recyclable, and compostable by 2025.
A volunteer group organises trips to various islands in the Whitsundays to clean up plastic that washes up on beaches. A great way to explore the Great Barrier Reef!
Many of the world’s largest companies benefit from plastic without having to compensate society for the material’s decades-long environmental costs. Could a New Plastics Economy be the answer?
Solar powered water wheel garbage collector in action.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Clean Energy Articles
What’s new in Clean Energy clean technologies?
Bookmark this page and revisit to see the latest updates.
Electricity Bill Components
Australia rooftop solar installs total 2.13GW in 2019 after huge December rush
Greener homes get loan discount
South Australia on track to 100 pct renewables, as regulator comes to party
Solar generation is being buffeted by financial headwinds that are killing investment
A positive outlook for renewable energy in the new decade
Who will come out on top? Queensland Government weighs up renewable energy prospects
Europe completes largest solar energy plant
Tech giants power record surge in renewable energy sales
Texas Is the Center of the Global Corporate Renewable Energy Market
Siemens, DEWA partner on revolutionary blockchain strategy for Dubai
Global renewable energy trends. Solar and wind move from mainstream to preferred
CEFC partners with Bank Australia to deliver clean energy home loans
AGL signs up for “giant” battery in Queensland, paving way for 1000MW solar plant
Save energy. The average commercial building wastes 30 percent of the energy it consumes
A New “Solar Paint” Lets You Transform Your Entire House Into a Source of Clean Energy
Coal bites the dust in Germany, Europe’s greenest nation
How China’s big overseas initiative threatens global climate progress
5 things to look for in the Green New Deal
Commercial and industrial solar installs through the roof as business wakes up to the sun
Gupta’s Simec pushes into Victoria, says “baseload” renewables to “change the game”
NSW under pressure to move quickly on renewables, as coal clunkers fail
2018: The year fossil fuels began their inexorable decline
Italian oil major taps Australian renewables, buys up NT “biggest” solar farm
Kondinin wind-solar-battery project gets the nod in Western Australia
Renewables reach highest share of Australia’s power in 40 years
UN warns world on track to breach 3C rise by 2100; last year was fourth warmest on record
Global Cooling Prize
Competition fears threaten Chinese investment in US clean tech
Earth Day – Earth Challenge 2020
Community Portal
Climate Council Australia
7 crucial tools to accelerate energy efficiency
For Oil Majors Investigating Clean Energy, It’s About Balancing Risk and Return
Clean Energy Group Outline Principles for PJM Capacity Market Reform
Clean Energy Regulator Counts 9GW in Big Solar and Wind Pipeline
Tesla Gigafactory 1 New Drone Flyover Shows Latest Massive Solar Array Progress
Tesla’s Massive Power-pack Battery in Australia Cost $66 Million and Already made up to ~$17 Million
The Promise and Peril of Blockchain
Cleantech Solar and Climate Fund Managers Enter Strategic Partnership
Delhi Backs Incentives for Clean Energy Switch to Combat Pollution
California mandates 100 percent clean energy by 2045
Queensland cotton farmer makes shift to solar
Solar Insiders Podcast: The future of Solar Rebates
Origin backs ACCC call to end rooftop solar rebates
Energy for the Future Affordability, Reliability and Emissions
The 7 most energy hungry appliances in your home
Can We Live Without Aircon?
Top 10 ways to save on energy bills
How to Reduce Your Energy Bill with No Cost or Sacrifice
What is Sustainable Energy?
A guide to Australia’s future energy options
Repower is a people powered campaign to upgrade Australia’s Eenergy system to 100 %
Solar sheep trial helps University of Queensland cut its energy costs
Power and energy tops M&A scoreboard in first half in clean energy drive: data
EU and China to join forces on clean energy transition
Group behind clean energy initiative submits more than 480K signatures
It is vital to invest in the future of clean energy for all
Biggest German gas grid operator sees role in renewable energy future
California lawmakers push 100% clean energy bill closer to governor’s desk
Solar and battery underway in Australia’s “largest” renewables microgrid
Ultimate Power Resource Guide
Renewable energy set to supply one-third of market needs by 2020
Standing our ground by investing in our soil
Clean Energy Sector Employs More Than 10 Million For The First Time
Energy UK launches new consumer-centric, ‘Future of Energy’ vision
A New Role for Brands – Vancouver
Forests: the Cinderella of climate solutions
How to unlock renewables? Cheaper, cleaner, better batteries
New 11MW solar farm sets new benchmarks in Queensland
Zen Ecosystems will soon get a boost from the Clean Energy Innovation Fund.
Switch to solar gathers speed as two new solar farms join grid
Google is changing the sustainable office game
Australia’s biggest solar farm about to begin commissioning
Bill McKibben: ‘There’s clearly money to be made from sun and wind’
‘Captain Sunshine’ says Australia is not living up to its solar potential
How businesses are benefiting from Hawaiian Electric’s virtual power plant
Intuit hatches plan to help customers and employees buy clean power
Walmart to double EV charging network with Electrify America
GM, HP, Walmart and others demand simpler buying renewables
Meet Daisy, Apples latest robot recovering and reusing iPhone components
Is the future of farming vertical?
Environment and Liveability Strategy 2017
Carlton & United Breweries to go 100 % green
New-build homes with solar and storage? “It’s going to be the norm”
Europe sails towards electrified shipping fleets
Creative ways to finance solar and storage systems
Australia’s untapped ‘solar superpower’ potential
Microsoft inks its first clean energy deal in Asia with solar project
Solar power: What happens when we start producing more electricity than we can consume?
5 problems the internet of energy can solve
Cities can change the fate of the world’s climate outlook: Christiana Figueres
7 climate change myths that big oil continues to perpetuate
Sunshine Coast bringing the future of transport to South East Queensland
Solar unlimited: How to use inverters to get past export limits
Be Promoted Globally by Austrade
Tesla Pickup Coming Immediately After Model Y, & Tesla Clean Energy To Boom Soon (#ElonTweets)
A great year for clean energy in Australia ends, while bad news for coal
A new solar highway in China perfectly captures its clean-energy ambitions
The Sunny Optimism of Clean Energy Shines Through Tech’s Gloom
How Corporations ‘Bypassed the Politics’ to Lead on Clean Energy in 2017
UK Breaks 13 Clean Energy Records in 2017
Taming the Power-Hungry Blockchain Beast with Decentralized, Clean Energy
Queensland’s clean energy election pledge builds on its established record says CEC
New Poll Finds 81% Of New Yorkers Want To Choose Clean Energy
We are paving the way for Chinese dominance in clean energy
How clean energy is set to overtake coal in this competitive electricity market
Los Angeles is setting the PACE for the clean energy economy
Michigan nonprofit seeks local solutions on clean energy
Queensland’s electric vehicle super highway revs up
Compare unbiased real-time battery performance data – 3 Year Trial Ongoing Test Results
Sunshine Coast Council stays true to its name by opening its own solar farm in a local government first
3,000 renewable energy jobs make Qld shine as energy investment leader
Lithium Ion Battery Test Centre
New bill cutting energy initiatives announced as Palaszczuk Govt continues to use energy assets to back Qlders
Review: Is An Inconvenient Sequel the wake-up call we all need?
Why is climate change’s 2 degrees Celsius of warming limit so important?
Renewable energy to power 139 countries by 2050 — scientists
Here’s a tool to help companies stay ahead in changing carbon markets
The world’s largest lithium ion battery will be installed in South Australia.
Regional Development Innovation Awards
Clearer rules to facilitate battery storage take up
Aussie tech firm in electric aircraft race
World’s longest electric vehicle super highway revs up
Clearer rules to facilitate battery storage take up
Power prices should drop under Queensland plan
Creators of “poo-powered car” hope to leave mark on the world
We can now harvest electricity from plants
Cool Customers: UTS gets it’s cooling energy from across the road in Aussie first
The Holy Grail of glazing: high insulating energy generating glass on the way
See the solar powered drone that can stay in the air indefinitely
Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub
TENDER: Partner with Energy Queensland Limited to provide Solar PV Systems including the design, supply, installation, maintenance, cleaning and quality assurance. EOI closing 22 May 2017
It’s Local Solar, it’s Community and it’s Cheaper – Networked Innovations in Winning Tender
Denmark’s Monster Wind Turbine just Smashed the 24hour Record for Energy Production
How to really cut energy use in offices
Energy Positive: How Denmark’s Samso Island Switched to Zero Carbon
Solar Panels That Can Get Energy From Raindrops
Making Electricity from Footsteps: Is Pavegen the Future for Renewable Energy?
Wind Power Generation – With Kites
Cooper Pedy renewable hybrid power project enters commissioning phase
A wind turbine with flapping wings might be quieter and safer for birds
Australian world-first ’solar-glass’ hopes to make deserts bloom.
Video: First commercial 2-seater solar plane to reach the stratosphere.
CSIRO have developed heliostats used in solar energy that have a smaller footprint and use an advanced control system. In an agreement with China, the Australian heliostat technology will be used to help China deliver solar thermal.
Move over Get Smart! Could you power your mobile phone by walking in these shoes? A group of mechanical engineers have developed innovative shoes that could produce up to 10 watts of energy per shoe.
Big business taking clean energy seriously and making significant cost savings. Oil and gas giant has committed to 5,000 rooftop solar PV installations over 5 years with estimated electricity savings of $40 million per year, lowering annual carbon emissions by 100,000 tons.
The Lego Factory in Jiaxing, China will install 20,000 solar panels, generating almost 6 gigawatts of clean energy annually and avoiding more than 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
Project Sunroof is a Google innovation where homeowners in the USA can enter their address and get a sophisticated understanding of their solar potential and whether it makes sense for them to go solar.
Localised energy featuring local power and sharing is disrupting the big utilities. Blockchain technology allows for solar sharing and micro-grids.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Finance and General Cleantech
Bookmark this page and revise to read the latest Finance and General Cleantech news.
CEFC partners with Bank Australia to deliver clean energy home loans
Tech giants power record surge in renewable energy sales
Siemens, DEWA partner on revolutionary blockchain strategy for Dubai
Farmers in Queensland’s salad bowl region warn food prices will rise due to drought
Darling River water bought back from irrigators in $30m deal struck with Federal Government
‘Broken system’ causing water crisis for farmers
These are the cleantech stocks that beat the ASX last quarter
Why clean-tech stocks are outperforming
What is a circular economy? A framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design
National Bushfire Recovery Agency
Future Drought Fund
Dashcam footage shows how fast bushfires can move when the wind changes – video
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Built Environment Articles
What’s new in Built Environment clean technologies?
Bookmark this page and revisit to see the latest updates.
University Builds Sustainable Street
Queensland poised to lead new bushfire resilience standards
Bushfire Resilient Communities
6 Ways to Save Energy in Your Building
Save energy. The average commercial building wastes 30 percent of the energy it consumes.
The Best Smart Home Devices for 2019
Build It Back Green: Bushfire eco-resilience
A New “Solar Paint” Lets You Transform Your Entire House Into a Source of Clean Energy
In India’s fast-growing cities, a grassroots effort to save the trees
Can we have Urbanisation and enough to eat
ASBEC & ClimateWorks throw their support behind a low energy building framework
Buyers snap up homes in super-sustainable housing estate at Cape Patterson
ClearVue solar glass notches first commercial setting – a shopping centre atrium
Australia Will Get a Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings
Towards a Regenerative Future – Leadership Summit on Sustainable Design and Ecological Stewardship
Eco Luxury Property
India is building a high-tech sustainable city form scratch
Photographs that imagine a brighter future
Leading the way with LED’s
Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment Leads the Way Towards a Decarbonized Built Environment
5 Energy, Environment and Process Firms Tacking the Biggest Global Problems
From breathing walls to rain-harvesting canopies: The coolest tech at Singapore Green Building Week
A Civic Outcry in Malaysia Faces a Chinese Builder to Live up to its Eco-friendly Promise
3 Ways to Create More Resilient Communities
Smart Cities are on the move
School architecture of the future
Designers vs. Climate Change
UN Environment, Yale University demonstrate how to make modern living sustainable with new eco-housing
City sweetens deal for green building projects
Construction Sector Deal: Government sets course for halving building energy use and emissions
Call for action within the built environment to help meet sustainable development goals
The Iconic Mount Everest Site is Turning Into What Looks Like A Dumping Ground
Chart of the day: Where does Australia’s rubbish come from?
Reusable cups lead a revolution in reducing waste
Why recycling your old phone matters
How the built environment impacts healthy ageing
How green, flexible infrastructure can make cities resilient
Some Of The Hidden Reasons Why Dallas Is Booming
We need smart thinking in our built environment… and in our political world too
Toward a playbook for public-private partnerships
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Conference Sessions at The Cleantech Effect 2017
50 Years Strong and Growing
A look at the development of the Sunshine Coast – 50 year anniversary. And what’s next?
Design Challenges – Creating Sustainable Communities
In this keynote session, multi award-winning architect and Director of Maddison Architects Peter Maddison will discuss the importance of challenging current housing and community design to consider options for future livability. The presentation will address topics such as sub-tropical architecture, the ‘missing middle’, diversifying design choices, and building safer, healthier communities with a real sense of place. The high profile, well-respected speaker and host of Grand Designs Australia will inspire the audience to consider pushing the boundaries, integrate new technologies and materials designing and building for the future.
Building on Innovation: New Technologies from Projects to Practice
In an industry where efficiency is key to meeting budgets and schedules, it is important for all building and construction professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends. This session will give a brief overview of the latest building technology developments and explain how they are influencing the industry.
What’s Old Is New Again – The Resurgence Of Timber
This presentation discusses some of the most compelling reasons for using wood in the built environment. A flexible, versatile and cost effective material, discover how not only is wood a natural product of inherent beauty, as a building material it offers superior performance backed by significant environmental credentials.
UnitingCare QLD Case Study – It’s More than ROI
UCQ is Queensland’s largest community services and health provider. With over 460 properties including 4 hospitals and an energy bill of $20million and rising, reducing operating costs is vital. With competing priorities in hospitals, crisis counselling and child protection services how do you decide what Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) you are going to implement? Is it just about the ROI or are there other business drivers that need to be considered when making these decisions. This presentation will provide an insight into the development of a Sustainability Matrix and the criteria when selecting properties in a wide diverse portfolio.
Maximise Energy Production Using Internet Of Things
The Renewable Energy sector has long skirted around the edges of automation, but rising electricity prices have given an added sense of urgency to recent product developments. In this presentation, Jeff will discuss why its not about selling a Jetsons like living experience but it’s a purely economic approach which revolves around maximizing the capture of renewable energy production.
The Rise of Local Energy Trading
Peer-to-peer energy trading is one of the latest disruptions in the power industry. This presentation will look at case studies of local energy trading both in Australia and overseas, and discuss the implications and opportunities of these community driven projects.
Commercialising Innovation at Unitywater
Ray Aspey will discuss how Unitywater is fostering a culture of innovation by adopting three key strategies – envisioning, communication and sponsoring. These key strategies allow Unitywater to feed the core business, creating productivity gains in targeted areas and creates new growth opportunities for non-regulated revenue. He will also touch on Unitywater’s commercial focus areas and goals in achieving operational excellence throughout Queensland.
What Will It Take To Create Healthy, Smart and Creative Communities On The Sunshine Coast?
Bringing together a panel of both local and interstate industry experts, Dr Keith Suter will ask “How do we take the next steps to drive better design in our built environment that brings together new technologies and sustainable materials to guarantee the vision we have of the Sunshine Coast as a healthy, smart and creative community.”
Speakers on the Panel:
Anthony Burke, Keith Suter, Nic Jacobson, Peter Bolton-Hall, Richard Kirk, Adrian Just
Future Opportunities for Sustainable Communities
This session will bring together the key messages of the day and shed light on the future of communities, both on a global and local scale. Highlighting the opportunities for continued exploration and growth in the area of clean technology, it will touch on both the economic and environmental impacts of the Cleantech Industry on the overall sustainable growth of the region.
Unitywater Supported Networking Drinks incorporating Kawana Chamber of Commerce meeting.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Smart Waste and Healthy Waterways
At this CISC event, we were welcomed into the Sunshine Coast Council’s Smart Centre in Caloundra. Thanks to our speakers for an informative and entertaining event.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Sunshine Coast Solar Farm
The last 40 of 57,960 panels were installed at the Sunshine Coast Solar Farm mid-May 2017. This completes the main construction phase of the project. Each day during the peak of this phase, the Solar Farm had 60 to 100 workers onsite.
Project update
Connection phase: work continues on wiring the network of panels to the Energex switch-yard. To do this:
- 30 panels are wired together to make one string
- 320 strings make up one zone
- there are six zones in total across the Solar Farm
- each zone is connected to its own power conversion unit (six in total) to form a 2.5MWAC block
- the six power conversion units are connected to the Energex switch-yard by a network of 33kVAC power lines
- the six zones of 2.5MWAC add up to the 15MW Solar Farm
- Once the wiring is complete, the commissioning of the Solar Farm can begin.
Commissioning phase: during this phase, Energex will test the electricity generated by the Solar Farm to ensure it can be injected into the power lines safely and within specific limits dictated by the National Electricity Rules.
Summer record: the perfect weather conditions over summer provided ideal conditions for the three crews onsite securing the panel tables into place. Their record for the highest number of tables installed in one day was 41 (during February). On average, it would take the crews 30 minutes to build a table, crane it into position and secure it in place.
Energex switch-yard: the switch-yard is now live, which means power (33kVA) is flowing in and out. The Energex crew has done a great job getting the switch-yard ready on time. The next step is for it to be connected to the solar panels by July to begin funneling energy into the grid.
New intersection: the new road intersection is complete, providing safer access to the site.
Buffer planting works: work will soon begin on the buffer planting. More than 36,000 trees will be planted to create a 10 metre green buffer around the Solar Farm.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Zero Waste Eco Resort for the Sunshine Coast … and a first for Queensland!
The Badderam Eco Luxe Resort & Spa, proposed for a 10-acre site at Box Street on Buderim’s southern escarpment, proves that being ‘luxurious’ and ‘eco-friendly’ are not mutually exclusive.
The proposed Badderam eco resort recently joined Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast and plans to open in 2025. It will be the first Zero Waste resort in Queensland and one of only a handful in Australia, setting new benchmarks for green and sustainable tourism nationally.
It will feature 125 luxury accommodation suites, state-of-the-art conference and event facilities, three restaurants, bars and fireside lounges, a wine tasting room and wine cellar, a wellness day spa with 10 treatment rooms, gym, yoga studio, sauna/steam room and relaxation areas, heated resort pools, boutique, library, cookery school, education and staff training facilities, as well as basement parking for 177 vehicles.
Experts informing the project have been drawn from diverse fields including geology, environmental science, horticulture, sustainability, waste management and cultural heritage.
The resort’s eco credentials are extensive and the built form has been specifically designed to integrate into the natural surrounds, both aesthetically and ecologically. Built to ECO and ROC certification standards, the resort will feature over 5,000 square metres of green walls and green roofs, photovoltaic technology for generating and storing solar energy, rainwater harvesting tanks, zero waste composting, retention of all mapped remnant vegetation and substantial regeneration and additional vegetation cover on site post-construction.
Roads will be constructed from permeable pavements and quiet eco-friendly electric vehicles will transport guests within the resort around tranquil landscaping features including an Indigenous food foraging garden, open relaxation areas and lawns, outdoor fire pits and stargazing lounges, boardwalks, bridge and water features and a waterfall with a rope bridge crossing.
In a typical resort, at least 80 per cent of waste can be recycled or composted. Recycling from hotel rooms is still largely unheard of due to the complexities and health & safety issues involved in separating out the materials. Badderam will not have any waste bins in guest rooms. Instead, there will be centralised receptacles on each floor of the resort for the recycling of organic materials.
The on-site composter will treat 50 per cent of the waste generated on site. The organic material will be turned into a compost that will be used to fertilise the gardens and green walls.
Other examples of initiatives include:
- Careful purchasing decisions to ensure that materials which cannot be reused, recycled or composted will not be allowed on the resort
- Shampoo and soap dispensers to be used along with bulk purchasing of the containers, ie. no hard soap which is often not fully used and discarded along with the packaging
- Implementation of a resort-wide resource management training and education program for all staff and guests
- No disposable coffee cups on site• No bottled water on site – instead, cold filtered water from taps to be available throughout the resort.
The Badderam eco resort proposal is the creative brainchild of local Buderim couple, Mrs Heidi Meyer and Mr Kim Carroll, who are passionate in their desire to contribute toward ecological, economic and social sustainability for Buderim and the Sunshine Coast region.
For more information about the proposed zero waste eco resort, see
CISC member Badderam Eco Luxe Resort & Spa.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
How to Save Energy, Water and Reduce Waste in Your Business
This Cleantech event is now over.
The Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) is partnering with CleanTech Industries Sunshine Coast (CISC) to deliver an informative session on the ways you can save energy, water and reduce waste and costs in your business.
Thursday 22nd June, 5:15pm -7.00pm
Fresh Holistic Health, 330 Mons Road, Forest Glen
Environmental consultants Don Parry and Annie Nolan, and energy experts Will Waters and Justin Bold, will share efficiencies to save on water and waste, how to save on your energy bills, how the national energy market works and what you can do to combat price rises.
If you can’t measure it, you can’t change it. Understand how to measure resources use. You will find out what to look for in your business and get a handy checklist for your business. There will be an opportunity for a Question and Answer session. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from the experts in this interactive session. BYO business electricity bill!
Your Speakers – A Wealth of Knowledge
Annie Nolan
A sustainability, carbon mitigation and environment management professional, with Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Masters in Sustainability completed in Sweden and Masters of Management. Annie is currently managing Noosa Council’s Zero Net Emissions Strategy and recently managed the Sunshine Coast Airport’s Carbon Neutral accreditation. In an Australian first, Annie managed the Sunshine Coast TAFE initiative to become the first higher educational facility to be Carbon Neutral Certified. As an ecoBiz Consultant for the CCIQ, Annie worked extensively with small businesses to reduce their energy, waster and water consumption and costs. Annie currently sits on the Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast Board.
Will Waters
An energy professional at Planet Ark Power with a focus on reducing energy costs for commercial and industrial sites, combining sustainability, renewable energy and building efficiency. With tertiary qualifications in energy auditing, business and education, Will is Vice President of Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast and board member of the new local branch of the Australian Institute of Energy (AIE).
Don Parry
Don Parry speaks on Sustainable Business and has a Degree in Business from UQ. The Nambour Rugby Club won the Community Award at the 2015 Premiers Sustainability Awards while Don was President and it was the first sporting field in Australia to be Organically Certified. As an ecoBiz Consultant for the CCIQ, Don worked extensively with small businesses to reduce their energy, waster and water consumption and costs.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Sunshine Coast Cleantech Export Success
Of the more than 30,000 businesses operating on the Sunshine Coast, many are leading Australian exporters and contribute significantly to Australia’s GDP, our local GRP and export credentials.
The Sunshine Coast is acknowledged as the second highest performing regional economy in Queensland and is consistently recording some of the highest levels of business confidence.
Offering a comprehensive program of export development support the region plans is working to grow exports to 20% by 2033.
Sunshine Coast Council produced an Export E-Book of case studies as a showcase to be used by Australia’s trade and investment sector to help promote the Sunshine Coast and its unique “export-ise”.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Reducing Energy, Water and Waste Costs in Business
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast (CISC) recently partnered with the Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) to deliver an informative workshop to help businesses reduce costs.
Environmental consultants Don Parry and Annie Nolan, and energy experts Will Waters and Justin Bold shared their knowledge and ideas to help combat the recent price rises in and reduce waste and water.
Don Parry
Don Parry spoke on Sustainable Business and has a Degree in Business from UQ. The Nambour Rugby Club won the Community Award at the 2015 Premiers Sustainability Awards while Don was President and it was the first sporting field in Australia to be Organically Certified. As an ecoBiz Consultant for the CCIQ, Don worked extensively with small businesses to reduce their energy, waster and water consumption and costs.
Don said that nothing changes in cost reductions unless everyone in the business at all levels is on board. He said there needs to be passion and a plan for change. He is a fan of lean manufacturing and shared tips on efficiencies to save on water and waste and energy.
Annie Nolan
A sustainability, carbon mitigation and environment management professional, with Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Masters in Sustainability completed in Sweden and Masters of Management. Annie is currently managing Noosa Council’s Zero Net Emissions Strategy and recently managed the Sunshine Coast Airport’s Carbon Neutral accreditation.
In an Australian first, Annie managed the Sunshine Coast TAFE initiative to become the first higher educational facility to be Carbon Neutral Certified. As an ecoBiz Consultant for the CCIQ, Annie worked extensively with small businesses to reduce their energy, waster and water consumption and costs. Annie currently sits on the Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast Board.
Annie pointed out that by reducing the peak demand in your electricity you will reduce your overall bill which could result in significant savings. She advised to identify the ‘big thumpers’ of electricity which are generally heating, venting and cooling (HVAC) and make behavioural changes.
Justin Bold
CEO of EMMA, an energy advisory company serving government and private sector clients, Justin has a background in strategic procurement and project delivery. He is currently working with government on a $200M annual electricity spend as well as clean energy solutions across the entire Queensland schools portfolio.
Justin said the biggest issue recently with electricity is ‘bill shock’ and he advised to shop around and that its important to get the timing right when you change electricity providers because this can lock in the price you pay. He spoke about how the national energy market works and what you can do to combat price rises. Any line item on your bill that has a c/kWh can be reduced.
Will Waters
An energy professional at Planet Ark Power with a focus on reducing energy costs for commercial and industrial sites, combining sustainability, renewable energy and building efficiency. With tertiary qualifications in energy auditing, business and education, Will is Vice President of Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast and board member of the new local branch of the Australian Institute of Energy (AIE).
Will went through a couple of case studies where there have been significant savings from solar plans. Interestingly one of the case studies could have had more savings but the roof space was limited. They maximised the number of solar panels possible on their entire roof. Something to consider when building is to maximise your roof space to accommodate maximum solar panels!
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
The Cleantech Effect 2017
The Cleantech Effect is the only conference, solutions showcase and networking event of its kind in Australia.
The 2017 event held by the Sunshine Coast Council in partnership with Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast empowered businesses with the latest information and solutions to save energy, water, waste and money.
With keynote speakers Peter Maddison (multi-award winning architect and host of Grand Designs Australia and Dr Keith Suter (global futurist and media commentator), the event focussed on the challenges of ‘designing our future’ and creating sustainable communities.
Key decision makers and innovators in the Cleantech Industry came together and enjoyed a delicious lunch of locally-sourced produce and networking drinks.
Over 25 exhibitor stands shared knowledge on smarter energy, water, building and waste solutions and there were dynamic sessions with experts, case studies and panel sessions as well as success stories from companies that have embraced Cleantech to boost business performance.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Sunshine Coast Solar Farm Saves Millions
Construction has commenced on an industry-leading Solar Farm on Sunshine Coast Council owned land at Valdora, Sunshine Coast.
In a series of firsts, the Council is the first local government to build a Solar Farm.
The 15 megawatt (MW) utility scale, grid-connected facility will be the largest solar farm in Queensland and will be the first to operate at 1500 Volt DC (other solar farms are built to 1000 Volt DC).
In another first, and from as early as 2017, Council’s entire electricity consumption will be offset by the Solar Farm. This includes electricity for all administration buildings, swimming pools, performance venues, community centres, libraries, sport and recreation facilities.
It will save millions of dollars over a 30-year period based on today’s electricity costs (taking into account the costs of building and ongoing operational costs).
With electricity prices set to increase substantially in the future, the solar farm will protect Council and its ratepayers from these costs.
The Valdora Solar Farm construction by Downer Utilities, partnering with Council, consists of:
- over 57,000 PV (photovoltaic) modules
- 1500 support structures
- six inverter stations
- control room
- access track
- road widening
- medium voltage (MV) underground lines
At its peak, the solar farm will generate 15,000 kilowatts of electricity from the sun positioning the Sunshine Coast Council as leaders in the renewable energy space.
With this project, Council is well on it’s way to the goal of the Sunshine Coast becoming Australia’s most sustainable region.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
The Latest in Battery Technology
Stephanie Moroz, CEO of local battery innovator and manufacturer, Nano-Nouvelle was a guest speaker at The Cleantech Effect, the Sunshine Coast gathering of businesses and supporters of clean and green technology.
Nano-Nouvelle, based on the Sunshine Coast is developing world-leading nanotechnology that can boost lithium ion battery storage capacity by up to 50%.
Stephanie guided the audience through tips for selecting the latest battery options available and compared:
- Lead Acid batteries
- Lithium Ion batteries
- Flow batteries
Firstly, Stephanie advised, when deciding on the type of battery storage, ask ‘What is the purpose?’ Is it for backup power, peak shaving or to maximise self consumption?
Consider the peak usage time of the day, the costs of installation and maintenance, available energy storage and the rate of charge and discharge when comparing battery types.
It can be expensive to go totally off grid so a hybrid model where the batteries are used in conjunction with grid power could be a viable option.
Nano-nouvelle’s innovative work is part of the new generation of high capacity batteries. Nanotechnology is used to create a conductive membrane with complex 3D surfaces overcoming the current limitations of high energy and high power batteries.
Other manufacturers can potentially incorporate Nano-nouvelle’s technology into their current processes to make higher performance batteries with minimal effort.
To save on energy and associated costs, Stephanie reminded us about using motion sensors and to turn off lights when not there, saying that the cheapest energy is “the energy we simply don’t use”.
For more information about nanotechnology, see CISC member Nano Nouvelle.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Clean Safely and Reduce Waste
Look under your sink or in your laundry cupboard: most likely you will find a cocktail of detergents and cleaning sprays.
Common Toxins
Ammonia, bleach, chlorine and formaldehyde are poisons commonly found in cleaning products. Just putting your hands in detergent while washing the dishes will cause chemicals leaching through your skin and into your blood circulation. Toxic fumes are released by all these products and are inhaled by you and your family. The Environmental Protection Agency has reported that toxic chemicals found in every home are three times more likely to cause cancer that other air borne pollutants.
Back to Basics
Cleaning is designed to remove, rather than kill, micro-organisms. It is the physical removal of organic material or soil from a surface. So physical action and complete surface coverage are important, as is avoiding soiling clean areas in the process of cleaning dirty ones.
What about Vinegar?
Did you know? Using vinegar to clean is still using a chemical compound and isn’t actually helping as it only provides one part of the cleaning process – the acid. For total cleaning system you require an acid and an alkaline.
How Do Microfibres Work?
Microfibre products designed for cleaning, clean on a microscopic scale. According to tests using microfibre materials and water to clean a surface leads to reducing the number of bacteria by 99%, whereas a conventional cleaning material reduces this number only by 33%.
Microfibre cleaning products also absorb fat and grease and their electrostatic properties give them a high dust-attracting power. Microfibre products used for cleaning are generally constructed from fibres of polyester and polyamide. This material can hold up to eight times its weight in water and traps dirt and bacteria until rinsed out. This means with microfibre you clean and disinfect in one step only, saving time.
During the cleaning process, millions of extremely fine special fibres loosen even the most stubborn dirt and grease, which are then bound together by the fibres and water.
How Effective are Microfibres?
Tests conducted in Australian laboratories show microfibres to be as effective as chemical sanitizing systems in the reduction of micro-organisms on contaminated surfaces. Additionally the microfibre products were shown to simplify cleaning as they remove dirt particles at the same time as removing bacteria. Tests also showed there was little ‘carry over’ from the cloths, that is the bacteria and organisms remained trapped in the fibres and were removed easily when rinsed in water.
Using microfibres not only cleans surfaces and picks up dirt and bacteria, they also dry and polish. More importantly they remove the need to purchase expensive, noxious chemicals and have these chemicals go down the drain.
For more information about microfibre products, see CISC member Ha-Ra
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Transitioning to Renewables
The new target for large-scale generation of 33,000 GWh in 2020 will double the amount of large-scale renewable energy being delivered by the scheme compared to current levels. This means that about 23.5 per cent of Australia’s electricity generation in 2020 will be from renewable sources.
In this ABC interview, new Environment and Energy Minister, Josh Frydenberg said coal will remain important but it’s a declining share of the overall energy mix”
“It’s a very complex picture but we have an optimistic story to tell in Australia. The transition is underway,” he said.
Read more… Major transition to renewable energy
Read more… Renewable energy target scheme
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Really? A Free Eco Consult for My Business?
Want to save money on your power bills, water bills and waste bills?
The Queensland Government funds a free service for businesses and community organisations (schools, sports clubs etc) known as CCIQ ecoBiz.
You can receive a Site Survey (up to 2 hours) and Report on the most efficient ways you can reduce your energy, water and waste volumes and costs.
It is a stark and arresting fact that, since the middle of the 20th century, humankind has consumed more natural resources than in all previous human history
Margaret Beckett, launching the UK Sustainable Development Strategy (March 2005).
Smarter seems the only likely solution and smarter is what cleantech industries are all about. Both on the supply side (solar PV, wind, hydro, solar to battery) and on the demand side (automation, sensors, timers, energy management systems, water saving devices etc) we have to find ways to do more with less.
Most people are happy to reduce their demands on energy, water and waste to landfill and in doing so save money (who doesn’t want to save money) as long as it doesn’t affect their lifestyle.
Humanity will either have to cut back on its demands on natural resources by either going without or by being smarter about how we use natural resources.
Doing the ecoBiz program seems like a smart business move to us!
For more information about the ecoBiz program view the ecoBiz video,
or visit the CCIQ ecoBiz website.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Mapping Goes to a Whole New Level
What is Lidar Mapping?
Used in aerial mapping and surveying, LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging.
A laser scanner sensor is mounted in an aircraft and fires millions of laser pulses to the ground. Laser pulses penetrate tree canopies to build a 3D view of vegetation, infrastructure and the ground surface.
The primary output from this technology is the classified, colourised point cloud
Ground features such as trees, can be switched off to reveal the bare earth surface.
The 3D point cloud is highly accurate (within 10cm vertically and horizontally), and can be viewed in 3D at any perspective.
Once the data is processed, various maps can be produced from the LiDAR point cloud including aspect, canopy height, bare ground surface, drainage, contours, erosion, and irrigation. The applications for LiDAR are unlimited.
Agriculture, Water and Forestry
LiDAR Mapping can be used to assess areas subject to flooding and create water flow accumulation maps used to select optimal planting areas.
Used in conjunction with infrared imagery, data can be used to monitor health and productivity of vegetation and track growth by showing the height trees. Multiple surveys over time can determine which trees are growing faster and likely to be more productive.
Natural Resource Management
Regular surveys can monitor and help manage coastal and soil erosion and bathometric LiDAR sensors collect data up to 22metres under water.
Urban Planning, Land Development & Wind/Solar Energy
Aerial LiDAR sensors can map large areas and produce base data for planning new infrastructure developments, drainage, and determine the best locations for wind turbines or solar panels.
3D models of the earth’s surface can be displayed with or without ground vegetation and man-made structures, depending on the application. Vegetation canopy models calculate biomass and land clearing or re-vegetation areas.
Mine mapping
In mining, LiDAR is often used to calculate the volume of stockpiles to measure the amount of material removed from the ground or to be loaded on a ship.
Once an aerial LiDAR survey is completed, it can be repeated regularly to monitor infrastructure development, erosion or changes in vegetation.
Atlass-Aerometrex is a local LiDAR survey company engaged in aerial surveys over Queensland and New South Wales. LiDAR models were used for the smart city development.
Follow this link for a short video introduction to LiDAR.
To find out more information about aerial surveys, see CISC member Atlass – Aerometrex.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
List Your Project with ICN
The Industry Capability Network (ICN), helps bring Australian suppliers and project owners together by giving exclusive access to the powerful online database and the extensive network of Business Growth consultants. The result is more work for Australian businesses.
Government and private project owners list their projects with ICN. Potential suppliers search for work using the project database at the ICN Gateway. Behind the scenes, the ICN consultants actively work with both project owners and suppliers to build the right procurement partnerships.
For more information visit Industry Capability Network
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Want More Business? Get into the Sunshine Coast Business Gateway
The Sunshine Coast Business Gateway connects local businesses to projects and procurement opportunities – and vice versa.
The Sunshine Coast Council has partnered with the Industry Capability Network (ICN) to deliver this platform as another step in ensuring the Sunshine Coast remains a great place to do business.
Sunshine Coast businesses of all sizes are encouraged to create and maintain an online profile in the Business Gateway to ensure they are considered for contracts and kept up-to-date on work opportunities across the region.
For more information and to register: Sunshine Coast Business Gateway
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Remediation of Soil Contamination – Lessons Learned
A site in Kingaroy used as a livestock dip from 1917 and council workshops and truck sheds from 1950 was found to be contaminated with arsenic, chromium and petroleum hydrocarbons.
The 2.6 hectare site in the South Burnett Regional Council area had a number of contaminants of concern and the site was listed on the Environmental Management Register (EMR):
– Arsenic contaminated soil from the former cattle dip
– Chromium from a large stockpile of imported fill
– Petroleum hydrocarbons from the workshop / oil sump, washdown bay, flush pit, underground fuel storage (USTs), bitumen storage / heating areas, truck sheds.
The site presented an opportunity for redevelopment and being surrounded by public parkland, houses and commercial premises, the contamination on site needed to be removed.
The arsenic contaminated soil required treatment and disposal offsite under a Soil Disposal Permit to Underground Storage Tanks (USTs).
The hydrocarbon contaminated soils required onsite bioremediation.
IMEMS, a local environmental services business was engaged to investigate and remedy the soil contamination.
They utilised the in-field arsenic detection equipment, Field Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (FPXRF) to target arsenic contamination.
Director Paul Anderson said “using in-field contaminant detection equipment such as FPXRF (for arsenic) takes a little longer during excavation works, but it reduces the total amount of contaminated soil required for disposal which in turn cuts emissions and time.
“In-field rapid detection equipment such as FPXRF allows field staff to quickly determine the elemental composition and indicative concentration of heavy metals and arsenic in soil”.
“The advantage is that use of FPXRF in the field can significantly also reduce project costs through lowered sampling and analysis requirements and the associated time delays, contractor equipment stand-down etc”.
For hydrocarbon contaminated soils, there is an opportunity for on site bioremediation when there are minimal inorganic contaminants and high concentrations of biodegradable hydrocarbons. Laboratory trials show that some hydrocarbons can be bio-remediated following addition of nutrients and compost.
There were a number of “lessons learned” in the clean-up of this soil contamination project:
– Ensure initial desktop investigation is thorough.
– Speak to the right people who had historic involvement with the site.
– If possible, require statutory declarations from information suppliers.
– What is thought to be the limits of contamination based on early investigations is not necessarily what you will find when you commence remediation earthworks.
– The weather may disrupt, hamper or derail remediation efforts.
– Manage your neighbours well.
– The timeline and budget for such a contaminated land project has the potential to blow out.
– Stockpile management can be a challenge
– Utilise appropriate machinery and skilled professionals.
– The client, consultant, auditor and contractors can work well together given opportunity.
IMEMS is currently undertaking similar projects at large former heavy industrial sites in North Qld.
For more information about Remediation of Soil Contamination,
see CISC member IMEMS Environmental.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Inbuilt Insulation in the Walls
The Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) building system combines the strength of steel-reinforced concrete with the insulating properties of expanded polystyrene to creates a strong and energy-efficient structure. All walls are fully insulated automatically.
ICFs are hollow blocks or panels that a construction crew stacks to create the exterior walls of a residential or commercial building. Reinforcing steel is added and the gap between the two layers of foam is then filled with concrete. After the concrete has hardened, the forms stay in place and become the insulation for the walls.
Any conventional interior or exterior wall covering can be accommodated. Standard single story, two story, multi-story, even curved walls can be achieved!
The one system includes structure, insulation, vapour barrier, fire wall and battens. ICF construction is safe and strong. Reinforced concrete provides protection from natural disasters, and is resistant to storms and high winds. It offers increased design flexibility with no joints or weak points. Clear spans of more than 20 feet are easily achieved.
ICF construction provides sound attenuation making outside noise inaudible inside. Buildings situated in areas of high traffic noise, aircraft, train, vehicular and severe weather noises will benefit. From partition walls in senior complexes, to churches, to commercial structures.
It combines expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation with the concrete’s thermal mass to give you 30-50% savings in heating and air conditioning costs. Walls are airtight and have an R-3.5 insulation value.
There are air borne glass fibres to breath as well as no insulation settlement to be concerned about. With ICF, high fluctuations in room temperatures will become a thing of the past and consequently you and your family will experience overall comfort like never before.
There are significant, consistent long-term savings building with ICF. Its easier and cheaper to transport as components allow assembly on site. Because most of an Eco ICF Block home is concrete, it is considered masonry construction, ultimately resulting in lower insurance costs.
Covered EPS does not settle or deteriorate and there is no food value for termites in an ICF construction. Use of wood products in construction is significantly reduced.
ICF structures are built from footing to rafter typically have their floor joists hung by engineered systems so that you have a full height reinforced insulated concrete wall. Savings from heat loss are possible by eliminating drafts that are typically found where conventional floor joists rest on foundation walls.
Walls built with Insulating Concrete Forms have a three-hour plus fire rating. Any interior or exterior finish can be applied including Rockcote.
A house can be constructed in one day with a four-man crew with the three-step process – stack, brace and pour.
Eco ICF Builders specialise in ICF construction and is a 35 year old Australian family owned business.
For more information about Insulating Concrete Forms, see CISC member Eco ICF Builders.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Cleantech Stocks Significantly Outperform ASX
The Australian CleanTech Index has significantly outperformed the wider market for the full 2015-16 financial year, a new report has shown, capping off a “stellar three years” with returns of nearly 70 per cent for investors that have held the course.
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
Clean Energy Summit Leads the Way
UPDATE: PRESENTATIONS NOW AVAILABLE, SEE BELOW
The Australian Clean Energy Summit is the peak gathering of leaders driving Australia’s energy transformation and was on in Sydney from 27 – 28 July 2016.
The event draws the most senior people from the renewable energy and energy efficiency industry together in one place.
This year’s speakers include Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment, Bill Shorten, Leader of the Opposition and Richard Di Natale, Leader of The Australian Greens.
The Clean Energy Summit included two days of sessions where heads of industry, government and finance shared the models, trends and technology innovations that they’re leveraging to drive renewable energy adoption, and overcome barriers in its deployment.
Read more about the Clean Energy Summit
Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast is a membership-based eco business hub connecting eco-friendly businesses with consumers and Government. We provide the latest cleantech news, expert advice and growth strategies for cleantech business owners and supporters. To join CISC visit the membership page.
Megyn Carpenter, President, Cleantech Industries
