Sustainability Matters Feb/Mar 2014

contents 4

February/March 2014

Case studies

6 Reaching the stars with retrofit finance 8 Building energy intelligence in Las Vegas 18

The link between sustainable living and transport: a new paradigm in city design

22

Research & development

25 Herbs and barramundi - the perfect complement for urban farming technology 33 Resource centre

Legislation, governance, programs and industry links to help guide your sustainability development.

34 Step beyond the baseline at Green Cities 2014

W

ith New Year’s resolutions long forgotten, 2014 promises to be another sustainably focused and eventful year.

The year kicks off with two events in Melbourne in March that focus on facilities and the built environment. Total Facilities Expo (4-5 March - details page 33) will feature a number of solutions to help manage and maintain the efficiency of facilities. Green Cities (18-19 March - details page 34) will be focused on sustainability in the built environment and is based around the theme of looking beyond the baseline.

Our first issue for the year is also focused on the built environment. As you will read on page 6, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is looking to scale up its commitment to the commercial property sector through the expansion of its finance for environmental upgrade agreements (EUAs) and on-bill finance while continuing to co-finance leasing agreements. It is also in discussions with financiers about developing new products and has its sights set on catalysing more than $1 billion of investment in energy efficiency for buildings, manufacturing and other commercial sectors.

Early climate models are suggesting a return to the El Nino weather pattern, which is characterised by dryer conditions over the eastern half of Queensland, and areas south through New South Wales and Victoria, so water is high on the sustainability agenda. This issue features details on a new modelling tool developed by CSIRO for coalminers, intended to forecast future mine water needs.

Cover pic: ŠiStockphoto.com/Hong Li

Carolyn Jackson sm@westwick-farrow.com.au

Westwick-Farrow Media is committed to using environmentally responsible print services to produce our publications.

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February/March 2014 - Sustainability Matters 3

case study

Self sufficient village in Sydney

C

entral Park Sydney is a $2 billion mixed-use urban village that is designed to maximise selfsufficiency through renewable energy sources and sustainable water supplies. Located on Broadway in the suburb of Chippendale, the village sits across a 5.8-hectare site with one-third dedicated to open space and the rest includes commercial, residential and retail developments.

A key component of the precinct’s ambitious green agenda is the Central Thermal and Electrical Plant (CTEP or ‘trigen plant’) which comprises two 1.1 MW gas turbines. An Environmental Upgrade Agreement (EUA) with the City of Sydney provided long-term, low-cost funding for the first 1.1 MW gas turbine engine, which is now complete and delivering thermal energy to residents and retailers in the village. For example, chilled water from the CTEP is piped directly to Woolworths for its refrigeration units.

Another key feature of the development is the water recycling facility, which is claimed to be the largest in the basement of a residential building. The recycled water

centre is built over four basement levels in the One Central Park West building and at full capacity it will produce at least 1 ML of recycled water a day.

Central Park Water, which is owned by Flow Systems, is the dedicated water utility and is managing the entire water cycle for the village. The water network harnesses multiple water sources and creates multiple water supplies, covering all community water needs.

Water will be available for use from seven sources including: rainwater from roofs; stormwater from impermeable surfaces/ planterbox drainage; groundwater from basement drainage systems; sewage from an adjacent public sewer; sewage from all buildings within the Central Park community; irrigation water from all greenwalls; and drinking water from the public water main.

Designed to simplify operations management and minimise maintenance, the water recycling technology can be completely controlled remotely and requires a minimum amount of space. Water is purified to the highest Australian standards undergoing eight filtration and purification processes

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including membrane bioreactor (MBR) and reverse osmosis (RO) technologies.

The private water licence is subject to the same licensing requirements as Sydney Water, and IPART and the Minister for Finance and Services will oversee its administration and operation. Central Park Water provides drinking water, recycled water, wastewater and trade-waste services.

Monthly e-bills are sent to customers and water use is monitored 24/7, which is beneficial for reducing water leakage and informing customers.

Multiple sustainable pipelines within the precinct enable the delivery of differing water qualities. Given households use only 10 to 20% of water for drinking/cooking and another 20 to 30% for cleaning, Central Park Water is enabling households and businesses to use recycled water for the 50 to 70% of other activities such as toilet flushing, washing machine use, irrigation, green-wall watering and air cooling.

Residents are set to save between 40 and 50% of drinking water and other benefits include: saving money; creating a secure water supply unaffected by water restrictions; and greening gardens and landscaping.

The Central Park Water Centre will also provide recycled water to the energy utility for cooling tower water. This will save the energy utility money through reduced water purchases and allow the overall community to achieve a higher Green Star rating.

The development has been designed to allow connection to the City of Sydney’s city-wide network of energy and water. The developers and consultant team have worked closely with the City to ensure this can become an eventuality in the future.

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Leading the way

Reaching the stars with retrofit finance

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has plans to accelerate finance opportunities to help Australia’s built environment reach the stars this year.

1970s office block with an enviable 5-star NABERS Energy Base Building Rating is just one of the success stories created through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation’s push to accelerate improvements in Australia’s built environment.

Like so much of Australia’s ageing building stock, less than two years ago the seven-storey CBD building at 247 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, was a 0-star property with staggeringly inefficient power consumption.

But, using CEFC finance, the property’s manager, Trans Action Property Services, has nearly halved the base building electricity use by installing technologies including new high-efficiency chillers, a building management system, LED lighting, solar thermal heating, ventilation and air-conditioning units.

CEFC CEO Oliver Yates says that despite the opportunities like this for ongoing operational cost savings through retrofitting, there has been substantial underinvestment in Australia.

“Even when there is a positive business case for retrofitting, sourcing large amounts of upfront capital can be too high a hurdle. Payback periods can be greater than typical corporate funding finance terms. The projects themselves often require detailed preparation which can take years to plan and execute, and owners are sometimes reluctant to invest in what are perceived as ‘non-core’ business activities,” he said.

As ClimateWorks reported in June 2013, the energy intensity of existing commercial buildings has improved by only 2% over 10 years, driven by a small number of market leaders and capture of ‘low-hanging fruit’. Other than in large offices, activity has been patchy and fragmented, and often linked to government incentives and white certificate schemes.

“The buildings sector knows that high-rated NABERS buildings consistently outperform low-rated ones, with strong capital growth and high-rated assets driving investment returns. But there’s no point just admiring those stars from a

Clean Energy Finance Corporation CEO Oliver Yates.

A

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distance, we’re aiming to help buildings reach them,” Yates said.

To date, the CEFC has provided various forms of finance for building upgrades that improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs and carbon emissions, and boost the value of properties.

“We’re looking to do more work with the property sector to ‘crowd in’ investment for upgrades and we have plans to further accelerate opportunities this year,” Yates said.

He says the CEFC is working with co-finance partners including ANZ, NAB and Commonwealth Bank, utilities and all levels of government to address the impediments that currently inhibit projects.

It is looking to scale up its commitment to the commercial property sector through expanding its finance for Environmental Upgrade Agreements (EUAs) and on-bill finance while continuing to co-finance leasing agreements. It is also in discussions with financiers about developing new products and has its sights set on catalysing more than $1 billion of investment in energy efficiency for buildings, manufacturing and other commercial sectors.

Since their Australian debut in 2011, EUAs have gained steady traction. Designed to allow for longer payback periods, the EUA structure involves tying finance to a commercial property rather than its owner. Payments are made through council rate notices.

The most significant Australian EUA financing deal to date accessed EUA finance through ANZ and the CEFC to install a $26.5 million trigeneration plant at the ground-breaking residential and commercial Central Park development in Sydney’s inner west. The highly efficient source of low-emissions thermal energy, heating and cooling will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 190,000 tonnes over its 25-year design life.

EUA financing also helped a Parramatta, NSW, office block cut its lighting energy bills by about 70%, by covering the upfront cost of an upgrade. Building energy cost reductions of around 50% are expected at two other recent EUA

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Leading the way

Generator at Central Park.

247 Adelaide Street.

financed projects - a $7 million upgrade to a Swanston Street, Melbourne, office block and a $1.9 million upgrade to a boutique commercial retail and office building in Sydney’s CBD. Legislation enables EUAs to be utilised through City of Melbourne in Victoria, and in NSW. The City of Sydney, North Sydney, Parramatta, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle councils have implemented the concept and provision of EUAs is in planning for Penrith and Wollongong. The Victorian State Government’s Plan Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Strategy acknowledges the intention to

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roll out EUAs across Victoria while the South Australian government is working to develop the business model and case for establishing EUAs in that state. The Brisbane City Master Plan 2013 has proposed investigation of the use of EUAs to achieve energy-efficiency upgrades of Brisbane CBD’s existing building stock.

The CEFC’s EUA finance involving participating councils, Eureka Funds Management and either NAB or ANZ has been used for improvements as varied as lighting upgrades and improvements to air-conditioning systems to the installation of on-site power generation and elevator upgrades.

Building owners and property managers don’t have to undertake complex projects to make inroads on their operational costs and there are financing options available that also suit projects focusing on one or two technologies.

The CEFC has also partnered with Commonwealth Bank to finance an Energy Efficient Loan program that tailors finance for upgrades and installation of state-ofthe-art, cost-efficient, energy-saving assets.

In another program designed to facilitate efficiency upgrades, the CEFC is working with Origin to enable business owners to harness energy-efficiency savings through streamlined on-bill finance.

The finance covers upfront costs of a project. Dollar savings gained through reduced energy costs can be used to wholly or partially offset paying the finance back through regular energy utility bills. At the end of the repayment period, the customer

owns the equipment and continues to benefit from lower energy use.

Lighting upgrades financed this way have achieved lighting energy cost reductions of 50% and higher, depending on the age and style of lighting system being replaced.

For example, on-bill finance covered the upfront cost of a $138,000 lighting upgrade for the 40-year-old manufacturing plant of Sydney’s Joyce Foam Products that reduced lighting bills by more than 50%.

At a glance: • CEFC investment of $536 million has catalysed over $2.2 billion of investment into clean energy, energy efficiency and low emissions projects.

• Its existing investments will abate nearly 4 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year at a return to the government of $2.40 a tonne.

• T he CEFC’s offerings to the building sector include finance through Environmental Upgrade Agreements, Energy Efficient Loans, on-bill finance and leasing finance.

• The CEFC is addressing market barriers while investing responsibly and commercially to position the Australian economy and industry for a carbon-constrained world.

Clean Energy Finance Corporation Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/W014

February/March 2014 - Sustainability Matters 7

Building energy intelligence in Las Vegas The City of Las Vegas, already one of the most water-smart cities in the US, was also searching for ways to become one of the most energy efficient.

Advanced building intelligence software offered new and exciting potential to reduce energy costs, meet sustainability objectives and ensure continued high reliability of the power grid.

F

orty million tourists flock to the entertainment Mecca of Las Vegas every year - a thriving 24-hour city where illumination, spectacle and comfort are essential to attract and maintain business. This places high demand on the power grid and can significantly stress HVAC infrastructure, especially during summer peaks.

The City of Las Vegas and energy provider NV Energy, which serves 93% of the population of the state of Nevada, wanted to create a broad-based customer engagement program to help temper the company’s needle-like, peak summer demand. For the City of Las Vegas, this presented a unique opportunity to subscribe

to a fully integrated energy-efficiency (EE)/ demand-response (DR) system that could reduce energy costs without disrupting business or inconveniencing customers.

This would lay the groundwork for Las Vegas to become one of the ‘smart cities’ of the future.

The City deployed BuildingIQ’s cloudbased software, which incorporates ‘Predictive Energy Optimisation’, to bring controllability to the building operations of its largest customers, including casinos, hotels, government and commercial buildings. The software ‘learns’ a building’s HVAC energy patterns to predict consumption. Based on these predictions and electronic signals sent directly from NV Energy, the system

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automatically optimises energy usage and manages DR events, all while maintaining occupant comfort. HVAC controls are adjusted in real time using the BuildingIQ algorithms and the event is transparent to the building operators.

The incorporation of BuildingIQ was part of a broader NV Energy customer engagement program called the ‘mPowered Optimization’, launched in the US summer of 2013. By enrolling in the mPowered program and participating in DR events, customers gained access to the software and the resulting energy savings.

The software not only delivers measurable and verifiable energy savings and peak-load reductions but also provides

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Energy management

The software ‘learns’ a building’s HVAC energy patterns to predict consumption. Based on these predictions and electronic signals sent directly from NV Energy, the system automatically optimises energy usage and manages DR events, all while maintaining occupant comfort.

HVAC Building Savings (%)

Figure 1: HVAC building energy savings Shows the savings at City Hall, in terms of kilowatt-hours.

Savings climbed to 14.4% within a few months following the start-up period, when the system is tuned and baseline established.

HVAC Building Savings ($)

Dollar Savings

the City of Las Vegas with insights and detailed tracking of the performance of each building in the program.

The City of Las Vegas has reduced peak HVAC power consumption in commercial buildings by as much as 24% on DR event days. The program has significantly lowered ongoing daily HVAC energy use by 12-18%.

City Hall was one of the first government buildings to join the mPowered program in 2013, and went operational 27 June 2013. The results of controlling 28,614 m2 of conditioned office space are shown in the figures. Cumulative energy savings for the first few months, including the start-up period, were 8.3%, whereas the savings after the start-up period climbed to over 14% (see Figure1).

This type of energy management solution has allowed Las Vegas to achieve meaningful energy savings, which increases free cash across the full spectrum of building usage, while reducing strain on the power grid.

Smart Buildings are the critical core of a Smart City’s ecosystem. An automated system, such as BuildingIQ’s Predictive Energy Optimisation, can provide a future of dynamic, scalable, two-way interaction between a Smart City and its participating Smart Buildings. Continuous optimisation of a building’s plant and thermal mass to suit prevailing weather, occupant and market conditions provides fully integrated efficiency.

Working with NV Energy to meet the first program goal of 10 million square feet (929,030 m2), BuildingIQ aims to achieve between 15 million and 30 million kWh of savings per year.

Figure 2: HVAC building dollar savings Shows the financial savings at City Hall, from HVAC energy reduction. They have ranged between $1500 to $3500/day following the start-up period.

About the technology

Building IQ Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/W118

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HVAC Demand Profiles (For Report Period)

Hourly Demand (kW)

The BuildingIQ Predictive Energy Optimisation technology predicts energy demand and directly adjusts the HVAC system parameters in real time to optimise energy use. Designed to help building owners, managers and tenants get more value out of their existing energy systems, the technology has leveraged over 25 man-years of building controls, modelling and comfort research by experts at CSIRO in Australia and BuildingIQ to create this innovative platform in energy intelligence.

Hour of day

Figure 3: HVAC demand profiles Contrasts the hourly HVAC electricity demand with and without the implementation of BuildingIQ. Baseline is the demand measured without the benefit of BIQ. Actual demand with BIQ installed is consistently lower.

February/March 2014 - Sustainability Matters 9

case studies index  Self sufficient village in Sydney

Backwashing: a critical factor in water treatment plant performance 4

 B ackwashing: a critical

factor in water treatment plant performance

 H andling sludge: gas or slurry mixing?

 O xygen analyser helps composting process

10 12 12

 Saving water with dry vacuum 14  Queensland sewage

treatment plant to double daily wastewater treatment capacity

14

In water treatment plants, the quality of water output is determined by how well  Taking care of food waste the filtration system is operating. A key on site 16 ingredient in keeping the filtration system working at its best is the frequency and  Solar power system quality of backwashing processes. for Sirromet Wines 20 Over time, the media in a water treatment  Microalgae and facility becomes coated and even clogged by bacteria team up against particles and debris. Regular filter cleaning arsenic-poisoned water 21 is crucial to ensure the system remains efficient and the quality of the water output, sound.

“The effectiveness of the filtration system is the linchpin of every water-treatment program,” said Graeme Cooper, Managing Director of Tecpro Australia. “To keep it running at optimum performance, it is vital  P ackaging from to regularly clean the filter, and this is done agricultural waste 22 by backwashing.”

Backwashing involves shutting down  Water modelling for filtration and reversing the flow of water the mining industry 22 to run backwards through the filter at a  E nergy-efficient sewage higher velocity, which dislodges particle treatment using screw build-up. Airflow is sometimes used to blower technology 23 amplify the cleaning process, either before or during backwashing with water. “Typically  Red sand could be used there are three different approaches to for road construction 26 backwashing,” said Cooper. “Some systems use water only, while others use air and water consecutively, or air and water simultaneously.”

The optimal approach depends on the type and rate of particle build-up in the filter.

“It’s fair to say that the combination of air and water simultaneously gives the strongest scour rate, and therefore a more rigorous clean,” said Cooper. “During air backwashing, holes in the stem allow air to be pumped into the nozzles from where it flows up through the media, helping to dislodge material that has built up. The following water backwash raises the filter media and flushes away all the unwanted material.”

Installing nozzles with the correct size air holes (and/or slots) in the stem for air scouring is critical to achieving the right amount of airflow and back pressure. The location, dimensions and number of air holes and slots is another important factor in the design of the filter nozzle. For the nozzle to work effectively it is essential that the air holes and slots are specifically designed to suit the capacity of the backwash air supply. “Nozzles that have

research & development index

10 Sustainability Matters - February/March 2014

a short stem without backwash holes/slots are not suitable for air scouring as they will use too much air and so they are not able to guarantee the equal air distribution in the total number of nozzles installed in the filter drain floor. They are only for use with water backwashing,” said Cooper.

Cooper said that designing, constructing and installing the correct nozzles to suit system demands is fundamental to the effectiveness of water treatment plants.

“We help managers who are responsible for water plant maintenance to get maximum performance and life from their filters by selecting the right filtration and backwashing nozzle to match their needs,” said Cooper.

“The ILMAP range of sand filter nozzles is particularly useful for system upgrades because it is available in 22 different models, eight standard stem lengths, eight types of thread and 10 different slot widths. This means there is a choice available to match the precise dimensions of systems of any age. ILMAP will also manufacture nozzles to individual client specification.”

“There are differing opinions regarding nozzle slot width but Tecpro Australia believes that it is preferable to have slot widths which are smaller than the smallest media particles that will come in contact with the nozzle,” said Cooper. “The slot widths in ILMAP’s sand filter nozzles are precision moulded so they are extremely accurate and reliable. ILMAP sand filter nozzles are also strong, durable and are available in a range of materials making them temperature and chemical resistant to suit any environment.”

Tecpro Australia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V991

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case studies Handling sludge: gas or slurry mixing?

Hurll Nu-Way is a supplier of continuous anaerobic digester gas mixing systems, manufactured in the UK by Utile Engineering, utilising sliding vane gas compressor technology. The company says the technology is the most efficient and cost-effective method for mixing, absorbing approximately one-third of the power required for ‘pump’ mixing.

Gas mixing requires a reliable gas compressor to work in conjunction with the most efficient and effective mixing systems.

Overseas, operators have recognised that continuous unconfined gas mixing, using efficient sliding vane gas compressors, provides good results for both reliability and whole life cost.

It has meanwhile been shown that slurry (pump) mixing absorbs almost three times as much power as a sliding vane machine for the same duty point. The introduction of a small, metered amount of oil to the gas compressors may therefore be seen to be a small price to pay for the longer life, reduced maintenance, lower power consumption and noise levels, and less downtime. All these factors contribute to lower whole life cycle costs of a sliding vane mixing system.

Wi t h t h e i n c r e a s i n g u p t a k e o f cogeneration, the reduced power absorbed by a sliding vane machine results in huge increases in available power that can be exported from the site to provide a significant income. The benefits to the operator are the possession of a reliable system, at low capital cost, with excellent power consumption: thus reducing carbon footprint.

It is logical to select robust and reliable equipment which requires the least amount of maintenance. The sliding vane gas compressor uses a simple design to compress the gas inside the heavy-duty ductile iron cylinder, resulting in a quiet machine that delivers pulsation-free gas. In contrast, a pump-type unit, which relies on high-

velocity sludge flow through feed pipe work to mix accurately, can result in bore erosion. This, coupled with nozzle wear inside the tank, means high maintenance and additional expenses. The downtime comes with a reduction in overall mixing efficiency and, as a consequence, results in lower gas production. Sludge pump seal failures could result in sludge on the floor, causing health and safety issues for operators as well as maintenance problems. Sludge pumps are also intolerant and susceptible to a varying sludge depth. They tend to require a stable head (fixed sludge depth) to ensure suitable mixing. Meanwhile, on-site maintenance routines for the Utile sliding vane gas compressors typically require periodical topping up of the oil tank. Checking of blades for wear is annual and can be carried out without having to dismantle the machine; a simple removal of an eyebolt is all that is needed. In conclusion, when investing in equipment, it is important to consider not only the short-term capital costs, but both the direct and indirect whole life costs as well.

Hurll Nu-Way Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/W051

Oxygen analyser helps composting process An organic fertiliser manufacturer has selected Michell Instruments’ XZR500 to monitor oxygen levels in its composting process. The innovative process dramatically reduces the time taken to break down animal dung into a useable form and the XZR500 forms part of the control system. Traditionally, animal dung takes around 21 days to compost; however, the fertiliser manufacturer now achieves this in just 24 hours, with benefits to efficiency and costs.

The dung is fed into a rotating cylinder which agitates it for 24 hours, during which time the composting process is completed.

Conditions in the composting chamber are very aggressive: the chicken and cow excrement used as a compost feedstock produce high levels of ammonia. The conditions in the chamber are also very humid, with temperatures ranging between 20 and 70°C. After the process is completed, the compost is dried and powdered.

The XZR500 - usually associated with applications measuring the combustion efficiency in boilers, incinerators and furnaces - helps to ensure the levels of oxygen in the composting chamber remain at the optimum level for maximum performance. The product’s probe is placed directly into the air outlet and an ejector is used to pull a sample out to the sensor housed in the ex-situ head. The MSRS zirconium oxide sensor is able to withstand the harsh atmosphere in

12 Sustainability Matters - February/March 2014

the composting chamber without the need for a sampling system and does not require frequent replacement, ensuring low running costs.

The previous analyser used in the process had needed a sampling system with a more complex installation and routine maintenance.

The sensor was an electrochemical cell which depleted over time, needed periodic replacing and added to the cost of ownership.

AMS Instrumentation & Calibration Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T835

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Conference Program and Call for Papers Now Open

case studies

Saving water with dry vacuum Water usage is a major consideration within manufacturing and many in the industry are searching for sustainable processes to minimise the use of this precious resource. The answer may lie in the industry’s willingness to embrace the use of sustainable technologies.

Vacuum technology is used for numerous manufacturing applications such as reducing process temperatures, removal of an array of gases, aiding filtration, transport of materials (pneumatic conveying), drying (reducing drying times) and many more. In Australia and New Zealand, two of the most common methods of generating vacuum are via the use of liquid ring vacuum pumps (LRVPs) and steam ejector systems (SESs). Both these technologies rely on vast quantities of steam and water to generate vacuum and can have high operating costs. Dry

vacuum pump systems, compared to LRVPs and SESs, have no requirements for external media within the pumping stage for generating vacuum. Effectively, whichever process gases are pumped into the system are exhausted out, and there is no hot contaminated effluent generated for treatment. Furthermore, the only site support and utility required is the supply of electricity to the motors.

Dry va cu u m t ech n o l ogy ca n be used wherever gases and vapours need to be pumped reliably and without contamination. The compression chamber of pumps using dry vacuum technology is completely free from operating fluids, which prevents condensation and deposits of the pumping medium, while preventing oil contamination.

The compression occurs as part of a completely dry process. This makes dry

vacuum technology suitable for various applications, including those within the food and beverage industry such as food packaging applications.

Cobra dry screw vacuum pumps can be used for a number of applications, including vacuum distillation, degassing and drying processes. The distillation process is used predominantly in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry, as well as in food and beverage. In terms of degassing and drying applications, Busch can provide a range of dry vacuum pumps which meet the highest hygiene standards and are completely free of operating fluids, making contamination of processed materials impossible.

Busch Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V994

Queensland sewage treatment plant to double daily wastewater treatment capacity

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recreational area which is also upstream of a water supply catchment.

GE will provide its LEAPmbr and ZeeWeed 500D MBR technology to Monadelphous, the Australian engineering, construction, maintenance and industrial services company that will upgrade the plant. The technology includes modules, cassettes, blowers, permeate pumps and turbidity meters.

Ish Hakim, ANZ sales manager for GE Power & Water, said: “Unitywater’s upgraded Maleny plant will use an innovative solution of LEAPmbr technology and ZeeWeed 500 membranes to increase treatment capacity in a compact footprint. The added wastewater treatment capacity will help Maleny keep up with the tourist region’s expected population growth over the next decade.” ©iStockphoto.com/Bart Sadowski

New environmental regulations and expected population growth have led Unitywater to expand its existing sewage treatment plant in Maleny, Queensland.

The centrepiece of the upgrade will be GE’s LEAPmbr membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment technology, expected to allow the plant to double the amount of water treated per day to one million litres.

Simon Taylor, executive manager infrastructure planning and capital delivery at Unitywater, said: “By upgrading our plant, we’ll be able to treat more wastewater to meet the needs of a growing population, while also meeting stringent environmental regulations and minimising costs.”

GE’s LEAPmbr technology helps councils and industrial wastewater treatment facilities around the world address their pressing water quality issues while increasing overall productivity of the treatment system. Now it will help Unitywater meet environmental guidelines for safe, high-quality water in a

GE Infrastructure Water & Process Technologies Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V597

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MORE TREES AND PLANTS MEAN:

ANITA MITCHELL

General Manager Sustainability, Barangaroo South, Lendlease.

202020 Vision

Find out why government, businesses and NGOs are getting together to create 20% more urban green space by 2020.

202020VISION.COM.AU

case studies Taking care of food waste on site According to the Do Something! Food Wise campaign, it is estimated that every year over 4 million tonnes of food waste is going into landfill which is being carted by over 450,000 garbage trucks throughout Australia. The food waste costs about $8 billion dollars per year and, worse still, the food is rotting in landfill which creates methane, a greenhouse gas claimed to be 21 times worse than car exhaust fumes. Another astonishing statistic, according to the Victorian Sustainability Council, is that more than 50 - 60% of commercial food waste ends up in landfill.

Totally Environmental (Australia) has recently launched a food and green waste composting technology which could stop the millions of tonnes of food waste ending up in Australian landfill sites every year.

The technology was originally developed and proven in Sweden. Totally Environmental has adopted and modified the technology to work in Australia creating a unique Food Waste Recycling solution for the Asia-Pacific region.

“Essentially, we provide a solution to treat the waste on site and at source,” says Totally Environmental Managing Director Cliff Benns. This means that the companies producing the waste can install a food composter on site and deal with it before it leaves the premises.

The composter technology works through a process of combining heat and naturally derived plant bacteria (microbes) where food and green waste is broken down to natural compost within 24 - 48 hours. It is claimed that the food placed into the composter will be broken down by up to 90% of its volume within 24 hours. For example, if 100 kg of food is put into the composter, it will be reduced by 90% to produce 10 kg of nutrient-rich compost in 24 hours. The compost can then be used by the company on its own gardens or grounds, taken home by the employees or donated to community garden projects.

The process not only reduces food waste leaving the premises by up to 90%, it also assists in eradicating unpleasant food odours caused by food awaiting collection. As the process is carried out

on site, it can also have a significant impact on the amount of food waste being carted around the country, thereby reducing the user’s carbon footprint. Furthermore, food waste disposal costs (from collection, to cartage and disposal) can be significantly reduced, if not eliminated.

In Australia recently there has been a significant drive by state and local governments to start reducing food waste going to landfill and achieve ‘zero food waste to landfill’ targets. Benns says its technology and business model can provide some distinct opportunities to address this issue and address it quickly.

Machines are able to process most foods - from fruit and vegetables, breads, meats to chicken and even fish bones. Models are available from a 10 kg capacity per day for cafes and small restaurants to a 2.3 tonnes per day capacity.

The largest machine range can be modulated to form composting stations with a capacity of up to a 15 tonnes of food waste per day (that’s 547,500 tonnes per year). This option is suitable for regional locations and can deal with household food waste from between 20 - 80,000 people.

Totally Environmental can also provide a Customer Care program which includes the option to have the resultant compost taken away free of charge as part of the regular site support visit.

Benns said the remote monitoring technology keeps a real-time view of each machine’s operating parameters via the cellular data network. “We will know if there is a problem with a machine even before the client does,” he says.

Benns said the company wants to share the technology and has recently set up franchise and strategic partner models in an attempt to help change the way Australians handle food waste.

Totally Environmental Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/W044

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Toshiba Motor efficiency

costs Energy Saving Peak efficiencies provide maximum energy savings for each output Infinite Customisation Flexibility Extensive range of customisation options

Corrosion Resistant Finish Full paint system and colour flexibility Product Reliability Backed by Toshiba’s Reliable People Toshiba’s great product backing and support

Heavy Duty Construction High grade cast iron frame & cast iron/steel fan & covers

Ex n Option Fully certified as Ex n (non-sparking) for hazardous area application

Low Noise Design Low audible noise in operation

High Efficiency Standards Compliant with MEPS 2006 High Efficiency Standards

TOSHIBA INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION PTY LTD NSW Toshiba International Corporation Pty Ltd 2 Morton Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 Tel: (02) 9768 6600 Fax: (02) 9890 7546

QUEENSLAND Toshiba International Corporation Pty Ltd UNIT 4, 20 Smallwood Place, Murarrie QLD 4172 Tel: (07) 3909 9000 Fax: (07) 3909 9090

VICTORIA Toshiba International Corporation Pty Ltd 411 Ferntree Gully Road, Mt Waverley VIC 3149 Tel: (03) 8541 7960 Fax: (03) 8541 7970

NEWCASTLE Toshiba International Corporation Pty Ltd UNIT 1,18 Kinta Drive, Beresfield NSW 2322 Tel: (02) 4966 8124 Fax: (02) 4966 8147

MACKAY Toshiba International Corporation Pty Ltd 1st Floor 41 Wood Street, Mackay QLD 4740 Tel: (07) 4953 4184 Fax: (07) 4951 4203

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Toshiba International Corporation Pty Ltd 10 Anderson Pl, Perth International Airport WA 6105 Tel: (08) 6272 5600 Fax: (08) 6272 5601

Some cities around the world are coming up with creative methods to minimise the impact of the built environment on transport infrastructure and finding ways to meet the transport demands of liveable cities. The city of Portland in the US is an excellent example of innovative infrastructure design in a highdensity environment.

*Alex Iljin

ŠiStockphoto.com/tonda

Rapid urban development in our cities is creating new demands on transport infrastructure.

Across Australia, our transport systems are under increasing pressure. Existing assets are ageing, costs to maintain and upgrade them have increased and there is a greater demand on infrastructure, in terms of both passenger and freight use.

Essentially, increasing urbanisation is leading to constrained capacity and overuse of our transport networks.

The link between sustainable living and transport: a new paradigm in city design

O

ur cities, in particular, can be prone to heavy congestion and traffic, with average speeds on roads in all of the major cities declining or staying the same over the last 15 years, despite numerous new arterial roads designed to increase speeds. Anyone who has travelled down Parramatta Road in Sydney or Hoddle Street in Melbourne at peak times will know this only too well. This trend has an impact not only on the transport experience itself, but also on the overall quality of life cities offer.

Getting public transport right is a very important aspect of creating liveable cities. People want to live closer to work so they have a choice of transport modes buses, trains, cycle, walkways and roads.

MWH Global knows from its own research it has conducted, which surveyed more than 1000 Australians, that if there was public transport within one kilometre of where people live and work, 77% of those surveyed would use it. Nearly all respondents (91%) believed that road networks will need to be maintained and operated efficiently to make an area liveable.

18 Sustainability Matters - February/March 2014

Poor urban planning can inevitably create segments of disadvantaged communities. Those on the fringe of cities are often shackled by a lack of transport choice, shops, childcare and healthcare. The way we connect our communities to services is critical in creating liveable communities, and accessible modes of transport are an important part of that.

The task of delivering accessible, efficient and sustainable transport networks in urban areas is a big challenge for the future success of Australia’s cities and urban areas.

Some cities around the world are coming up with creative methods to minimise the impact of the built environment on transport infrastructure and finding ways to meet the transport demands of liveable cities. The city of Portland in the US is an excellent example of innovative infrastructure design in a high-density environment.

Portland piloted a small scheme for light rail nearly three decades ago. The trial, originally around 24 km of a light rail track with 30 stations, was extremely successful and the city has been expanding the network ever since. The network is now several hundred miles in length.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

The built environment One of the key goals of the light rail system was to encourage housing development. In this regard, it has been a huge success. As the light rail network was laid down and subsequently extended, developers were attracted to the areas close to the rail line and started to build high-density apartments, commercial and retail developments on either sides of the track.

By 2008, private developers had invested US$3.5 billion within two blocks of the track, including over 10,000 new housing units and 5.4 million square feet of office, institutional, retail and hotel construction. This represents approximately two-thirds of all development in Central Portland during that time (1988 to 2008).

This has resulted in a pattern of linear development following the line of the light rail track, representing a very efficient use of land. These developments are utilising more of the allowed floor area ratio, known as FAR, than developments not near the light rail track.

Analysis has shown that developments adjacent to the light rail have utilised over 90% of its potential FAR, compared to just over 40% for developments not near the light rail.

Not only has the light rail network acted as a catalyst for housing development and spurred investment in the nearby areas, it has also been a focus for new models of sustainability in commercial and residential development.

For example, there have been stringent sustainability standards mandated for all new developments, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and alternative water, waste management and material selection to be integrated into every new building.

Many green building rating systems and design tools support the view that new developments consider both general and local site context during the planning phase. One aspect is that developments facilitate access to public transport.

In Australia, the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) have both included elements of public transport within their rating systems. The GBCA focuses on locating building projects within access to public transport corridors, whereas

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

ISCA focuses on providing infrastructure that facilitates access, such as pedestrian linkages or urban design, which supports public transport.

In Portland, the development of the light rail system has had a significant impact on the city and it now currently comprises 84 km of rail track and 85 stations. It has enhanced business growth, liveability and housing options. New housing developments and light rail ‘corridors’ are expected to absorb some of the one million new residents the region expects by 2035, and importantly, link them to the business districts where jobs exist. The network is a key element of the city’s plan for more sustainable future growth.

More than a dozen North American cities have light rail systems that have either expanded or started operations in the past 15 years. Additionally, at least twice as many other cities have new systems or new lines under active planning. In Australia, all of our major cities have light rail projects either in planning or in construction phases.

These projects all aim to use transit connectivity to not only solve the cities’ traffic problems, but also as the most effective way to connect people to jobs, to encourage housing growth and to stimulate investment. The light rail projects often combine other urban renewal projects to make inner cities greener and more pedestrian friendly.

Investment in new infrastructure is expensive, but recent analyses are com-

ing down more favourably on light rail as a cost-effective option that delivers the best overall economic, environmental and social outcomes.

In today’s difficult economic environment, securing funding for any project is more challenging than ever before.

Building your business case so as to capture all of the potential benefits of a proposed project, not just the economic benefits, is key. Proposals that can demonstrate the economic, social and environmental benefits of a project are more likely to get cut through than those which focus purely on dollar returns.

As demonstrated by the Portland example, light rail also has other benefits as part of an integrated transport system, particularly around land-use efficiency and sustainability measures.

The ability to fit into densely developed, pedestrian-oriented and urban neighbourhoods is also a major attraction.

The Portland model has important lessons for Australia, as our major cites look to emulate some of the successes experienced by the North American city.

Heavily congested inner city areas such as Hoddle Street and Parramatta Road could benefit from the ease on congestion, connectivity, and be a catalyst for high-density, sustainable development that light rail connections in the right locations can deliver.

Australian cities face big challenges as increasing urbanisation is placing significant strain on our existing urban transport networks. While it is not a panacea, light rail can be a solution to some of these challenges, as part of an integrated transport system that boosts connectivity and promotes efficient land use and sustainable living. As we progress along our own light-rail journey, Portland’s lesson of linking transport to sustainable living provides a guide on how Australia can deliver so much more than just a new transport infrastructure.

*Alex Iljin, National Business Manager, Infrastructure Planning, MWH Global

MWH Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V961

February/March 2014 - Sustainability Matters 19

case studies Solar power system for Sirromet Wines Sirromet Wines has installed a 200 kW solar power system at its headquarters near Brisbane. A total of 800 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, each rated 250 W, have been fitted in separate arrays to the roofs of the two largest buildings at the Mount Cotton winery.

The larger of the two arrays is 528 panels, located on the roof above a building which includes a barrel room, storage and bottling areas, the cellar door and offices. There is another array of 272 panels on a roof above the wine tank area. The system includes a total of 11 inverters for the two arrays, and they are adjustable to control power supply.

Installation of the panels, inverters and wiring began in midJuly 2013, conducted by Clean Energy Engineering, and the system was activated in December. The solution was engineered by energy management company Energy Action.

Sirromet Operations Manager Alex Sey said plans for the solar power system were initiated about 18 months ago as part the company’s ongoing efforts to make its operations as environmentally sustainable as possible and followed a carbon emissions audit of the company. “We wanted to go down the solar route because it’s better for the environment, plus we have

20 Sustainability Matters - February/March 2014

equipment unique to a winery that uses high volumes of power,” he said.

These include pumps for 97 refrigerated wine tanks and a fridge plant to maintain a constant temperature of 17°C in a storage area for 500,000 bottles of wine. “On top of that there is general power usage for the restaurant, cellar door, offices, the waste plant and other things,” said Sey. The new system cost approximately $400,000, which was offset by a grant of $197,000 from the former Labor Government’s Clean Technology Investment Program. The cost will further be offset by saving the company “about $50,000 a year, or 20% of our power costs, and benefit the environment by reducing our annual carbon emissions by more than 400 tonnes”, said Sey. These savings are a result of the solution being “one of the biggest solar power systems of its type in Queensland for a private company such as ours”, said Sey. “You could power 40 to 50 medium-to-large family homes with 200 kW.”

Energy Action Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V970

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case studies Microalgae and bacteria team up against arsenic-poisoned water Australian scientists have developed a new type of water filter that combines microalgae with bacteria taken from soil contaminated with heavy metals. The technology could prove an effective, cheap and safe way to clean up the potentially deadly arsenic that pollutes the drinking water of tens of millions of people around the world.

Mezbaul Bahar, of the CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE) and the University of South Australia, said the “king of poisons” has harmed more humans than any other toxic chemical in history.

Arsenic poisoning causes vomiting and diarrhoea, and long-term exposure can lead to cancer, diabetes, heart disease and death.

Bahar said arsenic is an ever-present threat, contaminating groundwater “in more than 70 countries, including Bangladesh, India, the USA, South America, China, Thailand and Taiwan” and is difficult and expensive to remove. “Around 137 million people are poisoned daily by arsenic in their drinking water and food,” he said. The principal supervisor of the CRC CARE research, Professor Megh Mallavarapu, explained that two forms of arsenic are commonly found in the environment: arsenic (III) and arsenic (V).

“Arsenic (III) is 60 times more toxic than the other form and is highly soluble, which makes it more difficult to remove, as it travels everywhere … The solution then is to convert arsenic (III) into the less toxic and less soluble form, making it easier to extract from the water.”

Previous techniques using chemicals and bacteria have attempted such a conversion, said Professor Mallavarapu - but the use of chemicals was an expensive process which brought unwanted side effects; and the bacteria required constant feeding as they required carbon to grow.

The CRC CARE team recently discovered “bacteria in soil that has been contaminated with heavy metals”, said Bahar, which developed the ability to convert arsenic into its less harmful form in order to survive.

The scientists also found a type of microalgae which could provide food for the bacteria. Professor Mallavarapu said the microalgae only need sunlight to sustain themselves and to generate energy, “and together with water, they’ll grow and produce carbon and oxygen to support the bacteria”.

“However, when the bacteria break down the organic matter produced by the microalgae as well as from contaminated water, they produce carbon dioxide, which in turn can be used to feed the microalgae.”

Once the arsenic has been converted, said Professor Mallavarapu, it can be easily absorbed and removed using material such as coir pith made from coconut husks.

Bahar said the technology will be tested in the laboratory to determine whether it can be used in individual households or villages.

PRINCIPAL SPONSOR

CRC Care Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V130

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February/March 2014 - Sustainability Matters 21

research & development Packaging from agricultural waste Scientists at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have developed agricultural waste blends which can be used in a process that literally grows custom packaging products, providing a cost-effective and green alternative to extruded polystyrene foam packaging.

The process involves combining cotton gin waste and fungi inside a cast, called a ‘tool’. The fungus grows onto, in and around the cotton waste, eventually forming a new, consistently textured, solid mass.

Once the tool is opened, the custom-shaped mass emerges - a spongy-looking material similar in appearance to polystyrene foam. After being put into a kiln-like oven, where the live fungi are killed, the result is a material that is biodegradable, compostable and flame-retardant but has the cushioning strength of synthetic packing material.

The biodegradable blends were developed at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit by engineer Greg Holt and his colleagues at Lubbock, Texas. Hunt’s industry partner, Ecovative Design, developed the patented method that uses fungi as a workhorse.

To learn which blends meet or exceed the same characteristics of extruded polystyrene foam, Holt’s lab evaluated the physical

Biomass packaging material, created using technology developed by ARS, collaborators and Ecovative, can be made to custom-fit a wide variety of products. Photo by Ecovative.

and mechanical properties of six different cotton by-product blends as a substrate for the fungal colonisation. Each blend was inoculated with a single fungus using two different inoculation methods for a total of 12 treatments that were evaluated for numerous physical and mechanical properties.

The results of the study, published in the Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, indicated that there were indeed blends which met or exceeded the characteristics of the foam. The blend and inoculation method needed were based on the end use of the product.

Ecovative Design is now selling the packaging parts to its corporate clients - including Dell, Steelcase, Crate & Barrel and others - where they will be used to protect computers and other breakables during shipping.

Credit: USDA/ARS

Water modelling for the mining industry CSIRO has developed a new model for coalminers, intended to forecast future mine water needs. The model was unveiled at the 20th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2013), held in Adelaide from 1 to 6 December, the theme of which was ‘Adapting to change: the multiple roles of modelling’.

Professor Damian Barrett, head of CSIRO’s Water in the Resources Sector research, said a key challenge for the industry is to maintain mine water storage at an optimal level, not only ensuring water security for mine operations during drought but also eliminating unregulated discharges during flood periods. He describes this as “the ‘Goldilocks’ state in water management - that is, not having too much or too little water but having just the right amount of water on mine sites for when it is needed”.

The model is depicted through three perspectives: the business perspective capturing the mine operation practices within a mine or across several mines or companies; the environmental perspective representing all the climate change patterns such as rainfall and catchment histories and weather forecast data; and the decision

perspective which considers trade-offs by demonstrating how to develop strategies to best meet business needs while considering environmental constraints and opportunities.

“We applied the scenario model to a number of constructed case studies including single mine sites and multiple mines sites, with the multiple mine site case studies exploring water sharing and trading opportunities among mine sites,” said Professor Barrett. “This methodology provides a rigorous and objective technique for developing management strategies and assessing risk.” CSIRO conducted its research in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, home to Australia’s largest coal reserves, as part of a

22 Sustainability Matters - February/March 2014

suite of broader CSIRO research. Research in the region is providing strategies to help the industry forecast mine water quantity and quality, improve water use efficiency on-site and improve understanding of the impacts of mine water use on regional water.

“Through improved seasonal climate forecasts, the assessment of the effectiveness of water sharing and trading among multiple sites and the cost-benefit analysis of establishing water management infrastructure, our research is helping to guide the coal industry towards better water management that balances the needs of business with the needs of the environment,” said Professor Barrett.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

research & development Energy-efficient sewage treatment using screw blower technology Northumbrian Water, a provider of water and sewerage services in the north-east of England, has chosen Atlas Copco screw blower technology to help reduce energy consumption and minimise service costs at its sewage treatment works in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

The company needs a constant, reliable supply of air in the region of 480 mbar for aerobic treatment of wastewater at its Newton Aycliffe site. The process uses bacteria to break up waste particles and requires large amounts of air to be blown into the aeration tanks to maintain the desired level of dissolved oxygen within the wastewater containment system - a biological process that typically uses up to 70% of the energy consumed on site.

It is claimed that operators can benefit substantially from energy savings through the replacement of conventional lobe equipment with the screw technology. Thus, Northumbrian Water decided to replace one lobe blower with the Atlas Copco ZS screw blower technology.

On completion of the installation, Northumbrian Water carried out a comparison performance test between the existing lobe blowers and Atlas Copco’s ZS technology. It revealed that the existing lobe blower used approximately 19% more power for the same

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

output. Based on these test results and continuous reliability issues with the lobe blowers, it was decided to replace a second lobe blower with an Atlas Copco ZS90-VSD, low-pressure, oil-free rotary screw blower.

The blower unit comprises a complete package based on a simple internal principle: precision timing gears maintain minute clearances between two intermeshing dry screw elements that never touch. No lubrication is required in the compression space and specially designed seals prevent any rotor bearing oil from entering the compression chamber. Intake air is compressed between the rotors and their housing and oil-free, pulsation-free air at pressures of approx 480 mbar is delivered at an output rate of more than 4000 m3/h dependent on process demand.

Northumbrian Water has now placed a third order with Atlas Copco to replace the remaining two lobe units installed at the Newton Aycliffe wastewater treatment plant with a further two ZS 90 screw blowers.

Atlas Copco Compressors Australia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V217

February/March 2014 - Sustainability Matters 23

9–10 APRIL 2014 | MELBOURNE PARK FUNCTION CENTRE, MELBOURNE OLYMPIC PARK

ACI Connect is Australia’s new conference and exhibition focused on automation, control and instrumentation technology, advances and applications.

ACI Connect is brought to you by Westwick-Farrow Media, publisher of What's New In Process Technology and ProcessOnline.com.au, and developer of industry-specific events like the Industrial Technology Regional Roadshows and (Radio) Comms Connect www.Comms-Connect.com.au.

The ACI Connect Conference theme is Optimising Your Industry and will feature three dedicated streams over two days: • Industry Workshops — presented by technical experts, Frank Schrever (machine safety) and Steve McKay (instrumentation/electrical) • Technology@work — local case studies and technical solution papers from a variety of leading ACI specialists • Business and Engineering Connect — panels and papers on Cybersecurity, Ethernet in Industry, Skills Shortage, Industry 4.0 and more.

If you are an industrial technology professional looking to enhance your knowledge base, engage in hands-on workshops and see the latest products and technologies, then you need to be in Melbourne on April 9–10 at ACI Connect.

Exhibition space is strictly limited. For more information or to book your space, contact Narelle Granger — ngranger@westwick-farrow.com.au or (02) 9487 2700. * The full conference program will be posted on the website in mid February.

Organised by:

Association Partner:

www.ACIconnect.com.au

Media partner:

With the help of Commercialisation Australia, Urban Ecological Systems Australia (UESA) has developed a patented $5m integrated glasshouse and aquaculture polyculture system whereby herbs and barramundi can be simultaneously and sustainably produced.

UESA has now won a five-year organic produce supply agreement with Coles.

©iStockphoto.com/real_shi

Herbs and barramundi the perfect complement for urban farming technology

As the barramundi grow, their waste is biologically transformed into safe plant nutrients and then used to feed parsley, basil and coriander. The only way that water leaves the system is through evaporation from the plants.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

I

n the year 2000, Urban Ecological Systems Australia (UESA) co-founder Hogan Gleeson met Commercialisation Australia Case Manager John Grew at a social function in Sydney.

Gleeson and his co-founder, Andrew Bodlovich, had developed a patented, low-energy, sustainable, organic food production system whereby they grew herbs and barramundi simultaneously, with no effluent.

That first meeting led UESA to a successful $1.9m Early Stage Commercialisation grant which has seen the concept grow into a $5m integrated glasshouse and aquaculture polyculture system.

Commercialisation Australia supported the R&D facility scale-up and technology optimisation at a greenfield site near Narellan, NSW, close to the key fresh food market of Sydney.

The glasshouse, located on a 7 ha block at Cobbitty owned by the University of Sydney, links beds of herbs by a complex system of pipes to water tanks containing barramundi. As the barramundi grow, their waste is biologically transformed into safe plant nutrients and then used

to feed parsley, basil and coriander. The only way that water leaves the system is through evaporation from the plants.

“We are marrying biology and technology to replicate what occurs naturally in nature,” said UESA Chairman Adam Steel.

Said to be the first of its size and scale in the world, the system is forecast to produce more than 10 times more organically certifiable food than traditional field horticulture. Because it produces no effluent, it is suited to urban and suburban environments - areas where farmland is at a premium.

The company has now won a fiveyear organic produce supply agreement with Coles. UESA will sell the herbs and barramundi through its marketing partner, Edison, to Coles each week.

Coles Fresh General Manager Greg Davis said Coles was delighted to support such an innovative and sustainable producer as “UESA takes sustainable horticulture to a whole new level”.

“By safely treating and re-using the fish waste, there is zero effluent and the farm can coexist comfortably in a resi-

February/March 2014 - Sustainability Matters 25

Sustainable farming

dential setting,” he said. Edison Director Ben Meadows explained how the deal with Coles was formed, saying, “We introduced UESA to Coles and negotiated an agreement that gave us a fixed price.

“When you deal with a central market system, you send it in and hope you can get the right return. Coles gave us certainty; a five-year tenure and something we could bank on when we reached a commercial scale.

“From where we are now, we will scale up tenfold with Coles’ support.”

Steel notes that this is “the first time in Australia that herbs and barramundi are being produced together in a sustainable and commercially viable operation that we hope will soon be certified organic”. He estimates 90% of the company’s income will come from herbs sold to Coles, with the barramundi accounting for 10%.

Once the system is at optimum production, the company will be producing 129,000 plants every 28 days and the equivalent of 15,000 to 20,000 kg of barramundi a year. In the future, the company aims to be carbon neutral, with Bodlovich saying “If we can achieve that

with food, it will be an excellent outcome.”

UESA is currently looking at several renewable energy solutions, including solar energy for heating and lighting in the glasshouse. To replace chemicals, the company already uses beneficial insects - such as parasitic wasps, predatory mites and lady bugs - to control harmful pests.

As part of UESA’s lease arrangement with the University of Sydney, the company has a research agreement which allows academic research to be undertaken at the site. Bodlovich said the company is working with the university “to produce a sustainable option by converting household food waste into insect larvae ... then processed into fish food”.

Bodlovich acknowledged the support of case manager John Grew, who was heavily involved as both a technology and strategic business mentor for the project scale-up.

“In addition, independent advisors with expertise in energy management and auditing, professional service pro-

viders, as well as potential investors were accessed and introduced from the Commercialisation Australia and personal case manager networks,” he said.

“Most important was the monthly independent review of progress and issues as they inevitably arose on such a large and complex build as well as its subsequent commissioning.”

Meadows concluded, “This is worldfirst technology and now that Coles has given us the opportunity to prove ourselves, UESA will soon be able to export this technology to the world.”

For more information, go to www.urbanecologicalsystems.com.

Published courtesy of Commercialisation Australia. Original article published Value Proposition magazine, October 2013, pp 30-31.

research & development Red sand could be used for road construction Curtin University researchers has discovered a new use for red sand, previously considered an unusable waste product from the extraction of alumina from bauxite. Aluminium producer Alcoa’s three WA refineries produce 30,000 tonnes of red mud and 18,000 tonnes of residue sand - which combine to make up red sand - every day.

Curtin’s Sustainable Engineering Group (SEG) found that red sand could be used as a viable and more environmentally friendly alternative to virgin sand and limestone in road construction. This would reduce the need for quarries to extract those materials.

The benefits of using red sand for roads (based on use of 600,000 tonnes per year over a 35-year period) include: • avoiding approximately 66,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions; • conservation of approximately 407 ha of land, with corresponding preservation of vegetation and biodiversity;

26 Sustainability Matters - February/March 2014

• reduced costs of $18 million to the construction industry and potentially many more millions, depending on the fate of the federal carbon tax.

WA’s Department of Main Roads has conducted trials of red sand on a section of Greenlands Road, which connects the Forrest Highway to the South Western Highway at Pinjarra. It is hoped red sand will be commercially available early 2014.

As well as its suitability for road construction, red sand can be used as top dressing in a variety of circumstances, including golf courses, parks, playgrounds and sports fields.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

n products & services

Arsenic in water sensor Metrohm has introduced the scTRACE Gold, a sensor for the straightforward voltammetric determination of arsenic in water. The sensor is simply plugged in the electrode shaft and no preconditioning is required, therefore users can start measuring immediately. Analysis time per sample is approximately 10 min and detection limit is well below 10 Âľg/L. The sensor combines all three of the electrodes needed for the measurement in one sensor.

Another benefit of voltammetric measurements with the scTRACE Gold is the ability to discriminate between different oxidation states of arsenic, notably the highly toxic As(III) and the less toxic As(V). The sensor can be used with any Metrohm voltammetry measuring stand.

MEP Instruments Pty Limited Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/W015

Remote level tracking unit The Bintech Sensor Drive Satellite unit provides a versatile, self-contained solution for remote tank level measurement. The range offers many solutions for remote measurement and monitoring.

The SDS 6100 range is based on high-end, reliable and accurate sensors coupled with a satellite communication module.

To reduce even further reliance on local infrastructure, a solar-powered version is available.

To transfer level measurement or switching alarms from remote locations, the SDS range comes with a satellite transceiver, used to log data and reports via satellite (and retrieve the data using an internet browser) to provide a solution for long-distance links in remote locations.

The satellite unit also provides at any time the GPS coordinates of the current location of the sensor. This functionality is a key asset for management of a fleet of tanks, eg, mobile tanks used for fuel delivery.

Bintech Systems Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V127

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

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n products & services

Battery recycling tubes E-waste and batteries are a key focus in efforts to improve sustainability. In Australia, it is estimated that only 30% of the 106,000 annual tonnes of e-waste is recycled responsibly. Not only are we losing valuable resources as a result, but such waste, when compressed in landfill, presents toxic risks.

Source Separation Systems’ Battery Recycling Tubes are an effective recycling solution for batteries and smaller e-waste items such as phones, generating volumes of recyclable batteries wherever they are placed. The clever design, incorporating a transparent tube, draws attention to the waste and ensures a clean waste stream. The tubes come in three sizes and are suitable for office environments.

Source Separation Systems Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V803

Control Components Wastewater Systems

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measure it, you can’t

control it Cerlic Multitracker & Multiseries sensors

Solar water purification unit

The H2O Optima solar-powered water purification unit provides treatment and purification to potable water for human consumption, emergency or agricultural use. It is designed to treat brackish water or seawater without the need for an external energy source, as the process is powered by solar panels. There is also the capacity to link the unit to a generator or mains power source so roundthe-clock operation, complementary to the solar energy input, is also available.

The unit removes contaminants including salts, viruses and bacteria using reverse osmosis membranes, plus a chlorination system that is also solar powered. The daily output rate depends on the water being treated; up to 1700 L per day for brackish water and 500 L for seawater.

The portable unit is carried in a box container measuring 1.5 x 1 x 0.9 m and weighing 545 kg. The box is able to be enclosed in a skid frame for easy movement or relocation.

The three 250 W capacity solar panels which power the unit simply fold up into the container for transportation or storage and unfold to lock into position, ready for operation.

The unit is fully automatic and maintenance-free, save for a regular wipe down of the solar panels to remove any dust and the replacement of the post-treatment 25 micron filter cartridges.

Water Equipment Plus Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V641

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28 Sustainability Matters - February/March 2014

Ilum-a-Lite has introduced its latest energy-saving LED T8 tubes. They are a direct replacement for traditional florescent T8 tubes without producing any UV light or containing mercury.

The tubes are a suitable energy-efficient solution for T8 lighting while offering energy savings and an extended 35,000 h of trouble-free maintenance.

Ilum-a-lite Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T991

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n products & services

Grid application platform eMeter has launched its Equipment Load Management (ELM) and Grid Data Vault (GDV) applications, which are both available on its EnergyIP grid application platform. An applicationcentric approach makes it fast and easy for utilities to use energy consumption data to address business needs and hit renewable energy targets.

Advanced metering at full scale is essential to utilities as they realign their business processes to hit mandatory renewable energy targets. EnergyIP enables utilities to scale from 10k to 50 million meters and capture meter data that can be acted on, reducing business risk and giving the flexibility to respond to changing regulation via rules-based configuration tools.

The product addresses ease of deployment to help utilities manage consumption data and supports a wide range of other applications. ELM provides insights into transformers, preventing outages and accidents and thereby increasing user satisfaction, although it is not limited to transformers. GDV offers data archiving software designed to help utilities manage data growth while enabling data accessibility, reducing costs and meeting archiving regulations.

By lowering the overall cost to scale up, utilities can add more meters or applications to meet their business needs. EnergyIP supports a high volume of data processing, making it a fast, easy and flexible platform with applications to address operational needs while lowering overall total cost of ownership.

Siemens Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V389

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Total acidity mini titrator for water analysis Hanna Instruments’ HI 84530 mini automatic titrator is designed for the rapid and accurate analysis of total titratable and strong acidity in water.

The instrument uses a pre-programmed analysis method based on the Standard Methods of Water and Wastewater Determination.

The mini titrator improves on the titrant delivery system and measuring ranges of previous models. Features include: a precise piston dosing system; dynamic dosing for speed and accuracy; a clear and intuitive user interface; real-time graphing of the titration curve on the LCD; logging of up to 200 samples; on-screen help; and rear USB output for PC connection and to save data to a USB drive. The titrator is also designed to be used as a benchtop pH/mV meter. When used in this mode, it has many features of a professional-grade benchtop instrument. With comprehensive GLP data and the company’s Cal-Check feature, the instrument is an all-in-one water titrator, pH meter, electrode and magnetic stirrer.

Hanna Instruments Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/U927

HORIBA U-50 MULTI-PARAMETER WATER QUALITY METERS

pH Oxidation Reduction Potential Dissolved Oxygen Conductivity Salinity Total Dissolved Solids Seawater Specific Gravity Temperature Turbidity Water Depth GPS

AUSTRALIAN SCIENTIFIC Pty Ltd

PO Box 335 Kotara NSW 2289 - Ph 1800 021 083 - Fax 02 4956 2525 sales@austscientific.com.au - www.austscientific.com.au

February/March 2014 - Sustainability Matters 29

n products & services

PMU calibration system Smart grids rely on phasor measurement units (PMUs) to deliver real-time, mission-critical data on the voltage, current, frequency and phase within the distribution smart grid. For the smart grid system to work reliably, PMUs must be calibrated.

The Fluke Calibration 6135A/PMUCAL Phasor Measurement Unit Calibration System is claimed to be the only automated and traceable PMU calibration system available. It is suitable for PMU designers and manufacturers, national metrology institutes, third-party calibration houses and electrical utilities.

The product is an integrated system of six components that completes the approximately 600 tests that certify a PMU configuration meets the latest performance standards of the IEEE Standard for Synchrophasor Measurements for Power Systems (IEEE C37.118.1:2011 and IEEE C37.242). The system completes the tests in 6-12 h versus 2-6 weeks with manual test methods. Because it’s an automated system, even non-experts can start using it quickly to perform a complete complement of required tests.

The system, which is mounted in a 19″ rack with an integrated test connection panel, includes a server PC, GPS receiver, system timing unit and three-phase 6135A Electrical Power Standard. It also includes calibration software that lets users create and store personality profiles for the PMUs tested frequently, as well as run full certification tests and a wide range of automated and interactive tests. The test system architecture lets a user-provided client PC access the test system over the internet from anywhere in the world. System accuracy yields a test accuracy ratio of 10:1 against the 118.1 PMU specifications.

Fluke Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/W031

Mass flowmeter Fluid Components International’s Model ST51 Mass Flowmeter was designed to deliver precise air/gas flow measurements in demanding environments. The explosion-proof instrument requires minimal maintenance and features a nomoving-parts design that’s non-clogging and operates over a wide flow range with low-flow sensitivity.

The flowmeter is suitable for wastewater digester gas systems. It’s packaged in an explosion-proof transmitter and the calibration is matched to the user’s actual gas composition and installation conditions.

AMS Instrumentation & Calibration Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V866

Monitoring solution for wind turbine rotor blades The RBTM (Rotor Blade Tension Monitoring) solution from Phoenix Contact continuously monitors the oscillations of wind power installation (WPI) rotor blades.

As a result of increasingly longer blades, the systems monitoring loads and oscillations must keep up with rising demands. The monitoring solution utilises strain gauges glued into the rotor blades. These sensors provide measuring data for calculating the mechanical stress imposed on the rotor blades. Freely programmable digital outputs can be used to transmit an alert signal in the event that configured thresholds are exceeded. All data are also made available for performing analyses. Data transfer takes place either via an optional modem or directly via the fieldbus built into the WPI. The monitoring solution can be integrated in virtually any bus environment, including Profinet, Profibus, Modbus or CAN. There are two versions available, depending on whether the system is to be introduced as a retrofit or is to be part of the electrical design. The box solution is suitable for retrofitting and comes with a fully preassembled control cabinet ready for mounting in the hub. The SD card solution addresses users who want to install the controller and I/O modules into the pitch control cabinets.

Phoenix Contact Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V268

30 Sustainability Matters - February/March 2014

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

n products & services

Flush diaphragm pressure transmitter The Trafag 8235 series flush diaphragm pressure transmitter is a ‘smooth-face’ flush diaphragm industrial pressure transmitter that features thin-film-on-steel sensor technology.

Other features include: measurement ranges from 0...+1 bar to 0...+100 bar; accuracy of ±0.3% FS typical NLH @ 25°C (BSL through 0); standard output of 4-20 mA (other options available); stainless steel body and wetted parts; G 1/2″ (M) process connection; and the media temperature range is from -40 to +125°C. EN175301-803A 4 pole electrical connector to IP65 comes as standard, with optional M12x1.

Turbidity meter

Dart Instruments Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V938

The 1720E Turbidimeter offers precise turbidity measurement for drinking water. The product meets and exceeds USEPA Method 180.1 for measuring turbidity for drinking water compliance and can measure less than 0.3 NTU. The meter continuously intakes flow through its bubble removal system, which vents entrained air from the sample stream and eliminates the most significant interference in low-level turbidity measurement. The unit is not affected by variations in flow and pressure.

Its simplified two-module design includes the sensor and the controller interface. The controller accepts up to two turbidity sensors, making a system with two complete turbidimeters. Connections are simple plug-and-play. A built-in data logger collects turbidity measurement at user-selectable intervals (1-15 min), along with calibration and verification points, alarm history and instrument set-up changes for six months.

Standard outputs are 4-20 mA per channel and communications use Modbus protocols.

Hach Company Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T502

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

February/March 2014 - Sustainability Matters 31

BINTECH SYSTEMS

n products & services

WATER SOLUTIONS Solar package

NEW INSTRAN ANALYTICAL MONITOR • SELF CLEANING • SELF CALIBRATING • AMMONIA • NITRATES

• FLUORIDE • SILICA • ZINC

SIPOS Solar Systems offers reliable and flexible products for the actuation of valves in areas without access to power. The company’s solar system, which does not rely on the grid, supports applications where site conditions make electrical supply problematic.

The package includes full planning/specification, component configuration and solar power modules. A switching cabinet, SIPOS 5 actuator and remote control or time and sequence programmer options are included for a complete bespoke solution.

The design, engineering and manufacturing of the complete system from one source ensures functionality and sustainability in severe conditions. With the company’s technology, distances up to 1.8 km between solar system and actuator can be realised without problems.

The solar package addresses a wide range of requirements including irrigation, level control and pipeline flow control. The company also offers control products such as RF, GSM control and integrated DCS. Barron GJM is the company’s Australian representative and can offer the SIPOS solar package to suit users’ specific applications.

Barron GJM

NEW CRONOS ECONOMY ANALYTICAL CONTROLLERS • RESIDUAL CHLORINE • DISSOLVED OZONE • DISSOLVED OXYGEN • TURBIDITY • SUSPENDED SOLIDS • PH/ORP • CONDUCTIVITY

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V824

Portable hydrocarbon analyser

W!

NE

LEVEL SYSTEMS • ULTRASONIC TRANSMITTERS AND CONTROLLERS • POINT LEVEL SWITCHES • MAGNETIC LEVEL GAUGES • SLUDGE LEVEL SYSTEMS • WIRELESS SYSTEMS

TOLL FREE 1300 363 163 sales@bintech.com.au

www.bintech.com.au

The PetroSense PHA-100, available to rent from TechRentals, is suitable for time-conscious individuals involved in environmental monitoring and testing. The product allows for real-time measurement of petrochemical contamination in water/vapour, so sending away samples to a laboratory for gas chromatography or infrared analysis is unnecessary.

The intrinsically safe device uses a fibreoptic chemical sensor (FOCS). It has an operating range of 0 to 20,000 ppm as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) with a lower limit of detection <10 ppm as xylene in vapour (accuracy ±15% of reading); and 0 to 2000 ppm as TPH with a lower limit of detection 0.1 ppm as xylene in water (accuracy ±10% of reading).

The product can provide data logging for up to 100 samples with a response time of <5 s. It is certified to EPA Method 8020 and features serial output to a laptop or printer. It is suitable for a number of applications, including remediation monitoring, site assessment, well plume monitoring, storm/wastewater monitoring, hydrocarbon breakthrough and leak detection AST/UST. TechRentals Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V852

32 Sustainability Matters - February/March 2014

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Case Study Overset

Resource centre w

Legislation, governance, programs and industry links to help guide your sustainability development.

©iStockphoto.com/alexzel

The Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence (AWRCE) has produced a comprehensive framework to assess the economic viability of recycled water schemes.

Developed from a study by Marsden Jacob Associates, the report examines the economics of water recycling in the broadest sense - both commercial value to businesses and the broader economic value to the community and environment - for non-potable use with various residential, industrial, municipal and agricultural projects.

The report found that many water reuse schemes use a variety of limited assessment methods for their costing and planning decisions. Economic and commercial benefits are often inappropriately estimated and poorly delineated

between parties, rendering the economic case for investment in recycled water projects difficult to establish in advance and to determine in hindsight.

The economic framework uses costbenefit analysis to focus on a wider range of capital, operating, social and environmental costs and benefits, and provides practical guidance on the assessment of business cases for individual recycled water projects. The recommended framework is based on interviews with representatives from industry, government agencies and water utilities, and from literature and regulatory reviews, surveys and supporting studies.

The report is available at www.australianwaterrecycling.com.au/researchpublications.html.

Total Facilities Expo 2014

4-5 March 2014 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Total Facilities Expo is a two-day trade event showcasing a large collection of products and solutions for professionals who manage and maintain buildings, facilities and infrastructure. Attendees have the chance to discover better, smarter, cleaner and more efficient ways to run buildings. The event also features international keynote speakers and many free seminars and discussion panels on how to start reducing your energy consumption.

For further information, visit www.totalfacilities.com.au/melbourne/.

Editor Carolyn Jackson email: sm@westwick-farrow.com.au Chief Editor Janette Woodhouse

Westwick-Farrow Publishing A.B.N. 22 152 305 336

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©iStockphoto.com/Skip O’Donnell

Report on economic viability of recycled water schemes

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Sept 2013 total CAB Audited Circulation (Aust & NZ)

5871 readers (74% personally requested) All material published in this magazine is published in good faith and every care is taken to accurately relay information provided to us. Readers are advised by the publishers to ensure that all necessary safety devices and precautions are installed and safe working procedures adopted before the use of any equipment found or purchased through the information we provide. Further, all performance criteria was provided by the representative company concerned and any dispute should be referred to them. Information indicating that products are made in Australia or New Zealand is supplied by the source company. Westwick-Farrow Pty Ltd does not quantify the amount of local content or the accuracy of the statement made by the source.

February/March 2014 - Sustainability Matters 33

In my opinion

Step beyond the baseline at Green Cities 2014

Romilly Madew, Chief Executive, Green Building Council of Australia

From stackable, electric cars to tiny, TARDIS-like apartments, Larson’s innovations

seem

futuristic, but may be just around the corner.

Green Cities 2014 18-19 March 2014 Grand Hyatt, Melbourne www.greencities.org.au

I

n February 2007, the rising stars of Australia’s sustainability industry gathered in Sydney for the nation’s first conference devoted to green building, Green Cities.

At the time, just 26 building projects around the nation had achieved Green Star ratings. Each and every one of these projects was a commercial office.

There were no Green Star-rated schools, hospitals, apartments, factories, libraries or community centres.

Not one Green Star-rated building had been designed or constructed away from the Eastern Seaboard.

Only two projects had achieved 6 Star Green Star ‘World Leadership’ status.

Many of today’s iconic green building projects - from the glittering tower of 1 Bligh Street in Sydney to the world’s greenest convention centre in Melbourne - were years away from completion.

Today, 20% of our city office space is Green Star-rated. Hundreds of buildings, from restaurants to retirement living villages, and from hotels to hospitals, are gaining Green Star certification each year.

In seven years, we’ve moved beyond buildings and are looking at how to address the sustainability of entire communities and cities.

We’ve moved beyond the design and construction of new buildings to look at the sustainable performance of our existing stock.

We’ve stepped beyond the baseline - but where do we go now?

Certainly, how we talk about sustainability is changing. Green Cities 2014, from 18-19 March in Melbourne, will explore why business leaders are beginning to think about sustainability

34 Sustainability Matters - February/March 2014

not as a technical challenge, but a strategic approach that can improve productivity, health and wellbeing.

Leading green thinkers from organisations as diverse as Mirvac, Lend Lease, the Hickory Group and ISPT will be diving deep into the strategies that have taken their organisations beyond the baseline.

The conference will also examine how we create cities that are sustainable AND liveable. Kent Larson, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab’s Changing Places group, will explore how his team is breaking the mould to find better ways for people to live, work and play in our ever-expanding cities.

From stackable, electric cars to tiny, TARDIS-like apartments, Larson’s innovations seem futuristic, but may be just around the corner. As Larson says: “Cities are places for people. There is no reason why we can’t dramatically improve the livability and creativity of our cities while also dramatically reducing our emissions and energy usage.” Larson’s innovative thinking is proving that a sustainable approach can deliver more, not less.

Green Cities will also explore the biggest market opportunity yet - retrofitting and regenerating our existing buildings. Pioneering regeneration projects around the world - from Stockholm to Singapore, and from Portland to Pittsburg - are reviving tired inner-city spaces and reimagining the economic and social potential of entire communities. For many sustainability specialists, stepping beyond the baseline will mean embracing smart strategies that breathe new life into old buildings and reinvigorate tired communities - and thinking.

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