Sustainability Matters Apr/May 2012

contents

Apr/May 2012

4

Leading the way TAG - you’re it

6

Packaging to help fight global food loss

10

Case studies

14

Power profiles help electronics go green

22

Research & development

24

Improving water quality in the Derwent Estuary

28

Remanufacturing recovers the goods

30

Sustainable manufacturing at NMW

30

Products & services

41

Resource centre

Legislation, governance, programs and industry links to help guide y our sustainability development

42

Carbon pricing will influence the way Australians do business

In my opinion

On the cover: © iStockphoto.com/ginosphotos

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he built environment is said to be responsible for about 40% of total energy use in Australia. Optimising energy in buildings was therefore one of the key points of discussion at the recent Green Cities conference, which was held in Sydney last month. Rather than adding solar cells to the roof of a building, it will soon be possible for them to replace the roof altogether.

The University of NSW is developing solar panels that are extra durable for this task and companies such as Laros Technologies were talking about this technology at the conference. Solar cell technology can now be integrated into the structural fabric of a building, so for example, a window can also generate energy. Savings in energy can be maximised by means of insulation elements as well as energy generation and reducing the amount of building material required for construction.

As the dams overflow in Sydney, one of the major water sector events, Ozwater, comes to town. When we think of water we don’t necessarily associate it with energy but water is a major user of energy and as the carbon tax is set to commence in July I’m sure some of the discussions at the conference in May will focus on this topic.

We have a stand at the exhibition, so please drop by for a chat!

Carolyn Jackson sm@westwick-farrow.com.au

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April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 3

Leading the way

TAG - you’re it As the WSAA searched for more ways to service its customers, it decided that the Technology Approval Group (TAG) was the answer.

T

As Executive Director of WSAA, Adam Lovell provides national leadership in policy positions for the Australian urban water sector on a broad range of regulatory issues.

Adam is a Board member of the National Centre of Excellence for Desalination, the Wa t e R e u s e R e s e a r c h Foundation and the Global Water Research Coalition.

TAG addresses a gap in the market by

promoting

strategic level innovation and supporting the development

and

commercialisation of new technology.

he Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) is the peak industry body for the Australian Urban Water Industry. Our members provide water and sewerage services to approximately 16 million Australians and many of Australia’s largest industrial and commercial enterprises.

WSAA felt that an innovation forum of leading water utilities would provide a positive addition to the wide range of member services that the association already offers. In 2012, the Technology Approval Group (TAG) came to the Australian urban water industry through a partnership between WSAA and Isle Utilities.

The TAG model was first launched in the UK in November 2005, and over the last five years it has gone from strength to strength. It accelerates the market uptake of ‘step-change’ technologies by engaging industry during the precommercial stages of development and also by leveraging external investment from venture capital investors.

The primary aim of a water utility is to provide clean, safe and sustainable water and sewerage services to its customers. With environmental standards becoming more stringent, and with the increasing pressure on water resources, capital budgets and rising operational costs, it is clear that the adoption of new technological solutions is vital to achieving this aim. However, very few water utilities have the means to invest directly in the development of new technologies.

Furthermore, financial constraints among members of the supply chain mean that it is becoming increasingly difficult for technology developers to find a suitable partner. TAG addresses a gap in the market by promoting strategic

4 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

level innovation and supporting the development and commercialisation of new technology.

The first TAG meeting in Australia was held in Sydney on 13 February 2012 and was attended by 33 attendees representing 25 water utilities from around Australia. The group was presented with five technologies with direct relevance to the industry, including technologies to: • provide real-time monitoring and alerting for the condition of critical water pipelines; • provide a disinfection system using the synergistic effects of ultraviolet light and ultrasound to produce a bactericidal effect; • reduce kWh consumption and therefore electricity costs and carbon emissions; • provide a cost-effective alternative for the prevention of sewer corrosion and odours; • provide a trenchless solution for curing leaks and cracks in urban water mains as both a leakage minimisation tool and as an alternative to mains replacement.

The inaugural meeting was energetic and thought to be highly successful by the participating utilities. WSAA will again be taking a leading role in the continuation of the initiative and the next meeting is planned for July 2012, when different technology companies will have the opportunity to make presentations to the group.

This new forum is certain to benefit both the urban water industry and the start-up companies, which will have unprecedented access to the industry’s major decision makers.

Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N433

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Packaging to help fight The packaging industry wants to fight food loss more effectively. Simple, decentralised packaging machines for emerging markets can improve food security, while the ‘throwaway’ mentality in western industrialised nations can be combated with smart packages.

A

ccording to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, there will be nine billion people living on our planet by 2050 - two billion more than today. At the same time, there should be no need to fear hunger. “One third of food produced around the world, amounting to about 1.3 billion tonnes, is lost on its way from the farm to the fork, or is wasted,” says Jenny Gustavsson of the Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology (SIK). If these losses were reduced by more efficient handling of food, famines could be curbed. Gustavsson is one of the authors of two studies commissioned by the FAO and serving as the basis for the Save Food campaign that the FAO and Messe Düsseldorf initiated last year at the interpack packaging trade fair.

The findings of these studies could fundamentally change global food policy. Until now, it has always been considered necessary to boost food production by 70% by 2050 in order to feed everyone. New goals now apply: “With limited natural resources, it is more effective to reduce food losses than to increase production,” says Robert von Otterdijk, FAO Officer for Save Food.

The wasteful West Food is wasted right across the supply chain, starting with agricultural production through to consumption in the home. In the low income countries of Africa and Asia, the problem lies at the start of the value chain. According to SIK, six to eleven kilograms of food are lost per capita per year owing to shortcomings in harvesting techniques

6 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

or because food doesn’t make it from the producer to the consumer in time.

In the sometimes extreme climatic conditions, fruit and milk spoil and meat becomes inedible due to contamination with dangerous germs. However, far more food is wasted per head of population in the developed world. In the industrialised nations, 95 to 115 kg of food still fit for consumption is simply thrown away per person per year.

What consumers fail to consider on their way to the bin is that unnecessary wastage fosters hunger in the poorer regions of the world. “Food is traded internationally. People in wealthy countries who waste food have an impact on prices in other parts of the world, ultimately making some products unaffordable to people in low income countries,” Gustavsson explains. If edible food ends up in the bin, this also pushes up the consumption of energy and resources.

The equation is simple: when a third of the food produced spoils, a third of the resources consumed in production are wasted and a third more climate damaging emissions than necessary are pumped into the atmosphere.

Demands for an immediate rethink can therefore be heard from the highest quarters. “In the fight against the throwaway mentality and energy wastage, the developed countries have to set clear targets,” says Klaus Töpfer, former Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme and head of the German Federal Government's Ethics Commission for a Safe Energy Supply. In addition to policy-makers and consumers, he considers that the packaging industry, in particular, has

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Packaging

global food loss

a major obligation to collaborate with other sectors in developing solutions along the food value chain.

The packaging industry wants to do its bit and is working on new strategies for the production and distribution of packaging machines and smart packaging ideas. “For instance, packages that themselves measure the contents’ freshness could help to reduce the quantities of still consumable food being discarded,” said Christian Traumann, Managing Director of German packaging machine manufacturer Multivac. In emerging markets, on the other hand, small, decentralised solutions could improve food security and fight poverty.

Germ alarm The industry has to strike a difficult balance, as it is acting in two worlds.

While it first has to convince farmers in Nigeria of the need to package their produce at source instead of sending it on its way unprotected, it can only combat Western carelessness with high tech. “Many consumers regard the ‘best before’ date as a licence to waste food, although many foods are still fresh after that date,” explains Stephan Grünewald of the Cologne-based rheingold market and media analysis institute. To remedy the problem, the industry is reaching deep into its box of tricks. For instance, it is developing time/temperature indicators that report continuously on the product’s state of freshness. BASF is already offering OnVu labels printed on the package.

These come with a special pigment colour that changes when the contents are no longer fit to eat.

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Rising food prices make food in Uganda a luxury

The equation is simple: when a third of the food produced spoils, a third of the resources consumed in production are wasted and a third more climate damaging emissions than necessary are pumped into the atmosphere.

Such innovations will only make their mark if food corporations cooperate.

Occupying a key position in the chain from the farm to the discount retailer, they control demand among local producers and the supply of foods from which the consumer chooses. The good news is that a number of the big players, like the Swiss food manufacturer Nestlé, have already joined the Save Food campaign. Nestlé wants to cut its emissions by 20% by 2015 by improving efficiency in packaging and production and making greater use of renewable energy. “We want to do business more sustainably and thus alleviate hunger in the world," said Philippe Roulet, head of Global Packaging Materials & Training at Nestlé. To this end, the group aims to use, among other things, more bioplastics from non-food sources such as wood or algae as packaging materials.

Packaging manufacturers and suppliers of packaging machines are support-

ing food suppliers in the realisation of their sustainability strategies. “Smart packaging” is one of the buzzwords.

These are intelligent and active systems that indicate the product’s state of quality and, armed with oxygen absorbers or special acids, are even capable of helping foods to stay fresh for longer.

Such packages can help anywhere around the globe, because - and this is true the world over - the longer food stays fit to eat, the less food is lost.

The US-based Sonoco company is one of the innovation powerhouses in developing packages with integrated microchips that, via sensors, constantly gather information on the state of a product, such as moisture and temperature. An alarm is set off when values move outside programmed upper or lower limits. These chips can also improve distribution security and uncover gaps in the supply chain by enabling huge quantities of data on

April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 7

Packaging

In emerging markets, there is demand for small, decentralised machines enabling food to be packaged easily. A number of solutions were presented at interpack.

Insecure transportation: In low-income countries, food in many places is carried on mopeds to the place of sale. The goods rarely arrive unscathed.

goods to be uploaded or downloaded at lightning speed with radio frequency technology.

independently. The package is then filled with the product in a closed, sterile system and sealed. This way, all bacteria are killed and cannot recontaminate the goods. The advantage of this technology is that the food no longer has to be heated in the package at high temperatures. “This means that much less packaging material can be used and the energy input for packaging is about 70% lower than for conventional systems,” explains Friedbert Klefenz, Group President of Bosch Packaging Technology. What’s more, aseptically packaged foods don’t need a chill chain. “With this form of packaging, we can also supply people who don’t have fridges.” Bosch already has a variety of machines to offer for the aseptic processing of liquid and pasty foods.

In emerging markets, there’s unlikely to be much demand for such technologies for the time being. For who’s going to pay for them and operate them? Instead, the demand for small, decentralised packaging machines is on the rise. “In India, we have truck-mounted packag-

A trend towards asepsis There are plans for Sonoco packages to do even more - by interacting with the contents, removing oxygen and harmful germs and thus improving product quality and prolonging its freshness.

Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV) is already offering such preservation solutions: “We integrate oxygen absorbers such as iron in the polymer matrix of the packaging material,” says IVV researcher Sven Sängerlaub. In PET bottles prepared in this way, oxygensensitive beverages like beer and fruit juices stay drinkable for longer. In addition, the IVV has developed an antimicrobial film that releases sorbic acid onto the surface of the food, the point of attack for contamination, and thus preserves it.

Aseptically packaged foods also stay fresh longer. In the aseptic process, the product and packaging are sterilised

8 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

ing machines specially adapted to local conditions in order to demonstrate the benefits of packaged food to farmers as well as local authorities. Farmers soon realise it makes sense to package their harvest,” says Klefenz. Bosch therefore wants to export more machines to these emerging markets. “The goal is nationwide distribution as far as possible so that produce can be protected from spoilage at source.” The German machine manufacturer Multivac also sees huge potential in up-and-coming nations for its vacuum packaging machines. “They’re easy to handle,” says marketing boss Valeska Haux.

Absorbers and asepsis for the West and new machines and self-help for Africa and similar regions - industry has made big plans and announced numerous innovations. Whether they’ll actually make their breakthrough remains to be seen. Ultimately, it will be the consumer who decides that over the next few years.

T h e n e xt i n t e r p a c k c on f e r e n c e will be held in Germany in May 2014, www.interpack.com.

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case study

Getting it sorted

R

ecycling should be a whole lot easier than it is. After all, we go to great lengths to extract impure raw materials then invest large amounts of energy in purifying and processing them and turning them into useful products.

The problem is, we then have the habit of taking those purified materials - the polyethylene in a plastic milk bottle for instance, or the copper in a phone charger - and mixing them up with a whole lot of other stuff when we throw them away.

Why do we ‘devalue’ our discarded plastics and metals to such a degree? There are many reasons, but one of the main ones is that it is simply the most convenient thing to do.

We’ve come a long way from the early days of kerbside recycling, when paper, tin cans and glass were collected separately.

Now our recycling bins accept a wide range of different materials. This provides the convenience factor that has lifted the recycling rate, but also created twin challenges for the people in the materials recovery game: how to handle the mix of materials and how to handle the volume of materials?

This is where smart technology steps in. The UniSort line of sorting machines developed by RTT Steinert uses a range of detection and separation technologies to

Why do we ‘devalue’ our discarded plastics and metals to such a degree? There are many reasons, but one of the main ones is that it is simply the most convenient thing to do.

automatically sort waste at different points along the recovery and recycling path.

The first pass is usually through a UniSort PR machine at a materials recovery facility. This sorts large items such as whole soft drink bottles and achieves a high level of purity. However, it isn’t perfect. The actual bottle may be made with one type of plastic, and the collar around the neck made from a different, incompatible plastic.

Not to worry. Before plastics can be recycled into new product, they need to be shredded into small pieces.

In this process, bottles and collars, or other composite items are reduced to individual flakes of homogenous composition.

This gives the UniSort Flakesorter a chance to work its magic. The UniSort Flakesorter handles particles of plastics, metals and other materials in the range of 5-20 mm, with the composition of each flake being determined using one of two methods. Near infrared (NIR) technology differentiates between a range of plastics including PET, re-granulated PVC, PE, PS or PP. Colour sorting is used to separate aluminium and lead from copper and copper wire. Once identified, each flake is diverted into the appropriate collection bin with a puff of compressed air.

At just 3 m long and with a sensor only 0.75 m wide, the UniSort Flakesorter can handle an incredible 24 million flakes/s. More importantly, a much higher efficiency and resolution is achievable with this machine. Higher purity makes it easier to incorporate recycled materials into new products and increases their value.

There are many links in a successful recycling chain, and materials sorting is becoming an increasingly important one. By installing UniSort Flakesorters, recycling facilities can increase both their throughput and the purity of their recovered materials, assisting in the creation of higher value recycled products. Aside from making sound business sense, that has to be good for everyone.

Steinert Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N188

10 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

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case studies index  Getting it sorted

10

 Hospital to maximise the

power of the sun in Hervey Bay 12

 Pumping out new technology 16  Thermo-breaking - beyond keeping the weather out  Whitsunday sewage

treatment upgrade project

18 18

 Glass recycling behind the bar 20  Sydney retrofit Grade B

building ahead of the curve

21

research & development index  Pig power for energy

22

 Cutting our carbon footprint

23

 Industrial waste can power 26 desalination

 Tool for mapping water use and drought

27

Hospital to maximise the power of the sun in Hervey Bay ABB has officially signed a contract with Queensland Health to design, supply and install a 266-kilowatt roof-mounted solar panel system at the Hervey Bay Hospital located on the Fraser Coast in Queensland.

The system will generate around 385 megawatt-hours of renewable energy each year, saving an estimated $20,000 on electricity costs and reducing carbon emissions by approximately 400 tonnes annually.

The contact was awarded in January 2012, with the $1.3 million project expected to be compete in mid-2012.

ABB’s scope of supply includes the design and installation of a complete photovoltaic (PV) system that will deliver a world-class system for the hospital, enabling the system to operate at high efficiency and maximising the amount of electricity generated. The solar system will be interfaced into the hospital’s existing building management system for control and monitoring purposes, and include an interactive web kiosk and largescreen television in the foyer to display performance data as an education tool for visitors.

“The hospital project is a personal favourite of mine,” said the Hon Stephen Robertson, Queensland Minister for Energy.

“The hospital is probably the biggest user of electricity on the Fraser Coast and the environmental savings from this initiative forms an important step in our target of

12 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

creating a greener, clean energy future for Queenslanders.”

Jason Venning, ABB’s Power Generation Manager in Australia, said, “When complete, this will become the largest rooftop PV system at any hospital in Queensland and will mark a significant milestone for ABB in Australia. The hospital has already reduced its energy consumption significantly by implementing a number of energy-efficiency initiatives, and with the addition of the renewable energy from this system, they will become more self-sufficient.

“Drawing from our global expertise in the solar industry gained by our involvement in many of the world’s largest turnkey solar projects and coupled with our innovative technology, enables us to provide a solution which operates at high efficiency, providing a lower cost per kilowatt production.”

ABB will supply solar panels manufactured in Australia by Silex Solar.

The system includes electrical meters, lowvoltage DC isolation equipment and inverter technology all made by ABB and specifically designed for solar applications. The PVS300 string inverters will cost-effectively convert the direct current generated by the solar panels into high-quality alternating current, making it available for direct use by the hospital’s electrical system.

ABB Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N365

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April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 13

Power profiles help electronics go green

Today, hardware and software designers

have

to make a trade-off between performance and power in a way that they didn’t have to 10 years ago.

One of Intel’s second-generation core processors. Photo courtesy of Intel

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esearchers from ANU, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Washington have completed the first systematic profile of microprocessors - the integrated computer chips that act as a central processing unit in electronic devices like smartphones, computers and giant data centres.

Dr Steve Blackburn from the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science, who led the study with Professor Kathryn McKinley from the University of Texas at Austin and their students, said that the findings could help lower the energy costs of electronic devices ranging from small mobile devices, to supercomputers, to massive server farms.

“We looked at the power profiles of different software and different chip architectures, as well as application power, performance and energy on a wide variety of hardware. These were measurements that no one had ever looked at before. We found that different software have really different power usages. This is really important because as technology and processors are getting smaller and smaller it has stopped yielding exponential gains in power and performance.

“These findings could be used by companies like Google, Intel, Apple and Microsoft to develop software and hardware which will lower energy costs in electronic devices as well as their IT infrastructure. It could even be used to make sure that your GPS works a lot bet-

14 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

© iStockphoto.com/ Courtney Keating

New and better ways of measuring high-tech energy consumption could lead to significant environmental and economic gains, a study from The Australian National University has found.

ter by optimising how often and quickly it locates you for less battery power.

“For companies which use massive data centres to run their programs and applications, there are real incentives to find ways to conserve power. It’s also beneficial for the hardware. For example, the less power a mobile phone draws from its battery, the longer the battery will last.”

Dr Blackburn added that in the future power profiles will become a key consideration of every stage of software and hardware design.

“Today, hardware and software designers have to make a trade-off between performance and power in a way that they didn’t have to 10 years ago. In the past, designers only optimised for performance, so if you were picking between two software algorithms, chips or devices you always picked the faster one. You wouldn’t worry about how much power it was using.

“That’s not possible today. Massive shifts in society, culture and technology over the last decade mean that everyone needs to be more energy conscious.

Energy efficiency has become a priority for consumers, manufacturers and governments. Our study will mean that we are all on the right track to realising this.”

The team’s research has been invited to appear as a research highlight in the Communications of the Association for Computer Machinery. It has also been selected as one of this year’s most significant papers in computer architecture by the journal IEEE Micro.

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We make ideas flow

case studies Pumping out new technology The laboratories at the AWMC (Advanced Water Management Centre) at The University of Queensland are set up to cater for numerous experiments to develop sustainable techniques for water management. Once proven, the resulting technology is often scaled up and used in much larger facilities.

For the range of biological and process experiments that are conducted at the university, it was important for the laboratory to have pumps that were accurate, flexible to be used in different applications and easy for the researchers to set up and integrate, with technical assistance if required.

Watson-Marlow was selected as the ideal investment for the pumps.

Research fellow Dr Julien Reungoat uses the Watson-Marlow 323U/MC8 microcassette pump because the highspeed turndown allows the pump to accurately pump multiple channels at very low flow rates, down to 10-20 mL/min.

The pump is used to pump 10 channels (coupling two 5-channel pumpheads) of treated wastewater into small-scale GAC adsorption columns where trace organic compounds are removed by adsorption.

Over time, the adsorption capacity becomes exhausted and bacteria grow on the media, allowing the biodegradation of trace organic compounds, which is, in this application, a new technology.

The columns adsorption/biodegradation performance is measured over time, and the experimental equipment needs to be in continuous 24/7 operation for the data to be collected over several months.

The microcassette pumpheads have Marprene manifold tubing installed in them. This thermoplastic material can last up to up to 10,000 hours pumping water at zero pressure, which translates to very minimal maintenance for the users.

“This pump has been used in the lab for over three years,” Dr Reungoat says. “We only use Watson-Marlow, they are easy to program and we are very happy with them.

After the first few pumps were purchased, we found they were very flexible to move into the various applications by switching pumphead or tubing combinations.

The digital display on the pump allows operators to know the flow rate, which is also a huge plus.”

In the Water Recycling Team at the AWMC, Dr Kristell Le Corre has installed a larger IP66-rated Watson-Marlow 520UN/R pump outside for a sampling application at the Bundamba Sewage Treatment Plant.

“I was using Watson-Marlows for labscale applications at my prior job in the UK. They’re renowned as good quality lab pumps, and I’ve never experienced any sort of failures with the ones I used at the time,” Dr Le Corre states. “In this

16 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

application however, conditions are different as sampling has to be performed outside. We have the pump installed onsite, running 24/7 in all elements - rain, humidity - and it is perfect for what we need. The pump is set in the automatic mode responding to a 4-20mA signal from the main inflow meter of the sewage treatment plant. It samples wastewater proportionally to the main flow, then we can accurately analyse its content in pharmaceutical residues in the labs later.”

In the context of source control - the first of the seven barriers process of South East Queensland’s water recycling schemes the main objectives of Dr Le Corre’s are to investigate which fractions of the total load of pharmaceutical residues in the influent of a sewage treatment plant originate from hospitals and answering the question: Is treatment or removal of pharmaceuticals at the source an effective and economic approach to reduce pharmaceutical loads in the influent of a sewage treatment plant?

Hence, treated municipal wastewater could be used as feed for an advanced treatment plant. On a bigger scale, her research will help to determine appropriate monitoring methodologies and enhance the understanding of wastewater related pollutants fluxes in the urban environment.

All in all, Watson-Marlow pumps are helping the AWMC with successful research, development and application projects, of which many are in close collaboration with industry and research collaborators. The pumps are also trickling into other labs on campus and processing sites as a direct result of the research academics movements and satisfaction with using them.

Watson-Marlow (Pty) Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N212

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April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 17

case studies Thermo-breaking - beyond keeping the weather out Canberra’s ‘Compass House’, Rudds Consulting Engineers’ two-storey headquarters, is showcasing Europe’s thermally broken aluminium curtain-wall system THERM+ by RAICO. This externally glazed aluminium system does much more than simply keeping the weather out.

Employing a fully engineered, EPDMbased double- and triple-sealing solution, the product provides water and dewpoint management, pressure equalisation, reduction of heat transfer, optimised airsealing and noise suppression. The entire system is free from using any silicone-based wet-sealing and is said to remained sealed for life.

THERM+ can achieve effective heat transfer values down to 0.8 W/m 2/K (U fvalues) for timber, steel and aluminiumbased window framing systems similar to the one at Compass House. This value corresponds to the minimum thermal fenestration performance required by the European Passivhaus standards. In addition, the system is airtight, can be used on flat roof sections and barely transmits noise (around 40 dBR with 6-12-6 double-glazing units).

The product has been inherently developed as a structural building element.

Large curtain-wall sections can be joined on the ground and easily tilted up in-situ, speeding up the installation process and negating the need for cranes. The system is strong and versatile - glass weights of up to 600 kg can be supported and glazing and/or architectural cladding elements of between 4 and 64 mm can be employed.

THERM+ also comes with a suite of thermally broken insertion windows and doors (FRAME+).

The curtain-walls are designed to integrate solar technologies,

be they building-integrated photovoltaic (BIVP) thin-film glazing units or building-integrated solar thermal (BIST) facade collectors. At Compass House, all spandrel-glazing units are either 7.1 mm thick BIPV or 40 mm thick BIST units. While the BIPV elements contribute to on-site solar power generation, the water-flown BIST collectors inject solar heat directly into the in-slab space-heating system.

Lou Forner of Rudds Consulting Engineers is very happy about “keeping the weather out and the saved as well as generated dollars” by using RAICO’s thermally broken THERM+ facade solution with integrated solar technologies.

By Dr Andreas Luzzi, CEO LAROS Technologies Laros Technologies Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N398

Whitsunday sewage treatment upgrade project Tenix has been awarded a contract

by Whitsunday Regional Council to design and construct two sewage treatment plants in northern Queensland.

Following construction, Tenix will operate and maintain the upgraded plants under a long-term contract with the council.

Work at the plants - at Cannonvale and Proserpine - will involve building new plants on the existing sites. The new plants will have significant environmental benefits for the local communities by reducing sewage overflows, improving noise and odour, and generally reducing

the nutrient load discharges to the environment.

“We are delighted to have been awarded the contract and to be gaining Whitsunday Regional Council as a client - the win endorses our position as a contractor of choice for the design, construction and operation of wastewater treatment plants in Australia,” said S a m Tu r n b u l l , Te n i x E x e c u t i v e General Manager.

The contract was awarded following a competitive tender process with a strong focus on sustainability, including the design and building of the plants

18 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

to the most stringent effluent discharge requirements in order to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Tenix has already designed and constructed a number of state-of-the-art treatment plants in northern Queensland and is currently operating and maintaining plants in Mackay. Tenix has designed and constructed a significant number of plants and operates and currently maintains 15 similar plants today.

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BottleCycler uses the Sulo 60 L compact wheelie bin in the base of its crushing unit where it can collect up to the equivalent of 300 crushed beer stubbies. The bin has been designed and manufactured in Australia to the highest quality standards and tested in this specific hospitality application.

The BottleCycler unit eliminates the need for multiple bottle bins behind the bar and the OHS issues associated with lifting them. When full, the bin can be easily wheeled into any small storage space for collection and recycling by BottleCycler.

80% of the glass crushed in the unit is recycled. In addition, by reducing the bulk volume of empty bottles into crushed glass, it is reducing the frequency of collections.

Every Sulo 60 L bin full of crushed glass is said to save 34 kg of CO2 emissions.

The BottleCycler unit is offered as a full-service solution and has already been used behind the bar in more than 400 applications.

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case studies Sydney retrofit Grade B building ahead of the curve Local Government Super (LGS) has announced one of its upgraded commercial properties has been awarded a 5.5 star NABERS rating (without factoring in its use of Green Power) and is now one of the lowest energy-intensity office buildings in any Australian CBD. The 10-storey, 20-year-old building at 120 Sussex Street in Sydney’s CBD underwent an upgrade in 2010. The sustainability development project was designed to improve waste, energy and water efficiencies, and resulted in a reduction in the building’s energy use by 54% and water consumption by 46%.

LGS also embarked on a study at four of its buildings including Sussex Street to measure the link between base building sustainability and the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), and the financial benefit of the improvements to tenants. Independent consultants CETEC were commissioned to measure the IEQ before and after the upgrade, and found that: average tenant satisfaction rose from 66 to 82% after the base building upgrade; and the improved IEQ, including better air quality, thermal comfort and lighting, gave tenants an average financial benefit of $188 per square metre.

LGS CEO, Peter Lambert, said: “In order to get consistently good returns for LGS members, we must keep tenants happy and our buildings full. It is important to note this upgrade was to base building aspects of the site only; however, the resulting increase in tenant satisfaction was strong. We were pleased with the scale of the improvement to the building’s productivity.”

LGS tenants backed up the LGS/CETEC study. Alon Bernstein, CFO of recruitment agency, Xpand Group, said: “There has been a noticeable improvement in our working environment and this, in turn, has meant better employee satisfaction.”

Chris Probert, Financial Director at Informa Australia, said: “The lighting upgrade has contributed to our staff’s comfort and productivity, and it’s good to know we are running on 100% accredited Green Power.”

LGS now plans to widen the CETEC study to regularly measure the indoor environment quality of other buildings in its property portfolio. w w w. l g s u p e r. c o m . a u / i n v e s t m e n t s / s u s t a i n a b i l i t y / sustainability.asp.

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April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 21

research & development Pig power for energy An innovative biogas system, developed at NIWA Hamilton, has been embraced by the Australian pork industry. It provides an alternative electricity and heating source.

The Australian pork industry association, Australian Pork Limited (APL), has collaborated with NIWA and several pork producers to design and build covered anaerobic pond-based biogas systems. So far, four systems are currently at various stages of construction.

NIWA worked in collaboration with the New Zealand Pork Industry Board and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) on the New Zealand prototype.

NIWA identified that anaerobic digestion in covered waste ponds holds significant potential to reduce odour and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while providing biogas as a local energy resource.

Australian pig farmers are incentivised to use the technology to reduce farm GHG emissions. The recently introduced Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) allows farmers and land managers to earn carbon credits by storing carbon or reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector.

These credits can then be sold to businesses with an emission liability, such as fossil fuel power plants or chemical processors.

“The system makes good sense,” said NIWA research engineer Stephan Heubeck, who has driven the development of the

technology. “Anaerobic digestion in covered ponds holds significant potential to reduce odour and greenhouse gas emissions from the farming sector. At farm scale, this energy resource can be used for heating and/or to generate electricity.”

The first pond based biogas system that NIWA designed was a purpose-built 7000 m3 covered anaerobic pond for Steve Lepper’s piggery in Taranaki.

NIWA’s simple and low-cost design has proven effective and reliable over the last two years. At the Lepper piggery, the biogas is used for electricity generation and heating in a combined heat and power unit (CHP).

As well as providing the majority of the piggery’s electricity needs during daytime, waste heat from the generator is used in a reticulated hot water system for keeping young pigs warm.

Steve Lepper expects to recoup his $120,000 investment ($30,000 of which came from an EECA grant) within three years. The Lepper biogas system won the Small-Medium Business category in EECA awards in 2010.

22 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

Taranaki pig farmer and biogas pioneer Steve Lepper. This anaerobic digester pond produces some 200 m³ of biogas a day. Scrubbed, compressed, and pumped to a generator, it now provides roughly half the piggery’s daily electricity needs. Photos: Geoff Osborne

NIWA is actively promoting new ideas and concepts that enhance New Zealand’s economic and environmental performance.

New Zealand’s primary sector has much to gain from a bolder adoption of covered anaerobic pond-based biogas technology.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

research & development Cutting our carbon footprint Roofing materials that double as solar panels and can also moderate the temperature of buildings are among the nextgeneration building products being developed at UNSW. A prototype of a photovoltaic/ thermal system has already demonstrated that it can produce © Prudence Upton warm air at 25°C throughout winter. The technology, developed by UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Engineering, will be integrated into roofing panels.

It’s part of a series of ‘carbon-positive’ products that will be tested and further developed by the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Low-Carbon Living at UNSW this year.

“A lot of people aren’t aware that the biggest opportunity for emissions reductions is in buildings,” says the head of the new CRC, Professor Deo Prasad, who is part of the Faculty of Built Environment.

“The built environment is responsible for 40% of energy use and Australia’s homes account for 16.5% of our emissions in electricity use alone, without accounting for energy embodied during the production and disposal of building materials.

“Unless we have carbon-positive products, it will be difficult to have carbon-positive buildings,” Professor Prasad says.

“The idea is that instead of simply putting solar cells on top of regular roofs, they are integrated, so that the minute the metal roofing is installed, it starts to pay back its carbon debt by pumping power into the grid and providing warm air in the winter,” says the CRC’s Program Leader for Integrated Building Systems, Associate Professor Alistair Sproul, who is also developing a thermally driven air conditioner.

Professor Prasad says the CRC aims to come up with further green innovations, as well as design and planning solutions to help reduce our carbon footprints.

The products will be tested from late 2012 in so-called “living laboratories”, one of which is located in the recently constructed Tyree Energy Technologies Building, built by Brookfield Multiplex, one of the CRC’s major industry partners, at UNSW’s Kensington campus.

Professor Dennis Else, General Manager for Sustainability, Safety and Health at Brookfield Multiplex, said the challenge of building and retrofitting for lower carbon outcomes is in practice a great opportunity to create buildings that not only consume less energy but also deliver measurably higher human performance in terms of health, collaboration and productivity.

Other living laboratories are the city of Newcastle, the industrial area of Docklands in Melbourne and the residential area of Lochiel Park in Adelaide. Residents and workers will test the effectiveness of these products and changes will be incorporated into the design process.

These products are aimed to prepare Australia for a zero carbon building code, which is being introduced in the UK and Europe in 2016.

The CRC has been funded by the federal government with support from industry.

Courtesy of UNSW’s Office of Media and Communication.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

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April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 23

Improving water quality in the Derwent Estuary Situated at the heart of the Hobart metropolitan area, the Derwent estuary i s a w ater w ay of great natural beauty and an important and productive ecosystem supporting a wide range of habitats and species.

A

n integral part of Tasmania’s cultural, economic and natural heritage, the Derwent estuary has some 200,000 people 40% of Tasmania’s population - living on its margins. The Derwent River supplies the majority of the region’s drinking water and is a major source of hydroelectric power.

While there have been significant improvements in the treatment of sewage and industrial wastes over the past decade, the Derwent still faces a number of environmental challenges, in particular: • Heavy metal contamination • Introduced marine pests • Loss of estuarine habitat and species • Intermittent faecal contamination of recreational waters • Depressed oxygen levels and organically enriched sediments • Elevated nutrient concentrations • Environmental flows and barriers All parties recognise that a strategic and coordinated planning approach across all levels of government, industry and the community is the best hope for restoring the estuary to health.

24 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

To address the issues, the Derwent Estuary Program (DEP) in Tasmania was established in 1999 to restore and promote the Derwent Estuary. The partnership between state government, six local councils, industry and the community employs six people with scientific and technical backgrounds to work with the DEP. Stormwater is delivered to the Derwent estuary via 13 major rivulets and over 270 pipes. The State of the Derwent Report Card (2007) identified stormwater run-off as the main source of pollution to the Derwent estuary. Local councils surrounding the Derwent estuary, in cooperation with the Derwent Estuary Program, have monitored stormwater quality. The program has a dedicated stormwater project aimed at improving water quality by developing and implementing resources and programs for local government, business and industry, schools and the community and has the following initiatives: • Encouraging water sensitive urban design (WSUD) • Soil and Water Management for building and construction sites • Regional stormwater resources for local government • Community- and school-based education on how to prevent stormwater pollution The DEP has funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country Community Coastcare grants program for a project titled Improving Biodiversity and Water Quality in the Derwent Estuary. One of the project’s objectives was to increase the application of WSUD through the implementation and promotion of WSUD at five high-profile sites around the Derwent estuary working in collaboration with industries, roads and transport and education partners, including: • University of Tasmania • Southern Water • Cadbury Schweppes • Centro Shopping Centre • Department Energy, Infrastructure & Roads/Lyell Highway A variety of WSUD projects will be scoped and designed at these sites, focusing primarily on car park and road run-off.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

A consortium of project proponents and WSUD specialists will be assembled to develop, share and promote these projects.

The overall objectives are to achieve water-quality improvements, broaden interest and awareness of WSUD, enhance regional expertise and implement projects at high-visibility sites.

Steep challenges The first WSUD project, completed in April 2011, is a large bioretention system at University of Tasmania (UTAS) at Sandy Bay in Hobart.

Two engineering consulting firms, Urban Initiatives and Aquatic Systems Management, applied eWater’s music (model for urban stormwater improvement conceptualisation) to develop the WSUD. The high-profile site, located next to the student facilities, experiences high traffic with a lot of car movements. The drainage grade is very steep and is unsuited to standard vegetated swales systems.

Moreover, the kerb must be maintained.

To further complicate matters, a rivulet passes under the site through a 1200 mm diameter pipe; and given that the upstream catchment is large, overland flow is an important issue.

The pavement area around the buildings - including the forecourt of the Student Café - drains to the proposed WSUD treatment area. While anthropogenic litter isn’t much of an issue, leaf litter is and requires consideration. The entry to the drainage chamber upstream had three small restricted openings which needed to be increased with the cut in of a raised grill structure. The road geometry, near Churchill Ave, was not conducive to WSUD at the lowest point of the car park and design consideration was required for handling the insertion of WSUD. The consultants recommended an alternate cobbled swale be established behind the kerb with a number of leaf litter trap points with sedge bands. This cobble channel could then discharge along with the final cut from the kerb to an elevated bioremediation filter cell built within a rock or crib wall retaining structure. Under this design, discharge

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goes to an existing drainage pit.

To establish an effective WSUD retrofit to service the area, the consultants proposed provision of two broad planted swales along the car park to reduce leaf litter from the surrounding vegetation and the insertion of three kerb drain entries to divert the run-off into the treatment systems. They also recommended provision of cobbled swales with sedged margins between the elements.

The design allows the student and wider community will see cobbled drainage lines and broad planted swales while being able to view the planted bioretention filter area. An education display board explains how the system works. This system will complement an existing WSUD design in an adjacent university site. This new project will enable a number of devices and treatments to be viewed in one precinct.

“There were some challenges with the project at UTAS,” says Stormwater Management Officer John Chrispijn, who provides advice on WSUD projects that are incorporated in developments around the estuary.

“The planned WSUD project was to capture the stormwater run-off from the car park on the campus. The university car park had to be in use whilst constructing the WSUD. The site and car park is also at a steep location. It was important to get accurate details of existing infrastructure at the university so nothing was disrupted.

“We looked to achieve the stormwater pollutants reduction targets of 80% total suspended solids (TSS) and 45% for nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (TP)” Chrispijn says. “When modelling music for the site, the steepness had to be considered. The optimal WSUD includes cobbled stone drainage lines and broad planted swales.”

Engineers and landscape architects worked together on the project. University of Tasmania implemented the WSUD and provided funding.

“With the help of music, targets were achieved and beyond, 91% TSS, 64% TP and 49% TN,” Chrispijn says.

He points out that people think the stormwater bioretention system looks like a landscape feature rather than WSUD.

“music gives quality reassurance and confidence that targets can be met with different design options. music let us look at different water sensitive urban designs and see what best suited this particular site and conditions,” Chrispijn says. “By applying music, organisations can demonstrate that stormwater pollutant reduction targets can be met in their WSUD.” “The WSUD project at UTAS has been a successful project. We had a good chance to do background research of the site before applying for funding and investigate the site for the viability of stormwater treatment. We could make an informed decision of the optimal WSUD,” Chrispijn says.

Award winner In November, the project won the ‘Tasmania WSUD’ award from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.

An initiative of the Derwent Estuary Program, the pilot project involved work to encourage the adoption of WSUD techniques to improve the overall health and water quality of the estuary ecosystem.

A number of sites from different locations around the Derwent estuary were selected and analysed for their suitability for retrofitting and establishment of WSUD initiatives. Comparative modelling of alternative design proposals for each site was carried out to determine their relative potential to contribute to improved stormwater quality outcomes, with design interventions ranked for future construction according to their assessed level of impact and achievability within that particular context.

While relatively modest in terms of overall size and budget, the jury commended the project for its analytical approach and design methodology, which provides valuable insights and support for broader-scale application and which highlights the value of evidence-based landscape design processes for building community understanding and support for WSUD initiatives. eWater Limited Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M722

April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 25

research & development Industrial waste can power desalination Victoria University scientists have shown the viability of a new desalination technology that uses almost no electricity and has the potential to save huge amounts of water.

Project leader Associate Professor Mike Duke said a three-month power station trial in Newport proved desalination of wastewater - which usually relies on electricity - could instead be powered by an industry’s own waste heat.

The membrane distillation technology uses waste heat to evaporate wastewater through a fine membrane, Associate Professor Duke explained. The evaporated water condenses on the other side of the membrane as treated water - at above tap water standard - for re-use around the plant.

The trial conducted at Ecogen Energy’s intermittent operating gas-fired Newport Power Station showed the system used 50% less electricity to desalinate water than traditional techniques. An updated design was then shown to use 95% less electricity.

“It has now been proven to work and as

energy and water become increasingly scarce this technology is a major development,” he said. “If it were scaled up to a continuously operating industry of similar size to Newport Power Station, it could desalinate around 7 million litres of water per day, which is the equivalent of supplying fresh water to about 25,000 people in Melbourne.”

Associate Professor Duke said many factories and industrial settings produced enough waste heat for this system to operate, but that currently that heat was not being harnessed.

“One of the most exciting outcomes of our tests is that our system can use waste heat as low as 30°C,” he said.

Conventional evaporative desalination systems use 70°C or higher.

“We have seen several industrial cases where there is far more waste heat available than what is needed to treat the entire site’s wastewater currently going to the sewer,” he said. “There are a lot of industries that are keenly watching this technology and

26 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

we are already in consultation with the mining, manufacturing and dairy industries as well as water utilities to move to larger pilot trials.”

The technology is relevant to many industries as saline effluent resulting from industrial processes is a common trade waste issue businesses must manage, both internally and in negotiation with water authorities.

“Membrane distillation technology is just emerging globally, so our demonstration on an industry site puts us at the forefront of its international progress,” Duke said.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

research & development Tool for mapping water use and drought Farmers and water managers may soon have an online tool to help them assess drought and irrigation impacts on water use and crop development, thanks to the work of two US Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists Martha Anderson and Bill Kustas have developed an evapotranspiration (ET) and drought modelling system at the ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory in Beltsville, Md. The modelling system also will help forecasters monitor ET and drought conditions across the United States and overseas.

ARS is USDA’s principal intramural scientific research agency, and the research supports the USDA priorities of responding to climate change and promoting international food security.

The model, known as ALEXI (Atmosphere-Land Exchange Inverse), uses thermal infrared imagery from satellites and calculates soil and plant temperatures that can be used to create maps of ET rates of plants growing in cultivated areas, forests and natural habitats around the world.

ET consists of the water evaporated from soil and plant surfaces, and the water vapour that escapes, or transpires, through plant leaf pores (stomata) as the plants absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Generally, evaporation cools surfaces, so a cooler land surface is an indicator of higher ET rates and wetter soils.

Water stress elevates soil and leaf temperatures, which can

be detected by satellites. Anderson and Kustas can use satellite temperature data to create ET maps. The maps are capable of detecting rivers, lakes, wetlands, riparian buffers, irrigated cropland and areas u nder water stress.

The work is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NOAA plans to use the system to generate ET estimates over the continental United States. The system is expected to become particularly relevant as climate change presents challenges for growers and water managers in areas such as the Texas Panhandle, the Florida Everglades and the southwestern United States.

Getting routine ET estimates for individual fields is laborious, but the researchers are streamlining the process. With help from new satellite imagery, they hope to be able to move towards routine mapping at the ‘field scale’ level.

ALEXI has been estimating ET rates since 2000, but the researchers continue to refine the system and plan to make the maps available online soon on the US Drought Portal at www.drought.gov.

Anderson and Kustas, with colleagues, are currently mapping parts of Africa, including the Horn of Africa, where drought has caused famine in Somalia. Local ET data would be particularly helpful in places such as Africa, where networks of weather stations don’t exist.

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April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 27

In a climate where consumers and businesses are feeling pressured to meet new sustainable energy targets, Fuji Xerox Australia is way ahead of the pack. The company’s Eco Manufacturing Centre, recently relocated to Rosehill, proves, through the remanufacturing of parts and an ecofriendly building, that a commitment to the environment can pay off.

Remanufacturing recovers the goods Lauren Davis

O

n 16 March 2012, the Fuji Xerox Eco Manufacturing Centre at Rosehill officially opened its doors. The centre, which employs over 75 people, is designed to increase the scope of Fuji Xerox Australia’s eco manufacturing operations and support its commitment to end-of-life product stewardship. The ribbon was cut by the Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Senator Don Farrell.

At the opening of the centre, Senator Farrell spoke about the government’s new Product Stewardship legislation, which acknowledges that anyone involved in a product’s life cycle must ensure that it is managed in a responsible way.

He noted that Fuji Xerox has already displayed this responsibility through its remanufacturing process, in advance of its legal requirement to do so.

This environmentally friendly approach actually goes back further than Senator Farrell may realise. Lachlan Feggans, National Environmental Management Systems Manager for Fuji Xerox Australia, told Sustainability Matters that the company has had a commitment to sustainability since 1969, when its Pollution Prevention Committee was established - long before sustainability was ‘that buzz-word it is today’.

Since then, the company has gone on to lead the way in sustainable practices in the multifunction device space, from printing double-sided paper in the ’70s to the beginning of remanufacturing in the ’90s. This concept was introduced to Australia by Dr Dan Godamunne, Executive General Manager of the centre. As explained by Feggans, Dr Godamunne and his team looked at a $3000 circuit board and realised that by remanufacturing it, they could “save the company $3000, reduce our waste and landfill, and actually extend the life of that particular piece of the machine”.

In the year 2000, Fuji Xerox opened its first eco manufacturing centre in Zetland,

28 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

and was elected to the UN 500 Roll of Honour for environmental leadership for doing so. The centre took back parts such as toners and rollers, remanufactured them and sent them back out to be reused, until they would be sent back and the process would start again. Fuji Xerox Operations Manager, Julius Dhanu, noted that remanufacturing is actually more sustainable than recycling, as the latter requires quite a lot of energy in order for an item to be converted back to raw materials and made into something new.

Remanufacturing, on the other hand, involves disassembling and recovering a device, replacing parts, if necessary, then sending the device back out to perform the tasks it has always done.

Fuji Xerox has ensured that the remanufacturing process is as eco-friendly as possible. As Dhanu explained, the company uses the more environmentally friendly versions of materials in preparing items, then sends these materials off to other companies for re-use. This occurs with the baking soda used to strip the rollers, and the compressed air and powder from the cleaning booths. This is despite the fact that this costs more than it would to just send the materials to landfill. Dhanu said this was indicative of the company’s commitment to sustainability.

This commitment has certainly paid off. Between 1996 and 2008, the company managed to avoid almost 139,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and reduce the requirements of raw materials by 21,600 tonnes. In the last year in review, the total amount of end-of-life products gathered from customers increased from 3044 tonnes in 09/10 to 3461 tonnes in 10/11 - a 13.7% increase overall. Around 140,000 parts and sub-assemblies are now remanufactured annually, with remanufacturing accounting for about 30% of the company’s spare parts requirements, by value. Over the past 15 years, the company has invested $22 million into the eco manufacturing centre - and received a return of $240 million.

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It’s not just the actions that go on in the centre that should be commended, but the building itself. In its efforts to remain ecofriendly, Fuji Xerox aims to achieve a 5 Star Green Star rating for the office fit-out, incorporating energy efficient features which even the old centre didn’t have. These include: • Partially recycled flooring • Wall paint with low/no VOC • Light sensors which turn off the light if no movement is detected, or dim if there’s natural light • An automatic sun shade to block the sun and reduce heat • An air conditioner which only introduces fresh air where it senses CO2 • Recycled desk wood • Solar hot water • A rainwater tank for the toilets and gardens This is even more remarkable when one considers that the new centre is actually a heritage-listed building from the 1930s. Feggans explained that the company could have developed a brand new building and designed those features in - most likely achieving a 6 Star rating in the process - but instead chose to re-purpose an existing building. Not only was this a further example of recycling and re-using, but it also proved that already existing buildings can be future-proofed for the rising costs of energy and waste - by anyone.

“Yes there has been a significant investment,” Feggans said, “but the costs will be recouped, ’cos we had to do that analysis. We want to put in efficient lights: what’s the payback? We want to put in efficient air conditioning: what’s the payback? We had to do that analysis

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to actually have this building the way it is today. So I think everyone can do this and this is a shining example of that.”

Feggans stressed that focusing on sustainability is an economic decision as much as an environmental one and businesses need to realise this.

“Each decision that’s made in the sustainability space needs to factor in people, the economy and the environment as well,” he said.

“The business case for the eco manufacturing centre needed to be based on cost and how we can save the business money. From that, we’ve been able to not only save money; we’ve reduced landfill, we’ve increased brand around sustainability and we’re reducing material inputs to the business as well. When I say material inputs, I mean raw material extraction to build new products. That offset is phenomenal. What we do here should be an example to a lot of manufacturing centres.”

Feggans provided further advice for any organisation wishing to cut back on their carbon footprint.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” he said. “So start measuring it and once you’ve got that measurement profile you’ll start to see where the savings can be made. And when you start to see where the savings can be made, you’ll also notice another thing: if we reduce our carbon emissions here, we’re going to reduce our cost as well.”

Clearly, following this example has been the key to Fuji Xerox’s success.

With over 900 remanufacturing programs developed and another 30 to be added over the next year, the company’s future is looking bright, clean and green. While other organisations may struggle with the idea of a Clean Energy Future, Fuji Xerox will be sitting pretty, unburdened by a commitment to sustainability that has lasted for over 40 years.

With thanks to Lachlan Feggans and Julius Dhanu.

For more on Fuji Xerox’s commitment to sustainability, visit http://www. fxasustainability.com.au/.

April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 29

Sustainable manufacturing at NMW NMW 2012 will, for the first time, feature a dedicated Sustainable Manufacturing Product Zone, with companies including Solar Switch, EnDuraSim, Autonomous Energy and others showcasing their product and services. A key component of this Product Zone will be demonstrations of how exhibitors can help manufacturers develop lean, clean, green manufacturing practices.

Alongside the exhibition, the one-day NMW 2012 Conference (9 May) will also focus on sustainability issues. Industry leaders - including Bluescope Steel and Ontera Carpets - will share the thought processes and strategies that have helped them successfully develop sustainable products for global markets. Government agencies will also speak, and there will be a closed-door panel discussion National Manufacturing Week (NMW) 8-11 May 2012 in which industry members can speak Sydney Showground - Sydney Olympic Park frankly about their efforts to move www.nationalmanufacturingweek.com.au towards sustainable manufacturing.

Oil-in-water sensor

Clean and renewable energy exhibition

Even the smallest oil traces can impair water quality.

The Hach FP360sc is specifically designed to detect traces of mineral oils in water.

The sensor monitors surface water, process water and industrial water continuously. It does this using a combination of submersible probe design and UV fluorescence sensing technology.

While laboratory testing is the most effective method of measuring oil in water, it is a long and complex process that requires special equipment and trained lab personnel. The sensor provides continuous online monitoring to maintain process control and avoid oil contamination with minimal laboratory testing.

Maintenance is limited to occasional wiping of the sensor’s measurement window, calibration once every two years and Xenon lamp replacement every four years.

Hach Company Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N066

All-Energy Australia is an annual, international, clean, sustainable and renewable energy trade exhibition. It will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 10 and 11 October.

Supported by the Victorian government, the exhibition will cover the application of the latest clean energy technologies and energy efficiency as they relate to individuals, business and governments (local, state and federal).

Keynote speakers will provide knowledge-sharing opportunities incorporating future developments in clean and renewable energy systems, clean coal and carbon capture and storage.

Other areas covered will include utility-scale solar PV and thermal installations, geothermal energy, wind energy, fuel cells, biofuels, grid and transmission systems, and low-carbon transport.

All-Energy Australia 2012 will also focus on finance and investment relating to clean and renewable energy and energy efficiency, as well as current financial drivers such as carbon pricing, feed-in tariffs and subsidies. www.all-energy.com.au

30 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

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Landfill and contaminated land gas analyser The portable GA5000 landfill and contaminated land gas analyser supports environmental legislation compliance and standardises monitoring routines.

The analyser can measure six different gases - CH4, CO2, O2, H2S and CO. Its features include: measures % CH4 CO2 and O2; peak and previous CH4 reading; simultaneous display of all gases; CH4 and CO2 accuracy Âą0.5% after calibration; modular and upgradeable.

The analyser offers a choice of additional gases including H2S up to 10,000 ppm and H2 compensated CO. Other options offered include: choice of GPS/field navigator; optional ATEX certified anemometer; additional gas analyser manager software for data download; choice of borehole gas flow measurement; onboard context-sensitive help; Bluetooth for downloading readings without a USB lead; customer updatable firmware; view previous readings on the analyser screen; and view calibration history on the analyser screen.

The analyser is ATEX, IECEx, MCERTS (applied for), CSA and UKAS calibration (ISO17025) certified.

pH sensor The Rosemount Analytical Model RB Sensor pH long-life sensor line is designed for optimum sensor life in demanding scrubber applications. pH sensors are most vulnerable to failure due to poisoning of the reference junction. The RB sensor features a multijunction that hinders reference poisoning. This design is particularly successful against aggressive sulfides found in scrubbers. The multijunction reference chamber of the RB extends survivability. In addition, the sensor is built of chemically resistant Kynar, adding to its long life.

Instead of replacing the entire sensor, the RB sensor can be simply reassembled inside its titanium sheath high-pressure body, reducing costs for replacement and shipping.

The sensor allows for optional installation methods including inline, submerged or ballvalve insertion.

Emerson Process Management Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N323

Thermo Fisher Scientific Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N395

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April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 31

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Occupancy and light logger The Onset Hobo UX90 Occupancy & Light Logger is a matchbox-sized, LCD data logger that tracks building occupancy and light usage to pinpoint areas in a building that could benefit from occupancy sensors and other energy-savings initiatives.

Suitable for building owners, facility managers, energy auditors and lighting contractors, the data loggers collect time-stamped data documenting each time room occupancy or lighting status changes. The compact devices are easy to mount to lighting fixtures, ceilings and walls, and can be set up and installed in less than a minute.

Once data has been recorded with the logger, it can be viewed in graph form using accompanying Hoboware software and printed out for use in reports.

The data can also be exported to Microsoft Excel for more detailed analysis.

In addition to the Occupancy and Light Logger, the toolbox suite includes data loggers for measuring motor on/off status, electronic pulses, state changes and light use patterns.

The loggers have a range of features that are designed to help streamline energy audits. The loggers offer a large LCD that visually confirms logger operation; signal strength indication that ensures proper logger placement; large memory capacity that enables longer deployments with fewer site visits; and a USB 2.0 PC interface for full-speed data offloads. The loggers also feature start and stop push-buttons and rare earth magnet, strap and command-strip mounting options to help ensure the loggers stay put during deployment.

The software allows users to batch-configure and read out hundreds of loggers in a fraction of the time it would take with previous versions. Additionally, it features a bulk export feature that allows users to export data files to text format for use in spreadsheets and other programs.

Australian tested product mark Austest Laboratories has released the ‘Australian tested product’ mark, free to all clients who have submitted products for compliance testing. The mark will show consumers which importers and manufacturers have committed to meeting Australian standards performed under an accredited testing regime, as opposed to overseas standards, or none at all.

The mark can be used on products tested to the applicable regulatory requirements, be they electrical safety or EMC, telecommunications, environmental and energy efficiency.

Suitable locations for the mark would be on packaging visible to the consumer at the time of purchase, and/ or on product marketing brochures.

There is no fee for the use of the mark by Austest clients. A basic terms and conditions document is required to be signed before use of the mark, which can be obtained from Austest Laboratories. The mark can be applied to any products tested with Austest Labs from June 2008.

OneTemp Pty Ltd

Austest Laboratories

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M750

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M757

32 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

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media partner

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Waste tank Marathon Group’s waste tanks are ruggedised units designed to go underneath an ablution block in locations where no sewer connection is available. Made to protect environments on remote or construction sites, the tanks are constructed in polyethylene (rather than the industry-common stainless steel) and have a heavy-duty galvanised steel frame.

The units are flat on the bottom of the tank to ensure no sewage remains in the tank when pumped clean.The ridge-free base has a level outlet to eliminate waste leftovers. The poly tank itself is a high-density, UV-stabilised unit that is easily removed from the steel frame when required. The tank unbolts from the frame, but otherwise the entire structure is welded thoroughly in fixed position for structural integrity and long lifespan.

The tanks are all engineered with forklift slots and are stackable, ensuring that loading and transport is simplified and more cost effective.

Each unit has drag lugs so that they can be dragged throughout sites as relocation on site is often a function of such equipment.

Each waste tank has a capacity of 4000 L. Dimensions are 3865 (l), 660 (h) and 2400 mm (d).

Marathon Group Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M856

Voltage optimisation maximises energy savings With overvoltage a common problem in Australia, voltage optimisation is emerging as a practical solution to maximise energy savings and carbon reductions. Powerstar is a triple-wound voltage optimisation system with a patented design that actively reduces a considerable percentage of electrical energy consumption. The multi award-winning system, which has been saving energy and reducing carbon emissions for over a decade, has a full range of fixed, variable (Powerstar Max) and domestic (Powerstar Home) voltage optimisation solutions.

Powerstar has been installed successfully across a wide range of industries in Australia, including government departments, supermarkets and cold storage facilities, all of which are said to have seen good results: the system generally achieves average savings on electricity consumption of 12 - 15%, reduces electricity bills and cuts carbon emissions.

The solution, which is fully designed and manufactured in the UK and which holds Sheffield accreditation, offers a host of additional benefits, including: a significant reduction in harmonics (electrical noise) and enhanced power quality; no moving parts, therefore no maintenance; increased life expectancy of electrical equipment; and no negative impact on facilities or services.

In addition, as it is not an off-the-shelf product but an engineered solution, every unit is custom built to match building requirements and the project-led approach means that the company works with clients to ensure that the highest possible savings are realised.

Powerstar Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N331

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Two-wire liquid transmitters Emerson Process Management has released the Rosemount Analytical 1066 two-wire liquid instruments featuring a broad range of measurement parameters, advanced communications capabilities and ease-of-use features. The transmitters are suitable for many industrial applications, including those with exacting performance requirements such as pharmaceutical and food and beverage, and in harsh environments such as chemical plants, metals processing and effluent monitoring.

The series has the latest version of Hart 7, and they are said to be the industry’s first pH transmitters to be registered under the Interoperability Test Kit 6 (ITK6) from FOUNDATION Fieldbus.

The transmitters can measure pH, ORP, resistivity/conductivity, percent concentration, total dissolved solids, total chlorine, free chlorine, monochloramine, dissolved oxygen and dissolved ozone.

A second sensor input allows continuous pH correction for free chlorine measurement. The instruments’ SMART capabilities also enable them to accept precalibrated Rosemount Analytical SMART pH sensors, saving time and money for field technicians.

The 1066 Foundation Fieldbus transmitter can use analog output function blocks to link to temperature and pressure measurements from the bus for temperature and pressure compensation, which can increase the accuracy and responsiveness of the

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measurement. The series also has a full complement of analog control and math function blocks for use by the 1066 or other devices on the bus to facilitate control in the field. ITK 6 compliance also brings with it new features - field diagnostics, which provide users configurable alerts, and common software downloads, making transmitter software upgrades possible without taking the transmitter out of service.

The HART version is switchable between HART 5 and 7.

The added features of HART 7 include publishing status and a time stamp with live measurements, and long tag names (32 characters), which makes it possible to more completely describe the location and application of a transmitter.

Housed in a 1/2 DIN enclosure, the series features a large display with ease of use and an intuitive menu system. A diagnostic key allows for immediate troubleshooting. A few keystrokes on simple menu screens will walk the operator through any function quickly and easily.

The HART configuration is fully compatible with the Smart Wireless Thum adapter for immediate commissioning to Emerson wireless networks. For high performance, the series uses lowfrequency noise reduction, and includes cable capacitance and series resistance compensation for improved accuracy and reliability. The analyser also has straightforward architecture, fully integrated electronics and automatic self-test.

Emerson Process Management Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N324

April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 35

Single Parameter Photometers Ideal for Field or Lab Use Easy to Use — Reliable from

$369

plus gst

Aluminium Ammonia LR, MR, HR Anionic Surfactants Bromine Chloride Chlorine Dioxide Chlorine, Free, Total, LR or UHR Chromium VI, LR, HR Colour of Water Copper LR, HR Cyanide Cyanuric Acid Fluoride LR, HR Hardness, Ca, Mg, USEPA Hydrazine

Iodine Iron, LR, HR Manganese LR, HR Molybdenum Nickel LR, HR Nitrate, as Nitrogen Nitrate, LR, HR Oxygen, dissolved Phosphate LR, HR Phosphorus Potassium Silica Silver Sulfate Zinc

RESELLER ENQUIRES WELCOME

Tel: + 61 3 9769 0666 Fax: + 61 3 9769 0699 Email: hannains@hannainst.com.au www.hannainst.com.au www.hannachecker.com.au 36 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

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Cardboard shredder The Packaging Padding Machines from Cushion Pack can be used to convert waste cardboard into useful packaging material. The cardboard shredding machine turns unwanted cardboard boxes into soft, pliable packaging material that can provide a suitable replacement for packaging material such as bubble wrap.

With a wide range of models from low-cost, single-phase units up to high-volume industrial models, the machines can be strategically placed at the point of packing and waste cardboard can be converted as needed into soft cushioning material. Featuring various throughputs from 2 up to 10 m 3/h, there is a model to suit a number of applications from low-volume warehouse operations to high-volume continuous use.

The operator-friendly machines have many advantages, including easy maintenance, a built-in dust extraction assembly, robust cutting cylinders and simple controls.The machine can not only reduce the costs associated with disposal of waste cardboard, it also saves on purchasing packaging material, such as bubble wrap, as the machine can convert old boxes into useful packing material.

Brentwood Recycling Systems is the Australian and New Zealand distributor for Packaging Padding Machines from Cushion Pack.

Brentwood Recycling Systems Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N234

Aftermarket pump spare parts Many pump users buy various brands of progressing cavity or peristaltic hose pumps which can cause issues when it comes to obtaining spare parts. NOV Mono Pumps has designed a comprehensive range of common wearing parts, suitably named ‘Universal Spare Parts’, specifically designed to suit mainstream progressing cavity pump brands.

The Universal Spare Part range covers the complete rotating element which consists of the shaft, pin and bush joints, coupling rod, rotor and stator.

Use of the range, claims Mono Pumps, can result in cost savings and reduced downtime and rigorous Q&A measurements ensure that every spare part model meets its designed criteria, providing longevity equal to, or in some cases outlasting, the original equipment manufacturer’s parts.

Universal Spare Parts are produced at Mono Pumps manufacturing facilities from materials used in all Mono Progressive Cavity pumps and spares ensuring quality equal to that of all Mono manufactured pumps and spare parts.

Mono Pumps Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N315

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Solar inverters Extreme environments make extreme demands on solar technologies. SMA’s range of Sunny Central inverters has been developed to withstand the negative effects of weathering.

Temperature extremes are coupled with significantly higher inverter loads, meaning the output can rapidly increase.

Using innovations such as the company’s OptiCool system for high temperatures, the inverters have been tested to endure temperatures ranging from -40 to 90°C and humidity between 10 and 95%, in tests lasting up to 1000 h.

Desert locations have sand particles that can penetrate the smallest openings and slits, risking the operation and life expectancy of the entire PV installation. The system’s encapsulated design securely protects the units and their electronic components from dust.

The inverters include a number of features which make them durable and robust at high altitudes. The dimensioning and peak voltage features of the Sunny Central CP units are designed to compensate for the low air pressure, temperatures and dielectric strength of air. All control voltage circuits are hardened for altitudes up to 4000 m and inverters are designed with a modified DC window.

With 100% nominal power up to 50°C, the inverters provide high power outputs. Furthermore, the CP and HE series can deliver 10% more power in continuous operation at ambient temperatures of up to 25°C, with efficiencies of 98.5%.

Whether for outdoor devices or inverters for enclosed spaces, both series offer high performance. High-tech functionalities such as comprehensive grid management and intelligent power management make them advantageous for plant operators. But the greatest advantage is the output.

With 10% overload capability at low temperatures, more modules can be connected.

SMA Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N265

WA 08 9412 0100 NT 08 8947 4941 QLD 07 3436 8600 · Townsville 07 4774 9200 · NZ +64 9 476 4047 · www.ksb.com.au

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April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 37

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Power quality analysers measure wasted energy The Fluke 430 Series II three-phase power quality analysers are designed to directly measure and calculate the cost of energy wasted in electrical systems due to power quality issues.The tool uses a patented algorithm to measure energy waste and quantify its cost. It also lets facilities assess the impact of new energy-efficient, electronicallydriven systems, from lighting and motor controls to HVAC. With the Unified Power function (developed from the algorithm), electricians, utility technicians, electrical engineers, field service technicians and energy consultants can automatically

determine how much power is being measurements, with one tool, for motor wasted and calculate exactly, with a single and generator commissioning and starthandheld tool, what this extra consumption up testing and load profiling, to prevent costs. motor/drive/load mismatches.

The tool has the ability to automatically All the models in the series have up quantify the energy wasted by harmonics to 32 GB (8 GB standard) memory, a and unbalance and, by inputting the swappable SD memory card and USB utility rate structure, the user can calculate connectivity for longer power, energy the monetary cost of the wasted energy. logging and faster data download. Screen The Inverter Efficiency function quality and battery life are both improved simultaneously measures the input and the accompanying software has and output power of inverters in solar been redesigned to give users more systems, wind turbines and uninterrupted options to analyse both power quality power supplies, letting the operator and consumption. Both models are fully see how much electricity the inverter itself compliant with the stringent international is consuming and whether it is operating IEC 61000-4-30 Class-A standard. Each efficiently. one can monitor systems with up to ten The 435 model includes PowerWave, power quality parameters, on one screen, a ‘fast capture’ system that displays and can record up to 150 parameters on waveforms, half cycle RMS voltage and 4 phases simultaneously, in accordance current values in full detail so motor and with the EN50160 standard, and are generator operators can measure the safety rated 600 V CAT IV/1000 V CAT III. interaction during switching operations.

Fluke Australia Pty Ltd This allows facility and utility service Contact and more9:38:10 items like electricians, electrical contractors brentwood_ad.pdf 1 info 3/04/2012 AM this at wf.net.au/N292 and generator suppliers to easily gather

38 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

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Handheld fluorometer/ turbidimeter

Handheld analyser for asbestos screening

The AquaFluor is a lightweight handheld fluorometer/turbidimeter which is suitable for field use. Its small size and durability makes it easy to use for quick measurements away from the laboratory. Dual-channel capability allows users to measure fluorescence and turbidity in one sample.

While small in size, performance has not been compromised.

The AquaFluor brings simplicity and economy to Turner Designs’ line of fluorescence-based instrumentation.

The instrument can be configured with one or two of the following channels: turbidity; in vivo chlorophyll; extracted chlorophyll a; blue green algae - phycocyanin; blue green algae - phycoerythrin; fluorescein dye; rhodamine dye; ammonium; CDOM; optical brighteners for wastewater treatment; and PTSA. Features include: dual channels which allow for quick toggling between two applications; small size which easily fits in a shirt or jacket pocket; dustproof and watertight for field use and it floats; single-point plus blank calibration; 12 bit resolution; operates using AAA batteries for >1,000 measurements/set; 5 s warm up; and low-maintenance field fluorometer.

Aqualab Scientific Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N009

The Thermo Scientific microPhazir AS is a handheld analyser designed for screening and identification of asbestos-containing materials. The analyser delivers accurate results on the spot, enabling users to perform rapid screening at no incremental cost.

The 1.25 kg unit enables accurate screening of potential asbestos-containing materials to minimise work delays and inspection costs due to sample processing and helps ensure worker safety during material handling. Powered by near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, a proven analytical technique used in laboratories for quality analysis and material identification, the handheld device is designed for ease of use by non-experts with limited operational training.

The analyser is completely self-contained, fully automated and non-destructive. It is suitable for asbestos screening to the field, minimising analysis delays and environmental exposure, and ensuring worker safety.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/N187

Don’t waste valuable components

• Car, truck and mining tyres’ • Scrap metal • Metro Waste

• Reclaim valuable components • Modular design • Over 50 years experience

• Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE)

To see functioning demonstrations of Eldan equipment search ‘Eldan’ on Youtube To contact the Australian office: Jim Hole at Eldan-Westrup South Pacific Pty Ltd Email: jimh@eldan-sr.com or jamesfhole@hotmail.com Phone: (02) 9844 5430 Mobile: 0400 035 326 Web: www.eldan-recycling.com

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April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 39

PROCESS CONTROL | AUTOMATION | INSTRUMENTATION | SAFETY

Process Technology Regional Roadshow

2012 8

NOW IN ITS TH

YEAR

vend NEW or sess training ions

Queensland Coming soon ... to a city near you!

If you work in mining, minerals, metals processing, utilities, food and chemical manufacturing and processing then the Regional Roadshows are designed for you.

Don’t miss out ...

NEW TRAINING SESSIONS FOR 2012 • Tune a PID flow loop • Troubleshoot a simple TCP/IP industrial ethernet network using four simple utilities • Write, install and test a motor control PLC ladder logic program • Basics of Modbus data communications protocol installation and troubleshooting • Arc flash protection and protective safety equipment • Variable speed drives— testing and troubleshooting

Brisbane • May 14 Gladstone • May 15 Mackay • May 16 Townsville • May 17

Supported by:

Training by:

Exhibiting companies include:

Includes FREE: • Access to exhibition • Training sessions - NEW • Lunch and networking drinks • Product demonstrations • Prize draws

To register or for more info visit: www.regionalroadshows.com.au 40 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

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

NZ’s cleantech website directory Practical guide to the Carbon Farming Initiative

The Carbon Market Institute has launched a practical guide to the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI).

Implementing the Carbon Farming Initiative A Guide for Business is a comprehensive tool designed to help anyone interested in the CFI understand and assess opportunities to participate. www.carbonmarketinstitute.org

The New Zealand Cleantech and Environment Network (NZ-CEN) is an online directory designed to showcase New Zealand’s green business leaders. NZ-CEN is a searchable directory with comprehensive amounts of information available on each listed member. It also functions as a collaboration tool for members, all of whom specialise in clean technology or environment-related goods and services, to share market news and best business practices. It has 100 high-profile members ranging from high-efficiency insulation manufacturers to engineers specialising in sustainable solutions. Members include Scion Innovation, LanzaTech, BECA and Eco Insulation and are broadly categorised into 11 sectors, such as renewable energy and agriculture. www.greenhousecleantech.com/blog/nz-cen/.

Securing jobs and competiveness in a low-carbon economy

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

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

Head Office Cnr. Fox Valley Road & Kiogle Street, (Locked Bag 1289) Wahroonga NSW 2076 AUSTRALIA Ph: +61 2 9487 2700 Fax:+61 2 9489 1265

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The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, has announced that regulations to establish the Jobs and Competitiveness Program under the Clean Energy Act 2011 are now in place.

The program will provide substantial assistance to aid the most emissionsintensive, trade-exposed industries to prosper in a carbon constrained economy. It will assist industries such as steel manufacturing, aluminium smelting and petroleum refining whose prices are set by international markets. Assistance will be provided through the allocation of free carbon permits based on historical average emissions baselines for each emissionsintensive, trade-exposed activity.

The Clean Energy Amendment Regulation 2012 takes account of stakeholder feedback on an exposure draft and consultations with industry.

It is available on the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website at www.climatechange.gov.au/government/initiatives/ jobs-competitiveness-program.aspx.

Advertising Sales NSW/QLD Nicola Fender-Fox Ph: 0414 703 780 nfender-fox@westwick-farrow.com.au

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VIC/SA/WA Lachlan Rainey Ph: 0402 157 167 lrainey@westwick-farrow.com.au

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NZ - Jordan King Ph: 0800 44 2529 jking@westwick-farrow.com.au

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Printed and bound by Webstar +61 2 9748 0020 Print Post Approved PP 255003/03439 ISSN No. 1834-917X

Sep 2011 total CAB Audited Circulation (Aust & NZ)

5567 readers (86% 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.

April/May 2012 - Sustainability Matters 41

In my opinion

Carbon pricing will influence the way Australians do business The carbon tax will come into effect on 1 July 2012 and the big question is, how will the tax affect confidence and spending, particularly in the first few months of introduction? Businesses will need to start planning and preparing for the anticipated increase in operating costs the tax will bring. Furthermore, retailers are encouraged to begin evaluating available options to reduce their carbon usage in everyday business.

Edward Hanna is the E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r, Sustainability and Business Development at Energy Action, which is an independent energy management company, offering buying and management services aimed at reducing energy usage. He is currently a fellow of the Australian Institute of Energy, a member of the Alternative Technology Association and a member of the CEO Institute.

There is a common misconception in the market that the tax will only affect Australia’s ‘top 500 polluters’. The reality is that ... there will be little choice but to pass these costs on to the end consumer.

S

mart businesses will begin forecasting cost fluctuations and assessing energy minimisation strategies well before 1 July.

There is a common misconception in the market that the tax will only affect Australia’s ‘top 500 polluters’.

The reality is that Australia’s largest energy generators are within that group, passing these new costs down the line, via energy retailers, to business. In many cases there will be little choice but to pass these costs on to the end consumer.

In 2011, Energy Action created and conducted a survey to gauge opinions on energy-related topics. The survey let respondents voice their opinions on a range of topics including the cost of energy, the role of media, energy efficiency and the carbon price. The survey was aimed at owners and key decision makers of commercial businesses.

The survey showed the majority of businesses believe the immediate and long-term impact of a carbon price will be negative on their business. Only 2% believe the carbon price will have an immediate positive impact on their business, whereas 9% believe it will have a positive long-term impact.

77% and 69% of respondents believed the immediate and long-term impacts, respectively, of the carbon price would have a negative impact or were unsure.

The most common opinions raised were: • Concerns over the cost of the carbon price • Lack of information available

about compensation • The carbon tax putting further

42 Sustainability Matters - April/May 2012

constraint on already struggling businesses • Promotes sustainable and renewable options • Extra jobs will be created • Concerns with overseas competition • What businesses should be doing

to prepare for the carbon tax Know your carbon footprint and understand what your largest sources of emissions are. Ensure that all major emission sources are evaluated, such as electricity consumption, fuel use and travel (vehicles and air travel).

To help you assess your exposure to the carbon tax, take advantage of Energy Action’s free online carbon tax calculator. It will estimate your cost impact under the new scheme in relation to increases to business energy bills. The online calculator helps all businesses to easily understand how the scheme will impact them over a three-year period.

The calculator was developed by a number of Australia’s leading energy specialists as a forecasting tool for business and is based on information outlined in the federal government’s climate change policy, Securing a Clean Energy Future.

It incorporates information available from retail energy contracts.

The overwhelming majority of energy users in Australia will experience rising energy costs after the introduction of a carbon price. The only way to beat the carbon tax is to emit less carbon in your operations. Understanding the cost exposure is crucial to understanding the investment businesses should be making now to reduce carbon footprint and energy expenditure.

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