Sustainability Matters Dec 2012/Jan 2013

Toshiba Motor efficiency

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

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

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

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

Low Noise Design Low audible noise in operation

High Efficiency Standards Compliant with MEPS 2006 High Efficiency Standards

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

QUEENSLAND Toshiba International Corporation Pty Ltd UNIT 4, 20 Smallwood Place, Murarrie QLD 4172 Tel: (07) 3902 7888 Fax: (07) 3902 7878

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

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

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

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

contents

December 2012/January 2013

4

Leading the way Seven signposts on the road to sustainability

6

Providing pumps and real-time data during Hurricane Sandy

8

Case studies

13

Process combustion: money to burn?

16

Young Hobart scientist breaking ground in biofuel production

19

Scientists create all-carbon solar cell

23

Research & development

25

Digital, adaptable learning precinct

26

Products & services

33

Resource centre

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

34

In my opinion

Carbon tax reporting: responsibilities and financial assistance

F

eeling the sand between my toes and diving into the ocean improves my wellbeing like nothing else. According to Charles Berger from Australian Conservation Foundation (talking at the recent Australian Sustainability Conference & Exhibition), there is now a growing body of evidence that for people in developed nations, such as Australia, wellbeing cannot be achieved through increased wealth and material possessions but rather by having more time and improving the depth of our interpersonal relationships. The natural environment is also vital to our wellbeing.

While deprioritising the value of material possessions may still be a while away, reprioritising the importance of the natural environment is becoming fairly central to most industries today. A healthy planet underpins a healthy economy; therefore, it makes sense that the value of our natural environment and the use of our natural resources - carbon, water, etc - should be ingrained in our economic strategies.

Assigning economic values to the environmental impact of a company’s operations and the disclosure of this information and the risks associated with it in a company’s reports are becoming more common.

Population increases and economic growth result in greater resource consumption and waste generation, and while there are no certainties on where our climate is heading, the impact on the natural environment is a risk that must be monitored.

Innovations and collaboration between climate scientists and engineers could be key factors to mitigating this risk so that future generations can enjoy our natural environment as much as I do.

Carolyn Jackson sm@westwick-farrow.com.au

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

PAPER This edition is printed on recycled paper (FSC Mixed Sources Certified) from an elemental chlorine free process.

PRINT It is printed by Webstar (ISO12647-2, FSC COC and PEFC certified), using soy-based inks and CTP plate processing.

WRAPPER It is delivered in a totally degradable plastic wrapper.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 3

Leading the way

Seven signposts on the road to sustainability

T Romilly Madew, Chief Executive, Green Building Council of Australia.

With Green Star ratings being awarded to social housing projects and low-cost university accommodation, we now have positive proof that green building delivers both environmental and financial sustainability.

he signposts are all pointing in one direction - and that direction is greater sustainability for both individuals and organisations. So, what lies ahead for Australia’s built environment? Where do the opportunities and risks lie?

Retrofitting: Increasing asset value remains a key driver for green building activity in Australia, and upgrading older buildings is no longer simply an option, but a commercial imperative. The US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design for Existing Buildings: Operation and Maintenance (LEED-EBOM) has certified more than 1700 projects, with a further 13,200 registered for certification. We expect the Green Star - Performance rating tool to have a similar impact in Australia from mid-2013.

Scalability: Australia is yet to capitalise on the eco-district trend which is shaping other parts of the world. From Freiburg in Germany to Greensburg in Kansas, and from Sweden’s Malmö to China’s Tianjin, sustainability is being embraced at the neighbourhood, precinct or even city level. Australia’s built environment industry needs to take the lessons learnt from green buildings and scale them to communities, districts and cities. Green Star - Communities provides the framework to help us to do this, and to include principles such economic prosperity, liveability, design and governance.

Quality: Increasingly, green is synonymous with quality, and Green Star has become the method of measurement. The Property Council of Australia’s (PCA’s) revised Guide to Office Building Quality identified 5 Star Green Star and 5 star NABERS Energy ratings as the benchmarks for new Premium Grade buildings. Peter Verwer, Chief Executive of the PCA, has said that the new expanded environmental performance metrics in the Guide “demonstrate what industry already knows - sustainable design and management of office buildings has become part of core business”.

Energy: Energy security is a long-term global challenge, particularly in growing economies such as China and India. These countries recognise that energy security also requires unprecedented investment in energy efficiency. Despite living in a country with more sunny days than anywhere else on the planet, we are still lagging behind Asia, Europe and North America in installation and mainstreaming of solar photovoltaic panels. This will

4 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

change as solar, wind and photovoltaic systems are integrated into buildings and used as building materials, rather than simply being installed ‘on top’.

Affordability: Many people associate green initiatives with higher costs - but that’s changing. New business models, technologies and high-performance materials are bringing green within reach. At the same time, as utility costs skyrocket, people are beginning to understand that affordability means more than the cost of a building the day the auctioneer’s hammer falls. With Green Star ratings being awarded to social housing projects and low-cost university accommodation, we now have positive proof that green building delivers both environmental and financial sustainability. Sustainability initiatives are no longer about higher costs, but about lower bills.

Regulation: Regulation is already reshaping the built environment, with mandatory disclosure driving higher levels of energy efficiency in commercial buildings, and the carbon price encouraging more informed decision-making across the economy. At the same time, governments are increasingly recognising that Green Star is an assurance of quality and a demonstration of fiscal responsibility. State and local governments are increasingly requiring developers to meet Green Star benchmarks for all new projects and choosing Green Star to futureproof their investments.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR): PricewaterhouseCoopers has found that 88% of young workers choose employers based on strong CSR values, and 86% would consider leaving if a company’s CSR values no longer met their expectations. Appealing to the next generation of workers makes operating from a Green Star-rated building a business imperative.

Not only do Green Star-rated buildings frequently see significant improvements in productivity, but they represent an investment in the health, wellbeing and comfort of staff.

With more than seven billion people in the world, the need to stretch resources even further will secure sustainability as a central design principle - and the Green Building Council of Australia will continue to work with our members to realise our collective vision for sustainable buildings, communities and cities.

Green Building Council Australia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S286

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Package water and wastewater treatment solutions Package water and sewage treatment solutions for potable water treatment and water recycling applications.

Cost effective, reliable and energy efficient treatment solutions covering the full water management cycle from transport of water to treatment and distribution. Your access to global water solutions expertise backed up with excellent local support from an extensive national branch network. Service and rental options are available.

Australia Tel: 13 19 14 www.xylemwatersolutions.com/au

New Zealand Tel: 0800 33 19 14 www.xylemwatersolutions.com/nz

Adelaide • Auckland • Brisbane • Christchurch • Darwin • Devonport • Kalgoorlie • Karratha • Mackay • Melbourne • Mt Isa • Newcastle • Orange • Perth • Sydney • Townsville

Providing pumps and real-time Opinions are divided on whether or not Hurricane Sandy was fuelled by climate change, but the fact is this extreme storm in the US in October caused a massive amount of destruction and loss of life. According to scientists, storms such as this will become more common and one factor that caused Sandy to swell was that ocean waters were about 1° warmer thanks to man-made climate change.

S

andy, a hurricane of historic proportions, delivered massive flooding and power outages. With winds of 128 km per hour and record-breaking tides, Sandy brought major devastation to a large geographic area and millions of people. Catastrophes such as this call for innovative solutions and technology from companies such as Xylem to help monitor the situation and control the clean-up in its aftermath. During and after the storm, Xylem instruments delivered invaluable information and the pumps moved water out of huge structures and small homes.

The devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy on New York City and the northeast US surprised some people - but thankfully the people at Xylem were not among them. The company knew that time is critical in the aftermath of such huge storms, whether it means pumping out someone’s basement or something much larger. Grant Salstrom, managing director of Xylem’s Godwin dewatering business, and his entire team spent the days leading up to the hurricane gathering hundreds of powerful Godwin dewatering pumps from all across the country and stockpiling them in Xylem branch locations and distribution sites near the hurricane’s projected path.

As the storm raged across the region on 29 and 30 October, causing massive flooding and power outages, hundreds of Godwin Dri-Prime and hydraulic submersible pumps were deployed to those who needed to move massive amounts of water without any available

Xylem was ready for Sandy repositioning approximately 200 pumps into the impact area before the storm hit the east coast of the United States on Monday, October 29. (pictured: Godwin pumps at Lake Como NJ)

6 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Water management

data during Hurricane Sandy electricity. Distributors of Xylem’s Flygtbrand submersible pumps prepared to help customers, as well.

Xylem’s dewatering pumps are made for various applications, including large-scale emergency and on-the-move projects. They are portable, capable of moving lots of water quickly and can be rented or purchased as required. In addition, they feature the Godwin DriPrime capability that provides automatic self-priming so operators don’t have to fill the pumps with water manually.

From the World Trade Center site in New York City to numerous wastewater treatment plants and other flooded locations throughout the Northeast, customers were using the pumps to minimise - or eliminate - flood damage at their operations.

“Our goal is to get people back to normal as quickly as possible,” Salstrom said. “We already [had] 200 pumps in place in the storm impact zone just one day after the storm, with more on the way. We have a lot of experience in storms like this, and we take a special pride in helping people quickly when they need it.”

Xylem also moved quickly to ensure that homeowners and small businesses have the pumps they need to recover in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Pump distributors throughout the Northeast were supplied with excess inventory of Bell & Gossett- and Goulds Water Technology-branded sump pumps that could be used - once power was restored - to remove floodwaters from basements and other low-lying structures.

Where power didn’t come on for days, the Evacuator Series of dewatering pumps was used. It runs on DC batteries and is capable of moving anywhere from 7500 to 30,000 L of water per hour depending on the model. Xylem has donated a number of the Evacuator units to the affected communities, focusing on specific locations where they could be best used.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

As the storm raged across the region on 29 and 30 October, causing massive flooding and power outages, hundreds of Godwin Dri-Prime and hydraulic submersible pumps were deployed ...

A safer way to monitor Sandy The damage from Sandy is still being calculated, but there’s no denying it would have been much worse without reliable readings of on-the-ground conditions that allowed responders to know where they were needed and what they were facing.

At monitoring stations throughout the Northeast US, Xylem analytical instruments provided invaluable real-time data to national and state agencies.

Throughout the storm, its YSI sondes or multiparameter probes monitored water level and water quality changes in key waterways and automatically transmitted the information in real

time using its YSI EcoNet system. This automated system made it possible for the monitoring agencies to reliably track Sandy’s impact without putting crews in harm’s way.

In the aftermath of the hurricane, these instruments are helping water quality experts monitor the health of drinking water sources, fish habitats and other sensitive conservation areas that might have been impacted by the inflow of seawater and the release of oil, sewage, sediment and other pollutants.

Xylem Water Solutions Australia Limited Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S162

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 7

case study

Algae-growing pipes fuelling our future

M

icroalgae have been intensively studied as potential organisms for the generation of biomass and welldefined fine chemicals or biofuel. GF Piping Systems has customdesigned a transparent PVC piping systems component, as part of a collaboration with partners LGem (NL) and TH Wildau (D), which has been used in a cleverly designed tubular photobioreactor (PBR) for algae cultivation.

Algae are fast growers and some species are able to double their biomass in a couple of hours using solar energy/light, CO2, phosphates and nitrates. There are over 40,000 different types of algae and because of their high sugar, starch, oil and omega fatty acids content, a productivity which is seven times higher than corn can be realised.

Another benefit is that algae does require arable land or additional water for growing; hence, cultivation of microalgae is not in competition with agriculture for food.

Since 2007, Dutch company LGem has used closed photobioreactors to produce microalgae on a commercial scale. The cultivation process has been steadily improved, resulting in a stable production platform. In 2009, GF Piping Systems joined the development team, introducing the new transparent PVC piping components.

Previously, algae growth technologies based on tubular PBRs have had to

rely on off-the-shelf transparent tubing materials (eg, PMMA, glass). Engineers at GF Piping Systems have found the ideal balance between light transmission and UV durability with a piping system made of transparent PVC. The piping allows optimum light to pass through at the correct wavelength for microalgae to be grown in the interior of the pipe.

The easy-to-operate GemTube PBR system is now commercially available and complies with all relevant requirements. It can produce algae at a low cost and uses a combined technology with waves and a high velocity air stream that resembles the surf in the ocean (Wavywind technology). The bubbles accompanying the waves (Bubblebrush technology) keep the wall clear of fouling.

In the different phases of growing microalgae, many factors influence productivity and the energy balance needs to be monitored. Pumping and cooling the algae suspension, dewatering, concentrating, drying and extracting the biomass all require energy. Apart from this, only a very specific spectral region of natural sunlight (the socalled PAR region) can be used for algae cell growth; UV and near-infrared parts of solar radiation are of no direct use for the growth process.

The combination of its experience with transparent PVC piping systems in very demanding industrial engineering applications and its understanding of the

specific requirements of the algae industry has enabled GF Piping Systems to identify transparent PVC as the most attractive material concept for fabrication of PBR components.

The pipes and fittings for the tubular PBR design feature high UV resistance that promotes or accelerates biomass production through photosynthesis. A customised filter can be used to adapt the light source to the specific irradiation requirements of the given algae strain within the UV/VIS/NIR range in order to achieve optimal energy uptake for biomass growth.

Incorporating static mixer elements into the inner surface of a PBR pipe can help to improve the temperature and light distribution in the reactor. Specially designed transparent U-bends can help to significantly decrease the pressure loss and increase the irrradiated system volume.

Benefits offered by the piping systems include: • Suitable thermoforming • A ttractive mechanical properties, smooth inner surfaces • Good optical properties • Chemical resistance (pH shifts, CIP process) • Compatibility with optical functionalisers • Variable jointing concepts (welding, solvent cement, push-fit) • F lexible concepts for durable UV protection • European food approval available on request The PBR is being used to cultivate algae, thus producing biomass and biofuel. What’s more, the organisms bind CO2, which they need for growth; therefore, by adding CO2 (for example, from an incineration plant) to the bioreactors, CO2 environmental emissions are reduced. Diverse processes are now being examined by the development group for connecting the photobioreactors to power plants. This could lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions, while at the same time creating biomass.

Georg Fischer Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R809

8 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

HI 9829 • HI 98290

GPS Multiparameter Meter with Autonomously Logging Probe pH/ORP/ISE, EC/TDS/Resistivity/Salinity/Seawater, Turbidity, DO, Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Field replaceable sensors including turbidity sensor Ammonium, chloride and nitrate ISE’s Logging from probe or meter (45,000 sample data sets on meter, 12,000 sample data sets on probe) Fully customizable instrument, probe, sensors and measurement specifications Display from 1 to 12 parameters with font dimension adjustment Contextual help screens Auto recognition of all sensors Rugged probe with stainless steel tip has a diameter under 2” for wells and pipes Track measurement locations with 12 channel GPS (HI98290) and embed location with data to view on the display or PC using popular mapping software Fast Tracker™-Tag I.D. System simplifies periodic monitoring Features a built-in barometer for DO concentration compensation Quick or independent sensor calibration feature Measurement check eliminates erroneous readings Logged data can be displayed as graphs and saved as Excel files Graphic LCD with backlight USB for PC connectivity Good Laboratory Practice feature with last five parameter calibrations recorded Meter accepts both alkaline and rechargeable batteries Waterproof protection for meter (IP67) and probes (IP68)

For more information call

03 9769 0666

Fax: 03 9769 0699 Email: sales@hannainst.com.au Web: www.hannainst.com.au & www.hannachecker.com.au

case studies index  Algae-growing pipes fuelling our future

Solar modules for North Queensland RSL 8

 Solar modules for North Queensland RSL

10

 Automated brick production

Kyocera Solar, a supplier of solar modules and renewable energy solutions, recently supplied 348 kW of solar modules that now cover the roof of the Townsville RSL Stadium in North Queensland. The photovoltaic installation, which will produce approximately 500 MWh of energy annually, is now the largest in North Queensland and will supply the equivalent of two-thirds of the stadium’s energy requirements by utilising the clean, renewable energy of the sun.

line provides greater efficiency 11

 Producing fuel from air and electricity

 Trigeneration system at university

11

12

 Environmental Upgrade

Agreement signed for 470 Collins Street retrofit

 Lightning warning system for OH&S

12 14

 Electric drives save a record 310 million megawatt hours in 2011 14

 Brewery opts for cogeneration 15  Public space recycling is important

 From agricultural factory to

energy producer with biogas

 Green roof for desal plant in Victoria

 Recycling improves Phillip Island’s water security

 Sports centre to be powered

by solar heat and electricity

 Energy-savings switch for university

17 18 20 20 21 22

 Ultrafiltration membrane system boosts capacity and quality

22

research & development index  Getting on top of the toxins 23  Capturing carbon with

clever trapdoors 24

 Electrochemistry creates

More than 1800 Kyocera solar modules provide two-thirds of Townsville RSL Stadium’s power needs.

cleaner water 24

Ergon Energy installed the solar system, which will generate about 1400 kWh each day - equivalent to the daily energy requirements of 75 typical North Queensland homes. That amount of clean energy equates to eliminating 460 tonnes of carbon pollution each year or removing approximately 100 cars from the road.

The Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, opened the Townsville RSL Stadium solar array. “These measures make the most of Australia’s natural resources and help us make the gradual shift to a modern, clean energy economy,” he stated.

The solar-powered stadium is a key component of the federally funded Townsville Solar City program, which is already responsible for installing more than 1 MW of solar energy in the city. The program will help achieve objectives to better manage rising electricity demand in Northern Queensland using environmentally friendly resources.

Townsville Queensland Solar City is one of seven solar cities across Australia and part of the Australian Government’s Solar Cities program that works with all levels of government, industry and community to change the way we think about and use energy.

“Kyocera is proud to support Ergon, the leader of the Townsville Solar City Program, to help create renewable solar energy that will power the North Queensland region for decades to come,” said Steve Hill, President of Kyocera Solar. “Citizens attending basketball games and other events at Townsville RSL Stadium may enjoy themselves even more knowing that the stadium’s commitment to environmentally friendly renewable energy helps to protect Australia’s natural beauty.”

Kyocera Australia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R873

10 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Automated brick production line provides greater efficiency ABB has delivered four IRB 660 palletising robots to the Datong Coal Mine Group, China, to be used in the Tashan coal mine.

Supported by brick machinery components from Shandong GONGLI, the ABB robots will play a key role in producing bricks primarily for adobe palletising.

This application is claimed to be the first of its kind in China, making it a model in the National Circular Economy initiative. The Chinese ‘circular economy’ initiative is a Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) program that strives to meet these challenges through cleaner production, industrial ecology and lifecycle management. The palletising application within the coal industry is setting an example to China’s brick production industry to explore alternate sustainable production models.

In the process of coal mining, the extraction process produces waste materials and rock. This waste is then reused by coal mines to make bricks. Four ABB IRB 660 robots have been applied to the brick production lines of Tashan coal mine. They are responsible for palletising the adobe and putting it into the brick kiln, a task that had previously been handled by manual workers.

Dr Chunyuan Gu, Head of Discrete Automation and Motion division, ABB North Asia and China, said, “ABB closely cooperates with its Chinese customers to provide customised robotics solutions to address local demands. We are happy to supply China’s first adobe palletising robotic solution to Datong Coal Mine Group. The solution will fill the gap in China and create a good model for other similar applications in the industry.”

After introducing the ABB robots, the palletising accuracy has greatly improved. The orderly placement of adobes in the brick kiln has been ensured, increasing product quality. It allows the flexibility to change the types of bricks, the production pace, product code and the kiln. In addition, ABB robots can operate in high temperatures and harsh environments.

The ABB IRB 660 is well-suited for material handling and palletising. With a payload of up to 250 kg, this 4-axis robot

has a reach of 3.15 m. A single IRB 660 unit equals and is claimed to deliver over 30% more operational precision compared to the industry average.

ABB Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R631

Producing fuel from air and electricity A University of Canterbury lecturer in New Zealand is researching the possibility of producing fuel from air and electricity. The technology removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produces methanol, a liquid fuel similar to petrol. UC researcher Dr Aaron Marshall said efficient conversion of carbon dioxide into methanol would revolutionise energy technologies. He has received a Marsden Fund study grant to look into cutting-edge technology.

“We still need energy to carry out the process. Basically we make fuel (methanol) from carbon dioxide in the air and electricity.

But in principle we would not need oil/petrol if this could be done efficiently on a large scale using renewable energy like wind or solar power. Methanol can be used in normal car engines,” Dr Marshall said.

“Theoretically not much energy is required. Most people think carbon dioxide

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

is a very stable compound that would be really hard to turn back into fuel but actually only 1.2 V of electricity is required.

Unfortunately, the reaction is complex which means we need to use much more energy than theory suggests.

“Imagine driving to Lyttelton from Christchurch. Both places are at a similar altitude so it shouldn’t require too much energy to get there. But if the only path is over the Port Hills, then you need lots of energy to climb the hill. We are basically looking for the Lyttelton tunnel.

“If we burn methanol, we get carbon dioxide, water and energy as products.

We can produce methanol by making this ‘normal burning process’ go backwards on the surface of a catalyst by using electricity.

“We will use a combination of electrochemical and surface structure analysis tools to find out what the ‘sweet

spot’ looks like on this catalyst to understand how to make the process better.”

Renewable energy (such as solar and wind power) is difficult to store, especially for use in transportation. One potential solution is to use this renewable energy to re-convert CO2 from the atmosphere back into a fuel such as methanol.

This effectively results in carbon-neutral energy storage. At present only a fraction of the energy used in the process results in methanol production, with the majority of the energy wasted as heat or used up through the production of unwanted by-products.

This project aims to investigate how to make the process commercially and industrially feasible.

Dr Marshall will be collaborating with Professor David Harrington from the University of Victoria in Canada - an alumnus of UC who has expertise in this area.

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 11

case studies Environmental Upgrade Agreement signed for 470 Collins Street retrofit EUA fina n c e t h r o u g h L o w C a r b o n Australia, National Australia Bank and Eureka Funds Management will enable the Suleman property development group to make a 30% saving in energy costs for its 15-storey office block in one of Melbourne’s most sought-after business locations.

City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the project was a shining example of what Melbourne’s older commercial buildings can achieve through retrofitting.

“It is one of a number of buildings in the financial precinct to take advantage of Council support to improve their energy efficiency,” the Lord Mayor said.

“We can see a fundamental shift occurring in the commercial building sector, where owners are starting to realise the incredible benefits of retrofitting.

Latest research also suggests that each $1 billion invested in building energy efficiency equates to around 7700 jobs.

That’s economic uplift.”

The building’s owner, Sam Suleman, said the 470 Collins Street project involved upgrades to heating, cooling and lighting and the building management system.

“This upgrade will help better position the property in the market place by reducing energy costs, improving the

building’s environmental performance and is great for tenants, including Timothy Lewis Pharmacy, McDonald’s, TP3, Ross Human Directions, DMR Corporate and Burnet and Intralink Financial Solutions,” hesaid.

NAB head of property finance Andrew Balzan said the use of EUAs demonstrates the attractiveness of longer dated finance for this market. “We’re pleased to be part

of this pioneering environmental finance market which is enabling building owners to carry out projects now that will make a difference for years to come,” he said.

EUAs provide project finance which can remove the need for up-front capital and be paid back through rate notices. In Melbourne, the environmental upgrade agreement program is managed by Sustainable Melbourne Fund on behalf of Melbourne City Council.

Low Carbon Australia’s Chairman Mike Rann said that EUAs are just one of the innovative ways Low Carbon Australia was providing finance for businesses looking to improve the energy efficiency of their operations and improve the performance of their buildings through new low carbon technologies. “ M a j o r r e t r o f i t s o f A u s t r a l i a ’s commercial buildings over the next decade could cut building emissions by 30% which was significant, as the built environment accounts for nearly a quarter of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“With our support, businesses are improving their productivity and competitiveness while reducing their energy bills as they move to a low carbon economy,” he said.

Sustainable Melbourne Fund www.sustainablemelbournefund.com.au

Trigeneration system at university MPower has recently completed the design, supply and installation of a trigeneration plant for the Tyree Energy Technology Building at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). The trigeneration system helped the University to achieve the Six Star Green Star design rating for the building. As the power generation equipment is located on the roof of the building, space plus noise and vibration levels were challenging.

The integration of the trigeneration plant also needed to be considered when sizing the system because it was important to ensure that the most efficient solution

was integrated. By correctly sizing the plant, it not only increased the efficiency of the building but also meant it will be the most cost effective to maintain and will provide years of reliable service.

MPower’s solution was to integrate an 800 kWe MWM gas generator, which drives a single-stage Thermax absorption chiller.

The gas generator is connected to the UNSW ring main system and exports power to the main system when the electrical load is lower than the 800 kWe that the generator can provide, ensuring the system is running at maximum capacity and efficiency.

12 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

T h e g a s g e n e r a t o r ’s w a s t e h e a t supplements the building’s hot water boilers during cooler months. When the building requires cooling, the gas generator waste heat is used to drive the absorption chiller, which provides chilled water for the building’s cooling requirements. The result is a building that meets the Six Star Green Star design rating and demonstrates the trigeneration technology working in conjunction with other energy-efficient technologies.

MPower Products Pty Limited Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q980

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Process combustion: money to burn?

S

As industry looks to save money and increase efficiency, Tony Kelly provides some advice for selecting burners for process heating applications and how energy savings can be achieved.

Recovering

energy

would otherwise be lost to the atmosphere through stack losses can reduce furnace energy requirements dramatically.

that

Tony Kelly, Product Sales Specialist, Hurll Nu-Way

electing a burner for any process heating application always involves a choice between different burner models and different burner sizes. Both will have a significant effect on product quality and system efficiency.

Product quality is always the overriding requirement. It is pointless saving an extra 5% of the energy requirement of a furnace if the cost of that energy saving is a reduction in product quality. Scrap product wastes 100% of the energy used to produce it.

Whatever goes into a furnace is heated up to the furnace temperature and then exits the furnace. Energy saving is achieved by either: • Minimising whatever enters the furnace; • Improving the way energy is transferred from the burner to the product; • Limiting the temperature at which the furnace operates; or • Recovering energy from the exhaust products leaving the furnace.

Minimising input to the furnace may simply involve reducing the weight of carriers and other furnace furniture or reducing the amount of excess air being supplied through the burners. Reducing excess air levels from 25 to 10% on a furnace operating at 1000°C will save almost 20% of the energy required to do the same job in a furnace.

Improving the way energy is transferred may involve fitting better high-velocity burners to improve convective heat transfer

or selecting a specialised burner such as the Lanemark small-bore immersion tube burner to increase the heat transfer surface area when tank heating.

Limiting the temperature at which a furnace operates can be achieved by maximising convective heat transfer to reduce radiant transfer. For example, using medium-velocity burners on an aluminium melting furnace could allow the roof temperature to be lowered by 150°C, reducing the energy requirement by more than 10%.

Recovering energy that would otherwise be lost to the atmosphere through stack losses can reduce furnace energy requirements dramatically. The energy in the stack gases can be used to preheat the incoming load or to preheat the combustion air being used by the burners. Heating the combustion air through a recuperator will be limited to a preheat of 450°C by the design of the recuperator and the materials used. On a furnace operating at 1200°C, this would result in an energy saving of 26% when compared to cold air operation. Even bigger savings are achieved if regenerative burners are fitted. The combustion air preheat achieved through regenerative recovery on a furnace operating at 1200°C would exceed 1000°C and this would produce an energy saving of 50% when compared to cold air operation. These reductions in the fuel usage and the temperature of the exhaust gases will reduce the amount of atmospheric emissions which can be further improved by the low NOx features available with the regenerative burners.

It is important that a burner supplier can offer a wide range of burners so that the burner can be selected to do the job required rather than the job being adjusted to suit the burners available. Hurll Nu-Way offers burners to suit a range of applications from the high excess air operation of the Lanemark FD range that are suitable for firing ovens up to 400°C enhancing the convective heat transfer, to the flat flame burners and infrared panels for radiant energy transfer, with the Nu-Way burners for the lower temperature ranges. Fives NA burners (including the Twin-Bed range of Regenerative Burners) are available for higher temperature applications allied to gas trains and controls built in Australia to ensure compliance with local codes.

Federal grants are available to reduce capital outlay and improve ROI. Hurll Nu-Way Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S091

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 13

case studies Lightning warning system for OH&S McConnell Dowell, an Australian and international engineering, construction, building and maintenance company, is using Campbell Scientific data loggers and sensors within its new weather monitoring and marine navigation system installed at Hay Point in North Queensland. The main purpose of the system is for Operations Health & Safety, ensuring safe working conditions for McConnell Dowell personnel. Campbell Scientific equipment being used in the system includes three CR800 data loggers, three RIMCO rain gauges, one CS475 radar sensor being used for wave height monitoring, and the Campbell Scientific CS110 and Strike Guard Lightning Warning system.

The lightning warning system provides early warning of the potential for lightning strikes by measuring the local vertical component of the atmospheric electric field at the Earth’s surface. Combined with the Strike Guard optical-coincidence lightning sensor, which detects actual lightning strikes up to 32 km from the installation site, a decision-making algorithm provides early warning to site operators of the potential for lightning within the vicinity of the construction site. Integrated with the other measured parameters, the data is used to assist in decision making for OH&S. James Palmer, McConnell Dowell’s Radio Communications Marine Navigations and Weather Systems supervisor, said, “The

system has been of great benefit and vital importance from a safety and commercial perspective, and the equipment is very specialised for the project we have undertaken.”

Work on interfacing the Campbell Scientific equipment into a complete turnkey solution for McConnell Dowell was undertaken by Marcom Watson, a Launceston-based company specialising in Marine Electronics and Radio Communications and a recommended Campbell Scientific equipment integrator.

Brett Victory, Managing Director of Marcom Watson, and their senior engineer Colin Kew headed up the system installation in partnership with Palmer.

“Brett Victory and the Marcom Watson team have been fantastic,” said Palmer. “I could not have asked for a more experienced professional and trustworthy team to work with.”

Dr David Hammond, Application Engineer at Campbell Scientific Australia, said, “It was a pleasure working with Brett and the team at Marcom Watson in delivering state-of-art measurement systems they could interface into their custombuilt weather monitoring system for McConnell Dowell. The quality of the final turnkey weather monitoring system provided

by Marcom Watson is first class.”

Campbell Scientific Aust Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R243

Electric drives save a record 310 million megawatt hours in 2011 Power and automation technology group ABB has released its annual estimate of the savings achieved by its installed base of drives.

About 310 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of electric power were saved by ABB drives in 2011, an increase of 19% compared with the previous year.

Electric drives are used to regulate the speed and power consumption of electric motors, which are widely used in industry.

Examples include pumping water, running fans and air conditioning, conveying goods over belts, rolling steel, moving elevators, etc.

Industrial electric motors account for about 25% of all the electricity consumed worldwide.

14 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

The savings from ABB drives in 2011 correspond to 260 million tonnes of CO2 emissions - if the power is generated by fossil fuels - or electricity cost savings of approximately $34 billion for customers (at 2011 US electricity prices). These savings are equivalent to the electricity generated by more than 30 nuclear power station blocks, or six times the annual power consumption of every Australian household.

“The future potential for energy and cost savings is enormous since only about 10% of industrial motors are combined currently with electric drives,” said Ulrich Spiesshofer, member of the Group Executive committee and head of ABB’s Discrete Automation and Motion division. “Using energy more efficiently will remain, for a significant time, the biggest opportunity available to cut energy consumption as well as costs and emissions.”

ABB’s annual savings estimate is based on a comparison of the average electricity consumption in applications with and without drives. Many electric motors that are not equipped with drive technology run at maximum speed and are simply throttled if less performance is needed. Energy accounts for 92 to 95% of the life cycle cost of a motor, depending on its size, so an investment in electric drives typically pays back in less than two years.

ABB provides power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 145,000 people.

ABB Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q301

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

case studies Brewery opts for cogeneration

© iStockphoto.com/Nikolay Trubnikov

Simons Green Energy has designed, and is supplying and installing, the 1200 kWe of natural gas fired cogeneration at the soon to be completed Little Creatures Brewery in Geelong. The installation of the cogeneration system will provide a large portion of the brewery’s electricity demands and will use the waste heat generated by the engines to provide hot water for the numerous process heating applications. The units will be configured to run parallel to the grid, meaning that the only energy to be purchased from the grid will be that over and above what the engines can supply, which is expected to be very little.

The Cogeneration Plant to be installed at the brewery is made up of two off-sized units, allowing for greater modulation of output. They consist of an 800 kWe and 400 kWe system, with the reciprocating gas engines supplied by MWM. The cogeneration systems will be supplied as complete factory-tested packaged units; the engine and generator sets housed inside purpose-built containers.

The electricity generated is claimed to be cleaner than coal-fired, gridsupplied electricity, thereby allowing for a substantial reduction in carbon emissions.

The hot water to be used for process heating in the brewery will be produced for ‘free’ from the waste heat of the cogeneration plant. The engineering team from Simons Green Energy is working closely with brewery owner Little Creatures and brewery plant supplier Krones AG to ensure a smooth installation.

The brewery will also incorporate other energy-efficient equipment such as energy recovery systems in the brewhouse, as well as extensive use of automation for the cleaning regimes and variable speed drives on motors throughout the process. Derek Simons, CEO of Simons Green Energy, said: “The cogeneration system to be installed at the Little Creatures Brewery will be a great platform for other breweries and food and beverage manufacturers to follow. The system is technologically advanced and very efficient at about 85% conversion efficiency compared with 30% efficiency for conventional gridsupplied electricity.

“Businesses that are keen to pursue this technology may also be eligible to apply for a government grant under the current AusIndustry Clean Technology Food & Foundries Investment Program. The program is a $200 million competitive, merit-based grants program to support Australian food and foundry manufacturers to maintain competitiveness in a carbon-constrained economy. This program provides grants for investments in energy-efficient capital equipment and low-emission technologies, processes and products.

Cogeneration and trigeneration systems are high on the list of eligible initiatives, under the program’s guidelines.”

The brewery is due to commence production in mid-2013.

Simons Green Energy Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R245

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 15

Up-and-coming Australian scientist Kim Jye Lee Chang from the University of Tasmania was one of the state winners at the 2012 AusBiotech/ GSK Student Excellence Award for his work in identifying new microorganisms that can be used to produce oil from recycled carbon sources.

Young Hobart scientist breaking ground in biofuel production

© iStockphoto.com/Sergey Galushko

L The study show these microalgae have potential for producing a feedstock for the long-chain omega-3 oils, as well as the shorter chain fatty acids suitable for biodiesel.

ee Chang’s PhD project is a joint initiative by the University of Tasmania’s School of Plant Science and CSIRO’s Energy Transformed Flagship. The project is investigating the use of Australian microalgae for the production of biofuel, biodiesel, omega 3 oils and co-products. It involved persuading microalgae, gathered from seawater, to produce dollops of oil.

The discovery could provide Australia with a secure, environmentally sustainable fuel feedstock for the future.

“Most other efforts to produce biodiesel from algae have used photosynthesis, driven by sunlight, as the energy source, which required a lot of space,” says Lee Chang. Instead, he is using a fermentation process, where the microalgae gobble up glycerol, or other carbon sources such as sugar, as energy to produce a lot more oil in a small area. They can grow heterotrophically with a range of carbon sources, and some of these microalgae will soon to trialled in the waste stream of a food manufacturer.

Glycerol, also used in food and skin creams, is an increasingly abundant by-

16 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

product of the conversion of animal fats and vegetable oils, such as palm oil into biodiesel. The heterotrophic cultivation process also produces the health-benefiting long-chain omega-3 oils (long chain denotes 20 or more carbons), which otherwise come from microalgae via fish. The study show these microalgae have potential for producing a feedstock for the long-chain omega-3 oils, as well as the shorter chain fatty acids suitable for biodiesel.

The experimental process still has a lot of room for finetuning, including the selection of various algae strains to produce different oil products using different feed sources. Lee Chang says the next steps in his research will include further optimising growth and also scaling up production into commercially viable culture vessels. “Overall, we have new Australian microalgae now available for commercial development of biodiesel and high-value co-products,” he says.

AusBiotech and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) hold the annual competition as a key initiative to encourage more students to pursue research and consider a career in biosciences.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Public space recycling is important Today’s waste diversion solutions can actually complement a public space, whether at an airport terminal or a five-star foyer, so in the context of increasing land fill rates in Australia, it’s imperative that such solutions are increasingly available.

Australia has a strong dependence on landfill as a form of waste management, with the majority of non-recycled or re-used waste being disposed of in the nation’s landfills.

This is a cause for concern with landfill impacting on the air, water and land quality, through the production of gases, including methane, and leachate which can contaminate nearby surface and ground water.

Unfortunately, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the volume of waste deposited to landfill is actually increasing by close to 2% a year. This increase in waste generation is linked primarily to economic development, and it should be used as a call to action for the community to look for ways to increase diversion across all environments.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

In the home, as local council waste practices have improved, recycling activities are increasing with over 90% of Australian household confirming that they practise some form of waste recycling.

In the workplace, source separation is also becoming the norm, with businesses investing in new waste infrastructure in a drive to increase their sustainable work

case studies practices and minimise their waste collection costs.

H o w e v e r, t h e c h a l l e n g e o f increasing landfill in Australia requires waste recovery solutions in every environment, and increasingly members of the community are demanding the ability to divert waste from landfill in the public space.

Source Separation Systems develops creative solutions to meet waste challenges in any environment and complement the public space. Its Maxisort bins provide an expandable recycling solution for festivals and events. Other solutions include retrofit waste diversion systems in airport terminals and designs which complement five-star foyers.

Recycling solutions can be retrofitted to existing single waste steam recycling receptacles in shopping centres and compostable solutions to support animal waste in public parks.

Source Separation Systems Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S104

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 17

case studies From agricultural factory to energy producer with biogas

Since 1752, the Wenning family in Germany has run a successful agricultural business and distillery. Thirty years ago, they took the first pioneering steps towards on-site biogas production.

Together with the help of Atlas Copco, they now have evolved into an award-winning energy producer, using 50% less power than other, comparable plants.

European targets of 20% of all energy and 10% of all transport fuel should come from renewable sources by 2020

18 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

have resulted in many countries rethinking their energy mix.

Germany is extensively promoting biogas as an alternative source of energy. “In comparison with other sources of energy, like electricity for example, the biggest advantage is storability. We can store up to two months’ worth of energy,” says Bernd-Josef Wenning. As biogas is stored in the existing gas network, it doesn’t have to be consumed immediately and no additional investment in the gas grid is required.

In Germany, over 6000 anaerobic digesters convert biomass into raw biogas. This number is set to more than double over the next 10 years. “The energy cycle is simple: the distillery contributes with residues that feed the bulls,” Wenning explains. “The bulls give manure, in return, a raw material for the biogas plant. The plant delivers gas, which is used to generate electricity and steam. This is a closed loop that really makes sense.

“There are two possibilities to use your biogas: cogeneration and as substitute to natural gas (upgraded biogas). As cogeneration is only effective as a local source of electricity and heat, and is less efficient when the heat is only used at certain times of the year, upgrading the biogas to biomethane offers better opportunities. By 2020, biomethane is expected to provide 10% of Germany’s overall gas demand.

“Biomethane offers a twin benefit: first, we gain energy.

Secondly, we avoid energy costs. On the one hand, we obtain gas, energy we can use for all sorts of things. On the other hand, the output of a biogas plant can be used as fertiliser, reducing the burden on the environment.”

Atlas Copco Compressors Australia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R546

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Scientists create all-carbon solar cell Mark Shwartz, Precourt Institute for Energy at Stanford University

Stanford researchers have developed a solar cell made entirely of carbon, an inexpensive substitute for the pricey materials used in conventional solar panels.

Perhaps in the future we can look at alternative markets where flexible carbon solar cells are coated on the surface of buildings, on windows or on cars to generate electricity,

S

tanford University scientists have built what is claimed to be the first solar cell made entirely of carbon, a promising alternative to the expensive materials used in photovoltaic devices today.

“Carbon has the potential to deliver high performance at a low cost,” said study senior author Zhenan Bao, a professor of chemical engineering at Stanford. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a working solar cell that has all of the components made of carbon.

This study builds on previous work done in our lab.”

Unlike rigid silicon solar panels that adorn many rooftops, Stanford’s thin-film prototype is made of carbon materials that can be coated from solution. “Perhaps in the future we can look at alternative markets where flexible carbon solar cells are coated on the surface of buildings, on windows or on cars to generate electricity,” Bao said.

The coating technique also has the potential to reduce manufacturing costs, said Stanford graduate student Michael Vosgueritchian, co-lead author of the study with postdoctoral researcher Marc Ramuz.

“Processing silicon-based solar cells requires a lot of steps,” Vosgueritchian explained. “But our entire device can be built using simple coating methods that don’t require expensive tools and machines.”

Carbon nanomaterials

Stanford scientists have created an all-carbon solar cell consisting of a photoactive layer, which absorbs sunlight, sandwiched between two electrodes. (Photo: Mark Shwartz/Precourt Institute for Energy, Stanford Univeristy.)

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

The Bao group’s experimental solar cell consists of a photoactive layer, which absorbs sunlight, sandwiched between two electrodes. In a typical thin-film solar cell, the electrodes are made of conductive metals and indium tin oxide (ITO). “Materials like indium are scarce and becoming more expensive as the demand for solar cells, touch-screen panels and other electronic devices grows,” Bao said. “Carbon, on the other hand, is low cost and Earth-abundant.”

For the study, Bao and her colleagues replaced the silver and ITO used in conventional electrodes with graphene - sheets

of carbon that are one atom thick - and single-walled carbon nanotubes that are 10,000 times narrower than a human hair.

“Carbon nanotubes have extraordinary electrical conductivity and light-absorption properties,” Bao said.

For the active layer, the scientists used material made of carbon nanotubes and ‘buckyballs’ - soccer ball-shaped carbon molecules just one nanometre in diameter.

The research team recently filed a patent for the entire device.

“Every component in our solar cell, from top to bottom, is made of carbon materials,” Vosgueritchian said. “Other groups have reported making all-carbon solar cells, but they were referring to just the active layer in the middle, not the electrodes.”

One drawback of the all-carbon prototype is that it primarily absorbs nearinfrared wavelengths of light, contributing to a laboratory efficiency of less than 1% - much lower than commercially available solar cells. “We clearly have a long way to go on efficiency,” Bao said. “But with better materials and better processing techniques, we expect that the efficiency will go up quite dramatically.”

Improving efficiency The Stanford team is looking at a variety of ways to improve efficiency. “Roughness can short-circuit the device and make it hard to collect the current,” Bao said. “We have to figure out how to make each layer very smooth by stacking the nanomaterials really well.”

The researchers are also experimenting with carbon nanomaterials that can absorb more light in a broader range of wavelengths, including the visible spectrum.

“Materials made of carbon are very robust,” Bao said. “They remain stable in air temperatures of nearly 1100 degrees Fahrenheit.”

The ability of carbon solar cells to outperform conventional devices under extreme conditions could overcome the need for greater efficiency, according to Vosgueritchian. “We believe that all-carbon solar cells could be used in extreme environments, such as at high temperatures or at high physical stress,” he said.

Stanford University www.stanford.edu

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 19

case studies Green roof for desal plant in Victoria Sika has provided the green roof waterproofing membrane for one of Australia’s largest desalination plant in Wonthaggi, Victoria, which commenced production of drinking water in September this year.

The green roof, covering a total area of 26,000 m 2 and incorporating 100,000 plants, is claimed to be the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and forms an important part of the project’s landscape architecture. Providing acoustic protection, corrosion resistance, thermal control and reduced maintenance, the roof uses the Sika Sarnafil system which creates a waterproof barrier for the lightweight, structural ply substrate.

According to Geoff Heard of Fytogreen, the green roof builder and designer, the site and scale of the roof presented a number of challenges. “ We a t h e r h a m p e r i n g construction, design modifications to comply with the 1-in-100-year wind storm event for stability and the lack of pre-existing green roof standards for Australia were all major considerations. ” The thin-profile green roof, requiring just a few inches of media, incorporates patterns using a rich tapestry of indigenous vegetation tolerant of high heat, salt drift, drought and wind. Located in a revegetated coastal park, the desalination plant required a design which made the structure barely visible from all public viewing points. The green roof helps to integrate the building into the environment and enables the continued biodiversity of the site in its regeneration, acoustic moderation and stormwater management.

“The waterproofing membrane had to allow for potential movement from kilometres of joints, for which the Sika Sarnafil ‘G series’ polymeric sheet is ideally suited,” said Heard. “UV resistance was also required for a 25-year life span. And compatibility

with the electronic ILD (international leak detection) system was paramount to enable quality checks to occur prior to Sika’s handover to Fytogreen and after Fytogreen had completed its construction.”

Faulty seams are a common source of leaks in green roofs. Some waterproofing membranes use sealants, adhesives or tapes to secure the seams. Sika Sarnafil’s membrane is thermoplastic, meaning seams and flashings are welded together using Sika Sarnafil’s automatic hot-air welder, resulting in one monolithic layer of material that is impervious to moisture infiltration.

“Modern techniques for leak detection and high-quality membranes like Sarnafil significantly reduce the perceived risk associated with green roofs,” added Heard. “Adherence to a well-honed green roof construction method and ITP check procedure enabled 26,000 square metres of green roof to be installed without one breach of the membrane during the roof garden installation phase, a testament to the membrane quality and Fytogreen’s attention to detail.”

The waterproofing membrane will provide ongoing protection to the structure from the intensely damp environment, allowing for ongoing irrigation and resistance to root penetration.

“Green roofs are becoming a more common and desirable roofing option, turning some of our green-starved cities into an urban oasis,” says Sika project manager Jason Jansz. “As in this case, a green roof can also help to sympathetically integrate a larger structure into a more rural setting and encourage wildlife to flourish.”

Sika Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S109

Recycling improves Phillip Island’s water security Phillip Island residents and businesses are set to benefit from improved water security following the completion of the Phillip Island Recycled Water Scheme project. The scheme will save 194 million litres of drinking water each year by providing Class A recycled water to developing residential areas, as well as agricultural and commercial businesses.

Senator Don Farrell, Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, said the project will reduce the demand on local drinking water supplies while enhancing the reputation of the island’s environmental and tourism assets as well as its economic stability.

“The water treatment process has been upgraded from Class B to Class A, a buffer storage tank installed and 12 kilometres of new and upgraded pipes constructed to upgrade

20 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

the distribution network,” Senator Farrell said.

“Sportsgrounds and recreational facilities will now be maintained with recycled water so they can be kept green and ready for use throughout the year.

“The upgrade also has the environmental benefit of reducing the volume of treated effluent discharged into the ocean.

“The Australian Government provided $2.85 million in funding for the project through the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns program, under the Australian Government’s Water for the Future initiative.”

The National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns program assists communities with fewer than 50,000 people to implement practical water-saving infrastructure.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

case studies Sports centre to be powered by solar heat and electricity Hunter-based invention Granex will soon be powering and heating The Forum Sports and Aquatic Centre at the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan campus, thanks to a $770,000 grant from the Australian Solar Institute.

The $770,000 grant, together with $940,000 from partner organisations, will fund the creation of a demonstration solar thermal combined power and heat project by relocating a Granex power plant to The Forum. The plant will generate energy for use in heating the pool and provide power to other areas of the complex.

The project also involves adapting Granex to use solar energy for both power generation and industrial heating, and to provide for thermal storage to power the facility after sunset.

Granex technology delivers higher efficiencies than conventional low-to-medium temperature power plants and therefore increases the amount of electricity that can be generated from these types of heat sources. As a result it reduces the cost of power and produces no CO2 emissions.

Inventors Professor Behdad Moghtaderi and Dr Elham Doroodchi from the university’s Priority Research Centre for Energy said the project was an important next step in the rollout of the technology, which was created in partnership with Granite Power (GPL) and Newcastle Innovation.

“For the first time our technology will be generating both heat and electricity,” Professor Moghtaderi said. “The project will allow us to measure the efficiency of a new application of Granex following the success of the 1 kW and 100 kW prototype plants we have operated since 2009.”

GPL Project Manager Sean McCracken said solar collectors would directly heat fluid for Granex to convert into electricity.

“After sunset, energy that has been collected and held in thermal storage during the day will be used to maintain power and pool heating requirements.

The system is expected to be fully operational by December 2013 and is intended to be the testbed and launch platform for a commercial product.”

Newcastle Innovation CEO Dr Brent Jenkins said the project was a great example of industry connecting with the university to solve problems.

“When GPL wanted to develop commercially viable geothermal energy technology we were able to link it to the expertise offered

by Professor Moghtaderi and Dr Doroodchi and provide the support he needed to patent his

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

invention,” Dr Jenkins said. “Following years of intensive concept and prototype testing and the proven success of its prototype plants, Granex is now a commercial reality.”

The project team will focus on extending the performance parameters of Granex to design and build commercially attractive power plants that work with very low temperature waste heat and put to use valuable heat sources that would otherwise be wasted.

“This is an excellent example of one of the applications of Granex and assists in demonstrating the breadth of the potential commercial application of the technology and piloting a prospective commercial product that we believe has a significant potential market,” GPL Managing Director Stephen de Belle said.

Project partners include the University of Newcastle, NUsport, NEP Solar, Turbo Power Systems and Yokogawa Australia. The project has been supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Solar Institute’s Round 3 funding.

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 21

case studies Energy-savings switch for university Monash University Clayton Campus in Victoria recently conducted a two-month pilot study to determine the financial benefits of installing the Australian-designed EcoSwitch throughout the university’s office workstations. The EcoSwitch is an energy-saving device that cuts out standby power used by equipment and appliances.

A statistically representative mix of office staff workstations was selected that typically employed a Compaq desktop or a Dell notebook computer, a monitor and a standard Cisco IP Phone.

Post-installation surveys were conducted after two months in which an 87% average utilisation rate was achieved. With this utilisation rate, based on 12c/kWh, the estimated annual energy savings by installing 1200 EcoSwitches at the university is projected to be around 53 MWh, representing a return on investment in around 18 months.

“Even if we had a utilisation rate of only 50% we would see a return on investment in just 2.7 years, which we are more than happy

with,” said Raqibul Hassan, Office of Environmental Sustainability, Monash University.

Other outcomes from the pilot study were: • An 87% utilisation of the EcoSwitch reduced total energy consumption measured against BAU (business as usual) by around 30%.

• 100% of the study respondents were using the product at least “most days”.

• Feedback responses from the study group were positive and the majority of staff used the EcoSwitch because they held a positive attitude towards its implementation and ability to save power.

Carbon Reduction Industries Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S110

Ultrafiltration membrane system boosts capacity and quality To meet the drinking water supply demands of a regional population that is projected to grow from 70,000 to 120,000 by the end of this decade, the Tweed Shire Council needed to upgrade the 50 million litre per day (MLD) capacity of its existing Bray Park Water Treatment Plant in Murwillumbah, located on the far north coast of New South Wales, Australia.

At the same time, the council had to solve a persistent quality problem with the raw water it drew from the Tweed River to Bray Park. Lengthy periods of heavy rainfall could cause wild swings in water quality, with big changes in colour along with highly volatile, upward spikes in turbidity followed by abrupt decreases in alkalinity. Occasional prolonged droughts spawned algal blooms that made the water smell and taste bad. Farming operations in the steep catchment area introduced more protozoan pathogens into the water.

The council opted for immersed membrane filtration as a good way to achieve the water quality it desired for a new treatment plant. Because only one plant with this technology had previously been built in Australia to match the 100 MLD capacity of the proposed new facility, the council needed a supplier who had the experience, a robust installed base, an advanced skill set and product features to handle the project.

It chose GE and its ZeeWeed 500 membrane system, with its innovative twin membrane cassette configuration.

With this system configuration, which joins two cassettes before they connect to a header, GE reduced the number of required treatment trains and attained a corresponding reduction in the number of valves, pumps and pipework.

The UF membranes can filter out more organic matter with less coagulant addition than other methods, such as granular filtration.

With four treatment trains - each containing a 30 kW pump and eight membrane cassettes within a membrane tank - the ZeeWeed system deployed about 6.5 million membrane fibres to create the large surface area needed to achieve that high 100 MLD flow through the membrane pores.

22 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

ZeeWeed membranes remove most of the very fine particles and more than 99.99% of microorganisms (bacteria and parasites) from the raw water at Bray Park, along with greater than 99% of viruses.

Since the twin cassette option required much less treatment infrastructure, the plant operator has realised major capital and operating cost savings and shrunk the carbon footprint.

Because GE and its project design partner, Hunter Water Australia, decided to place the new plant on higher ground at the top of the site and above the existing plant, they didn’t need to continuously operate a permeate pump to provide the membrane-driving suction that could accommodate a substantial average daily treatment capacity (ie, up to 60% of the treatment capacity is achieved by siphoning). That resulted in big savings on power and greenhouse gas emissions.

Economies derived from the GE technology and plant siting for the Bray Park WTP, which opened in June 2010, are projected to save $1.1 million over a 20-year period. Treatment capacity has been boosted by 50 MLD and is designed to grow to 150 MLD when that becomes necessary, effectively drought-proofing the Tweed Shire region.

GE Energy Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q490

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

research & development Getting on top of the toxins University of Waikato ecologist Professor David Hamilton has been awarded a $920,000 Marsden Grant to study toxin production found in blue-green algae in lakes. His research project is titled ‘Toxic in crowds: the triggers of toxin production in planktonic cyanobacteria’.

Cyanobacteria are commonly called blue-green algae and some species can produce potent toxins which affect humans through drinking water or contact recreation, as well as other organisms that live in the water. Blue-green algae are stimulated to grow and form blooms by increasing levels of nutrients.

Recent records of increases in nutrient loads to lakes are therefore of particular concern, both from an environmental point of view and for human health considerations. Professor Hamilton and his colleagues, including Dr Susie Wood from Cawthron in Nelson, have found that when blue-green algae congregate into dense blooms they can rapidly ramp up the rate of toxin production.

“This project will try to understand why blue-green algae produce toxins and what specific triggers make the blue-green algae increase toxin production when they form blooms,” said Hamilton.

Professor Hamilton is one of six Waikato academics who received Marsden Grants totalling $3.6 million in the latest round of funding, which is administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand on behalf of the Marsden Fund Council and funded by the New Zealand Government.

He has been researching aspects of water quality for more than 20 years and is currently part of a team that is trialling an aeration device on Lake Rotoehu, pumping oxygen into the water to counteract the harm done by nutrients and sediment that have leached or run off into the lake.

“Blooms of blue-green algae are increasing across the globe and scientists are trying to understand why. One culprit may be intensification of agricultural land, leading to more nutrients to

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

fuel blooms of blue-green algae. Another may be climate change, since many lakes across the globe have warmed by 1 to 2°C over the past two decades; even more rapidly than increases in air temperature,” said Hamilton.

Blue-green algae are favoured by higher temperatures because they originate from bacteria which grow more rapidly than other algae at elevated temperatures. The Marsden funding will help to identify both the causes of blue-green algal blooms and the relationship of blooms to toxin production.

Hamilton said: “Ultimately it is hoped that the outcomes of the project will improve knowledge of how to manage the occurrence of blue-green algal blooms and avoid the possibility of toxin production by them.”

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 23

research & development Electrochemistry creates cleaner water

Two chemists from the University of Waikato have come up with an innovative method for treating bore water on Waikato farms. Along the way, they may have hit on a low-cost solution for developing countries, where many people have limited access to clean and affordable water.

Associate Professor Alan Langdon and post-doctoral researcher Dr Hilary Nath decided to try using electrochemistry to remove the iron and manganese prevalent in bore water from Waikato’s peaty soils. The residues give the water its typical browny-orange colour and generally make it undrinkable without expensive treatment using aerators, filters, ion exchangers and tanks.

The researchers came up with a simple system that uses electric current passing between two perforated titanium electrodes to turn naturally occurring chloride ions in the water into chlorine. The chlorine then oxidises and precipitates out the metal contaminants, and also disinfects the water passing through the system, making it safe to drink.

Best of all, the whole system can be powered by a car battery.

“By bringing the electrodes closer together than anyone else

has been able to, we can reduce electrical resistance and consume less power,” said Dr Nath. “And because the flow path through the cell is very short, we can achieve good water flow at modest pressure.”

The system is known as PEFT - perforated electric flow through - and is patented in New Zealand with international patents filed. A prototype is currently being tested by Drs Langdon and Nath on a Waikato farm, and results are positive - they’ve seen the total oxidisation of iron during their trial.

“The initial focus will be disinfection of harvested rain water, disinfection of water supplies derived from surface water and bore water contaminated with iron - we need to be very sure our technology is robust before contemplating overseas markets, particularly in developing nations,” said Dr Langdon.

The researchers noticed that the closer together the two electrodes were positioned, the higher the electric field generated between them. The higher the electric field, the more potent the chlorine being produced. The two together were so powerful they could kill bugs in the water at much lower chlorine levels than normally required - the electric field was able to puncture the membrane of a bug, making it 100 times more susceptible to the disinfecting effect of the chlorine.

“What this means is that you can disinfect water with chlorine levels much lower than can be tasted,” said Dr Nath.

At slightly higher applied voltages the PEFT cell can also disinfect water by the electric field alone, with no need to produce any chlorine.

“It’s low technology, but it’s very clever nevertheless,” said Dr Langdon.

WaikatoLink, the University of Waikato’s commercialisation arm, is helping with the commercialisation of the technology. The Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) - a collaboration focused on research commercialisation - is also providing support as well as investment from the Ministry of Science and Innovation’s PreSeed Accelerator Fund (PSAF).

Capturing carbon with clever trapdoors University of Melbourne engineers have developed a novel method of collecting and storing carbon dioxide that is claimed to be able to reduce the cost of separating and storing carbon dioxide.

The quest to capture carbon dioxide is crucial to a cleaner future, and once captured, carbon dioxide can be compressed and safely stored. It is also a useful source for chemical manufacture. However, current processes are inefficient and require several stages of refining and extraction before a pure form of carbon dioxide is produced.

One method of capturing carbon dioxide is through a molecular sieve that is an ultrafine filter system that captures a variety of molecules that need further filtering.

Professor Paul Webley and his team, including PhD student Jin Shang and research Fellow Gang Li from the Melbourne School of Engineering, have developed a new sieve that allows carbon dioxide molecules to be trapped and stored.

“The findings published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society suggest that this new material has important applications

24 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

to natural gas purification. Many natural gas fields contain excess carbon dioxide that must be removed before the gas can be liquefied and shipped,” Professor Webley said.

“Because the process allows only carbon dioxide molecules to be captured, it will reduce the cost and energy required for separating carbon dioxide. The technology works on the principle of the material acting like a trapdoor that only allows certain molecules to enter,” he said.

“Once entered, the trapdoor closes and the carbon dioxide molecules remain,” said Professor Webley.

“We took a collaborative approach to this research with input from CSIRO, the Department of Materials Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Monash University and the Australian Synchrotron.

“We have a new material that is able to separate carbon dioxide from any given stream such as power stations and from natural gas sources. While we can’t change industry in a hurry, we have provided a viable bridging solution.”

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Since November 2010, construction has been underway at AUT University for the city campus’s new sustainable learning c omplex, the WG Precinct. It has been a long wait, with planning having begun in 2006, but the project is nearing completion and will officially open in February 2013.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Digital, adaptable learning precinct

T

he precinct cost a hefty $100 million, funded entirely by the university. Aimee Driscoll, AUT Director of Corporate Affairs, explained, “AUT is an important contributor to higher education in NZ. We have an obligation to the future of New Zealand’s economic growth to stay at the forefront of scholarship and teaching. In order to do this, we needed to provide contemporary and innovative facilities in which our students and staff can learn and teach.”

The precinct will increase the campus by 25%, with 20,300 m2 of new facilities, 1100 m2 of glazed covered plazas, 4500 m2 of collaborative social learning space and 6650 m2 of bookable learning space - all of which will encompass innovative digital technologies. But despite this increase in space and technology, the precinct will incorporate environmentally sustainable design (ESD) elements, in line with the university’s charter of ESD principles. These environmental initiatives cover several categories, including energy, lighting and the materials used.

The precinct incorporates a high-efficiency HVAC system, natural ventilation to the atrium and a high-efficiency displacement system for lecture theatres. The facades will have high energy performance due to glazing and sunshades, but low solar heat gain. A heat pump chiller has been implemented and waste heat will be used for the heating of domestic hot water. Regenerative drives have been installed to the lifts, which return energy back to the building power grid to be

By Lauren Davis

used elsewhere in the building, reduce heat generation and reduce cooling requirements to the lift machine room.

The precinct has a high utilisation of daylight. Where it doesn’t use daylight, low-energy lighting is used, some of which is sensor-controlled. Approximately 250 fittings in the level three public spaces are LED, producing only 5% heat. LED lighting has been selected for specialist studio spaces.

The precinct has been built from longlife materials, sustainably harvested timber and low VOC emission materials. All timber panelling is NZ grown and FSC certified.

Building materials with a reduced embodied energy were selected for the precinct.

The spaces themselves will also be sustainable, as their flexibility and adaptability will enable them to be used for different purposes by the public as well as by students and staff. Lecture theatres will be supported by lobbies and foyer space, which can be used for public and student events when not required by the university.

The glazed covered area, which includes a large green living wall, will increase social gathering spaces around the city campus by 67.5% and will provide: • Collaborative social learning areas, covered plaza and pedestrian ways; • An atrium plaza that will link various buildings in order to create an all-season public space; • An on-site cafe and free Wi-Fi throughout to support the many social gathering spaces; • Exhibition spaces and function areas to attract wider Auckland audiences; • A green quad; • A pedestrian area with an open public plaza; • A conference and function space for 250 people seated and 600 standing; • T he potential to host a variety of events, including fashion shows and exhibitions.

The precinct will therefore cater not only to students but also to the wider city, adding value to the central city learning precinct as well as enhancing the city landscape. As Driscoll explains, “The intensive development of an inner-city site close to transport routes and hubs is part of shaping a sustainable city.”

The precinct will no doubt have a positive social and environmental impact on AUT and the surrounding area of Auckland.

It can only be hoped that other universities follow in its footsteps.

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 25

n products & services

Transportation container for waste and hazardous goods The Hazibag is a flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) designed for transporting dangerous goods, obviating the need for steel bins. Iniitially developed in Queensland for the transportation of asbestos, its application was extended and can also be used to handle contaminated soil, toxic wood and plants, medical waste and veterinarian waste.

The Hazibags are certified under UN regulations for transport and storage of packing group II and III solid DG. Available in four different sizes, the 1 m3 is certified for packing group II and III; the asbestosspecific container is 1.5 m3; the larger is 3 m3; and the ‘De-con’ 100 L unit was specifically designed for emergency services to transport contaminated equipment.

Built to emergency services’ requirements, the De-con Hazibag comes with water-soluble, one-time-use liners. The contaminated equipment gets loaded into the water-soluble bag, which in turn goes in the Hazibag to be sealed and transported to the decontamination centre. There, the Hazibag can be opened and the contaminated equipment and clothes can go straight into the decontamination chamber or washing machine while still inside the plastic bag - there is no secondary handling or contact with the contaminating agents. The bag will dissolve in the wash when it comes in contact with the water.

Hazibag Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S009

Sorting machine for plastics, metals and other materials The RTT Steinert UniSort Flake machine is based on near-infrared (NIR) and colour-recognition technology to achieve high efficiencies for sorting plastics, metals and other materials down to very fine fraction sizes.

Reclaiming pure secondary raw materials without contaminants is a complex task, as achieving high-value recycling requires that even the smallest particles are reliably separated according to their material type and colour. The machine is suitable for sorting finegrain materials, whether using NIR or colour sorting, of plastics, metals or minerals.

Features include: fraction range size of 3-30 mm (colour sorting)/5-30 mm (NIR sorting); detections of >24 million/s (colour sorting)/>27 million/s (NIR sorting); purity of >90%, depending on previous contamination; separation of >85%, depending on previous contamination; belt speed of 3-4.5 m/s; throughput per module of 0.4-2 t/h (depending on the material to be sorted and degree of separation); sorting width of 750 mm; nozzle bar of 120 high-speed valves; nozzle-grid of 6.25 mm.

Sized at 2000 x 1500 x 4100 mm, units are available for plastic and colour sorting.

The plastic-sorting UniSort P Flake uses hyperspectral imaging. The NIR technology is used to detect different types of plastic grades. It separates foreign plastics out of the flow of bulk material, making it suitable for sorting PET flakes, re-granulate PVC, PE, PS and PP plastic flakes.

The UniSort C Flake colour sorter is developed to sort materials/fractions of different colours. It is used for sorting clear PET from coloured material/fractions and for sorting aluminium and lead out of copper and copper wire.

Steinert Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S055

26 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

LED lamp GE Lighting has launched the LED Snowcone A19, an LED lamp tailored for the consumer market.

Customised for home lighting, consumers have a choice of a 7 or 10 W lamp, which will deliver nearly the same light output as the incandescent 40 and 60 W bulbs respectively, thus offering energy savings of 80%. It has a lifetime of 15,000 h, compared to the incandescent bulbs’ lifetime of 1000 h.

UV and IR radiation can be avoided with the LED lamp. There is no glare and, with a standard E27 base, the lamps can be a direct replacement of incandescent bulbs. The lamp is also available in various CCT choices to create different lighting effects: 2700, 3000 and 6500 K. In addition to the home environment, the lamp is appropriate for other applications such as hotels, restaurants and retail shops.

GE Lighting Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R719

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

n products & services

Hygrometer Emissions testing is an important environmental requirement in the design and production of internal combustion engines. The evaluation of engine emissions during engine design under indoor-related conditions and over defined timescales requires the use of climate-controlled emission testing systems such as emission test chambers and cells.

Ilum-a-Lite has released the Light Eco Smart Light - intelligent lighting that dims or switches on and off as required.

The product has the ability to sense daylight and ambient light levels and decrease the light output and power to achieve pre-programmed light levels.

Features include: lux, daylight and occupancy sensing; fully programmable; easily adjusted; saves energy; eligible for maximum energy-saving rebates.

The product is suitable for office buildings, emergency lighting, car parks and various other applications.

During an emission test, the control of the stability of ambient conditions plays an important role for the outcome of the test. Among other values such as temperature or pressure, the relative humidity has to be measured to comply with the defined test standards such as the EPA standards.

The Michell range of cooled mirror hygrometers is designed to help to meet requirements for relative humidity measurement from any of the leading environmental control authorities. With accuracies of 0.1째C dp, and based on the fundamental measurement principle which has no inherent drift, the chilled mirror hygrometer S8000 Remote combines flexibility with accuracy exceeding the requirements dictated in the emissions control legislation.

Ilum-a-lite Pty Ltd

AMS Instrumentation & Calibration Pty Ltd

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R170

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q817

Intelligent lighting

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 27

n products & services

Micro inverters

Solar panel range

ReneSola has expanded its product range to include the Micro Replus micro inverters. The devices are ETL certified and are available stand-alone or can be integrated with a ReneSola panel for a turnkey AC module.

The inverters come complete with monitoring software, communications gateway hardware and cables which are equipped with MC4-compatible connectors.

By using micro inverters, energy output increases by an average of 16%, compared with the conventional string inverter which can lose efficiency due to light shadings.

The inverters ensure that module mismatching will be minimised; moreover, the plug-and-play system used by the inverters means that installation times are reduced and there is no complex electrical wiring.

Panasonic has announced three new solar panel products for the Australian market. The range features two HIT Premium Solar Panels - the VBHN235SE10 and the VBHN235SJ18 - as well as a standard level VBMS230AE01.

The two HIT Premium Solar Panels are claimed to deliver more energy per sq m, with the VBHN235SE10 featuring 18.6% module efficiency compared to 14-15% on conventional panels. They are claimed to feature high heat performance with the power output reducing by only 0.30% per degree above 25°C, compared with conventional panels’ reduced output of 0.45%.

The HIT panels are small and thin with a subtle black frame, designed to sit lower on the roof for a sleek and stylish addition to any building.

The small footprint of just 1.26 m 2 means the panels require less roof space to do the same job as bigger solar panels and weigh only 15 kg, reducing the load bearing to the roof.

The HIT panels feature three tabs instead of two, reducing electrical loss by making the tab-width thinner to expand the light receiving surface. These panels also feature anti-reflection coated glass, which reduces reflection loss and scattering of sunlight, especially in the morning and evening, when the sun is at a low position.

The standard level VBMS230AE01 delivers 14.1% module efficiency.

In addition to reducing carbon footprint, this multicrystalline panel uses lead-free solder and is adjusted to meet the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), curbing the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

The standard panel features a sturdy frame. It can withstand the rigours of the harsh Australian climate, such as strong winds, and passes a mechanical load test of 5400 Pa.

ReneSola www.renesola.com

Ultrasonic biogas flowmeter Endress+Hauser has introduced the Proline Prosonic B 200 ultrasonic flowmeter for measuring the flow rate and methane content of wet biogas, landfill or digester gas, and other types of lowpressure, wet or contaminated gas. The product uses transit time ultrasonic technology optimised for biogas applications.

The meter body has a 316 L stainless steel construction and is suitable for wet, dirty or corrosive gases. The product is available with either an aluminium or stainless steel transmitter housing. It has no moving or intrusive parts.

The product can measure and display direct methane fraction as a function of sound velocity and temperature, without the need for additional measuring instruments. Other possible outputs include corrected methane volume flow, energy flow, calorific value, temperature and Wobbe index. These measurements allow for improved process control and energy balancing. For example, a sudden change in the methane fraction indicates an upset in the process.

The product can detect this change quickly, allowing corrections to be made.

This loop-powered two-wire device features 4-20 mA HART communication.

A second 4-20 mA output is available. It operates in temperatures of 0-80°C and pressures up to 145 psi. Accuracy of volume flow is 1.5% of reading and accuracy of the optional methane measurement is 2% absolute. It is certified intrinsically safe for use in Class 1 Division 1 and other hazardous areas.

The product can be commissioned quickly via its four-line display and three push-buttons. Menu-guided parameter configuration is supported by explanatory text in 16 languages. It can also be configured with the company’s FieldCare software over the HART connection or via a local service interface and a laptop computer.

The HistoROM function provides storage for 1000 measured values, quick restoration of device data in case of failure and easy replacement of meter electronics without recalibration. The HistoROM also provides a user-defined data logging function, which logs data according to a recording interval set by the user.

Endress+Hauser Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q922

28 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

Panasonic Australia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q864

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

n products & services

Lightning warning system The Campbell Scientific LW110 lightning warning system provides continuous monitoring of a local electric field and triggers warnings when there is potential for lightning.

Because warnings are based on measurements of electric field, instead of prior strikes, the system can detect lightning danger, even when no other strikes have occurred.

High-pressure hydraulic pumps for special fluids Pressure Dynamics has released the latest Fluid Compatibility List for Dynex Checkball pumps.

The pumps are compatible with standard petroleum-based fluids, lube fluids, brake fluids and low-lubricity fluids including water-glycol, Skydrol, other phosphate ester fluids and various aerospace fluids. This capability makes them suitable for use on subsea production control systems, metal processing equipment, development or production test-stands, aircraft ground-support equipment and lubrication systems.

Dynex high-flow Checkball pumps and control valves operate with extended life at pressures from 420 to 1380 bar.

Pressure Dynamics Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q951

HORIBA U-50 MULTI-PARAMETER WATER QUALITY METERS

By measuring the electric field at a location, the device can be relied on to remove the guesswork from critical decisions: when to seek shelter as a storm approaches and when it’s safe to resume activities as a storm passes.

The system is customisable, allowing users to add a lightning strike detector, meteorological sensors and various communication, power and mounting options.

Campbell Scientific Aust Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R103

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

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

AUSTRALIAN SCIENTIFIC Pty Ltd

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

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 29

n products & services

Condensate polishing technology for power stations Ovivo’s CONESEP (Condensate Polishing Technology for Power Stations) system is a fully automated process for external regeneration of ion-exchange resin, used in deep bed ion-exchange condensate polishing.

The process achieves very good resin separation to conventional external regeneration systems without operator intervention, which is key to high-quality condensate and permits extended runs beyond the ammonia point breakthrough. The externally regenerated technology fully isolates the resin regeneration process and chemicals from the condensate lines, employing full flexibility in resin ratio.

One CONESEP system can service a number of service polishers. It allows for a spare charge of resin to be transferred back into the service vessel as soon as the exhausted resin is removed, to minimise polishing downtime. The system can be easily retrofitted into existing condensate polishing plants.

The system can achieve good resin separation that is independent of the ratio of anion and cation resins used, enabling different resin types to be used. The anion resin in cation resin is <0.1% and the cation resin in anion resin is <0.07%. The resin separation process can be monitored locally.

The system does not require inert resins or three-bed systems to achieve high resin separation levels. Only two vessels are needed. The system can be factory-assembled with breakdown and rebuild kept to a minimum.

Ovivo Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R687

Flowmeter for hoses The Gardena Water Smart Flow Meter is used to precisely control water consumption for gardening applications. In addition to the water and money savings, the user can now dose the water quantity to be dispensed based on plant requirements, avoiding under- or over-watering which harms garden vegetation.

The meter provides four options for measuring dispensed water quantities: water consumption per day; water consumption per watering session; water consumption per watering season; and current flow in L/min.

The consumed water quantity can be read at any time on the large digital display and thereby controlled.

With a single button for all functions, the unit is easy to use. The batteryoperated unit can be easily connected to the tap, sprayer, sprinkler, pump and hose-on fertilisers. An integrated battery-level display ensures precise operation.

Thermal imaging camera for gas detection Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is an insulating gas, used in most types of high-voltage switches all around the world. The problem with leaking SF6 is that it is a greenhouse gas - 24,000 times more hazardous to the environment than carbon dioxide. Finding and repairing SF6 leaks is therefore important in efforts to help reduce global warming.

The FLIR GF306 infrared camera can detect and visualise SF6 and 25 other harmful gases. The FLIR GF-Series thermal imaging cameras are claimed to be more effective and efficient tools for detecting gas leaks than gas sniffers because with a camera the user can detect, visualise and pinpoint the leak.

Another advantage of the camera is improved operator safety, as emissions can be detected at a safe distance and investigation is possible in places difficult to reach with a sniffer.

With sniffers, leak searching takes longer and the plant has to be shut down during the search. Using a thermal imaging camera, the plant can be in full operation.

The FLIR gas detection cameras are specialised infrared cameras which are able to visualise gas leaks, tracing the leaks to the source. The camera produces a full picture of the scanned area and leaks appear as smoke on the cameraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s viewfinder or LCD, allowing the user to see gas emissions.

The image is viewed in real time and can be recorded on the cameraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s removable SD or SDHC memory card. Images from the cameras are stored on a removable SD or SDHC memory card. Visual images can be automatically associated with the corresponding IR image.

The cameras are fully calibrated for temperature measurement applications. They feature embedded GPS data in reporting and will verify repairs. They are suitable for both finding gas leaks and maintenance inspections.

FLIR Systems Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R879

LED bulb ranges The myAmbiance and myVision range of Philips LED light bulbs are claimed to be able to save up to 80% energy and can be used in existing light sockets.

The LED bulbs offer significant energy savings compared to traditional soft-tone or halogen bulbs. The ranges will fit into most existing lamp sockets and light fittings and can also be used for a range of lighting applications in homes, such as chandeliers and table lamps.

The myAmbiance range lasts up to 25,000 h and the entrylevel myVision range up to 15,000 h. The mercury-free light bulbs are suitable for home environments.

Husqvarna Australia Pty Ltd

Philips Lighting Pty Ltd

www.gardena.com

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R215

30 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

n products & services

Signal input board for transmitter/controller The modular multichannel MultiCell 8619 is designed with standard functions and extension modules, to customise the transmitter/controller to specific application needs and connected sensors. A new extension module has been released, as a signal input board that can be used for direct connection of two additional digitalinput flow sensors and two additional analog-input measurement devices.

The signal input board features two 4-20 mA signal inputs for any type of transmitter with a suitable signal output, such as measuring pressure, level or water chemistry parameters including turbidity, oxygen, free chlorine, ozone, etc.

These analog inputs can be locally altered to 0-5 or 0-10 V inputs. By using the analog inputs as external setpoints, further functionality is achieved.

The board is equipped with two digital NPN and PNP transistor inputs for the connection of transmitters with frequency output, such as flow transmitters. Alternatively, the digital inputs can be used as contact inputs to trigger selected functions of the 8619.

The transmitter is delivered precommissioned, with the user parameterising inputs and selecting scaling and units as required. All standard units for pressure, temperature, flow rate and many other types of measurements are available. In addition, a free text for a physical unit of a measurement value, such as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Brom ppmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, can be defined.

The transmitter/controller can be equipped with up to six I/O boards in a free mix of board types, making it suitable for complex tasks. This is extended by a maximum of six parallel and independent operations, freely selectable from a valid functions list. Often-used functions are built for simple selection and use.

Optional software packages allow additional adaptation to individual applications.

Burkert Fluid Control Systems

CO2 emissions modelling software Aspen Plus Process Simulator software, part of the aspenOne Engineering software suite, is designed to help process manufacturers model, track and reduce CO2 emissions. For example, process manufacturers can use the software to create better carbon capture and biofuel process models powered by a comprehensive physical properties database. Improved amine solvent models enable users to make closer process predictions.

With the Aspen Plus models, users can improve their designs and optimise them for energy use and carbon loading.

The latest enhancements help process manufacturers achieve regulatory compliance by simplifying the tracking and calculation of their CO2 emissions from all sources. While calculating emissions loads, process engineers can optimise their designs to select utility sources and energy use strategies that reduce carbon footprints.

The enhancements also make Aspen Plus suitable for modelling emission reductions achieved through advanced carbon capture processes and conversion to biomass and biofuels synthesis.

Aspen Technology Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R269

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q861

Is your

Emission Monitoring System saving you money and fully compliant with EPA requirements?

Leading technology for emission monitoring and process control Tel: 07 3255 5158

Fax: 07 3255 5159

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

info@groupinstrumentation.com.au

www.groupinstrumentation.com.au

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 31

n products & services

500 bar triplex piston pumps

Submersible level transmitter

A range of cast 316 stainless steel high-pressure piston pumps, designed for both cleaning and industrial applications, has been manufactured by Idromeccanica Bertolini and released

by Australian Pump Industries.

The pump range is suitable for general engineering, the mining industry and applications involving salt water. The pumps are widely used in high-pressure water blasters, drain cleaning equipment and for mine industrial processing applications.

The RAM series triplex pumps offer a wide range of flow pressure options. Maximum pressures of up to 500 bar (7300 psi) are available with maximum flows of up to 31 L/min.

The pumps are all equipped with Bertolini’s ‘smart case’, a design that uses a rib system to release heat away from the pump, eliminating high pump temperatures. This makes them more energy efficient.

The pump heads are manufactured from 316 grade stainless steel with back sections proportionate to the flow required for that particular series. Piston bolts are also 316 stainless steel, with precision-machined ceramic pistons that provide efficiency and minimum friction.

The seals are designed for high temperatures, with stainless steel 316 intermediate rings, stainless steel 316 retainers and PTFE anti-extrusion rings.

The stainless steel 316 valve caps offer a design that prevents cap failure due to over-pressurisation. It does this by isolating the valve cap threads with a bottle seal O-ring.

The Series FBLT Submersible Level Transmitter is designed with a flush diaphragm tip that will not clog in harsh applications such as sewage lift stations. A narrow body design allows the product to fit into stilling wells and narrow installations.

The transmitter features a robust FKM fluoroelastomer diaphragm that is PTFE-coated for a stick-resistant surface that will hold up in aggressive fluids. The diaphragm cavity is filled with a gel that will not leak out, unlike oil or grease. The body is constructed of 316 SS and the cable is either polyurethane or ETFE for more corrosive applications.

The unit measures the height of liquid above the position that it is mounted in a tank or pit in reference to atmospheric pressure. A ventilation tube in the cable automatically compensates for changes in atmospheric pressure above the fluid. The vent is protected with a maintenance-free filter, eliminating particulate or water droplets from entering the transmitter. For extra protection against humidity, the company’s A-297 desiccant filter can be attached to the vent tube.

The transmitter incorporates lighting and surge protection to stand up in harsh applications. An optional NPT connection allows the unit to be rigidly installed in a pipe/conduit or for the use of the company’s A-625 hanging loop for attaching a chain for pulling out of the installation.

Applications include sewage lift stations, industrial slurries, industrial sumps, landfill leachate, reservoirs, sludge pits, oil tanks, etc.

Australian Pump Industries Pty Ltd

Dwyer Instruments (Aust) Pty Ltd

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R834

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R944

32 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

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

Place-based approaches to C&I waste and recycling

The Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has released a Hyder Consulting report on precinct or place-based approaches to commercial and industrial (C&I) waste and recycling. This report will assist Australian governments and industry to implement place-based approaches that can reduce the generation of C&I waste, improve its recovery and minimise flows to landfill. The study was commissioned to support work under the C&I, C&D (construction and demolition wastes) and Governments Working Group of the National Waste Policy: Less waste, more resources.

The report finds that each type of place-based approach has benefits and barriers to implementation. No single type of approach will work in all local circumstances, but place-based restrictions on landfill disposal have the potential to divert the largest amounts of C&I waste from landfill. For this analysis, ‘place’ ranges in scale from a single building up to that of a city.

The report identifies seven general types of place-based approaches to C&I waste: 1. Precinct or place-based licensing 2. Place-based direct investment 3. Place-based restrictions on direct landfill disposal 4. Waste catchment analysis 5. Waste matching initiatives 6. Minimum recovery/recycling standards 7. Opportunities to enhance the uptake of National Australian built Environment Rating System (NABERS) waste Place-based approaches to commercial and industrial waste and recycling are available from www.environment.gov.au/wastepolicy/ publications/place-based-approaches.html.

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

If you have any queries regarding our privacy policy please email privacy@westwick-farrow.com.au

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

National energy efficiency framework

As of 1 October, a new national framework to set common standards and energy efficiency ratings on appliances, machinery and other materials has been in effect, with legislation having passed through federal parliament on 13 September.

The Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) legislation will deliver consistent information and energy standards to consumers by combining all state and territory regulations into one framework overseen by a single national regulator. The same standards will be adopted in New Zealand.

The GEMS legislation has received support from industry associations, including the Australian Industry Group, Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association (CESA) and Airconditioning and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers Association of Australia (AREMA).

Further detail on GEMS is available at www.climatechange.gov.au.

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

Editorial Assistant Lauren Davis

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

Publisher Geoff Hird

NZ - Gemma Burr Ph: 0800 442 529 gburr@westwick-farrow.com.au

Art Director/Production Manager Julie Wright

USA - Huson International Media East Coast Ph: 212 268 3344 West Coast Ph: 408 879 6666 ralph.lockwood@husonmedia.com

Art/Production Tanya Scarselletti, Jeanette Teuma, Colleen Sam Circulation Manager Sue Lavery circulation@westwick-farrow.com.au Copy Control Mitchie Mullins

UK - Huson International Media Ph: 1932 56 4999 gerryb@husonmedia.com ASIA - Lachlan Rainey Ph: +61 (0) 402 157 167 lrainey@westwick-farrow.com.au Subscriptions For unregistered readers price on application.

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

September 2012 total CAB Audited Circulation (Aust & NZ)

5682 readers (77% 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.

December 2012/January 2013 - Sustainability Matters 33

In my opinion

Carbon tax reporting: responsibilities and financial assistance

A Ti m P i t t a w a y i s a n experienced audit and assurance services principal at RSM Bird Cameron. He has more than 13 years’ specialist experience in the provision of internal audit, risk management, compliance audit, market audit, climate change and alliance audit services.

Along with the need to consider two possible scenarios up until the 2014 election to manage carbon emissions, managing the pass-through of carbon costs in the supply chain is one issue many companies are now dealing with.

t the 2012 Australasian Carbon Expo in Melbourne, the government confirmed that Australia is ready to sign the next phase of the Kyoto Protocol, joining countries around the world that are taking action to combat climate change. The first commitment period ends on 31 December this year; a second commitment period to restrain greenhouse gas emissions will begin on 1 January 2013.

Greenhouse and energy reporting, and the Carbon Pricing Mechanism (or carbon tax) are complex and technical areas often hard for Australian businesses to understand. These areas are also changing rapidly, they are subject to political uncertainty, and the implications for businesses continue to increase.

Along with the need to consider two possible scenarios up until the 2014 election to manage carbon emissions, managing the pass-through of carbon costs in the supply chain is one issue many companies are now dealing with.

The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act (NGER) is a national framework for the reporting of information about companies’ greenhouse gas emissions, greenhouse gas projects, energy use and production. It also forms the basis of determining liability for the carbon tax, so will remain an important program. While companies have been reporting for several years now, NGER requirements are still evolving.

Therefore, it is important for Australian businesses to continually check they are meeting requirements.

Financial assistance packages There are various financial assistance programs available to help companies but many businesses are not aware of these.

Some of the programs businesses can leverage include: • J obs and Competitiveness Program (JCP) - $9.2 billion of assistance tar-

34 Sustainability Matters - December 2012/January 2013

geted at 40-50 ‘emissions-intensive, trade-exposed’ (EITE) industrial activities, such as steel, aluminium, zinc manufacturing.

• Energy Efficiency Information Grants program - $40 million program for small businesses (with less than $2 million annual turnover).

• Coal Sector Jobs Package - $1.3 billion of transitional assistance over six years to implement carbon abatement technologies in the most polluting coal mines.

• Steel Transformation Plan - $300 million worth of transitional assistance over five years to encourage investment and innovation in more efficient and environmentally friendly practices in steel.

• Energy Security Fund - $5.5 billion to be used for negotiating the closure of 2000 MW of highly polluting power generators and provide cash assistance and free permits to companies who develop clean energy plans.

• Carbon Farming Initiative - Australian farmers can participate in the carbon market through provision of carbon offsets.

Record keeping Record keeping is an important requirement of the NGER system. Similar to documenting the accounting policies applied when reporting a company’s financial results and maintaining audit trails, businesses should be documenting the preparation of their NGER report and the assumptions used or decisions made.

This is often in the form of a ‘basis of preparation’ document. There are some severe penalties for not complying with NGER requirements, including CEO personal liability where reasonable steps were not taken to prevent a breach.

One of the main differences in greenhouse auditing is the need to draw on multiple parts of the organisation in determining reporting boundaries and preparing a NGER report. This may include legal, engineering, IT and finance departments.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

FREE SUBSCRIPTION! Sustainability Matters is FREE to industry professionals in Australia and New Zealand.

To continue receiving your free copy you will be asked to register every three years.

2 quick ways to register: www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au/subscribe Fax this completed page to +61 2 9489 1265

and fax to +61 2 9489 1265 OPTIONS digital

print

both

I would also like the SustainabilityMatters.net.au eNewsletter

My main job function is (Select from List A)

My organisation's main industry sector is (Select from List B)

Wrapper number: (if known)

Name: Job Title: Organisation Name: Address:

Postcode: Phone No:

Country: Mobile:

Fax No: Email: Signature:

SM

Date: PRIVACY INFORMATION: www.westwick-farrow.com.au/pages/privacy.asp

1 Management - Corporate/General 2 Management - Manufacturing/ Engineering/Specialist 3 Engineer - Electrical 4 Engineer - Electronics 5 Engineer - Process 6 Engineer - Project 7 Purchasing/Procurement 8 Technician - Maintenance/Service 9 Technician - IT 10 Technical Officer 11 Scientific Officer - R&D 12 Scientific Officer - QA 13 Consultant 14 Contractor/Tradesperson 15 OHS/EHS 16 Education/Training 17 Student-Undergraduate/Apprentice 18 Analyst 19 Sales/Marketing

List (B) Industry

Please complete this form in full I would like to receive this magazine

List (A) Job Function

1 Agriculture/Rural 2 Building/Construction 3 Chemicals/Allied Products 4 Communications Systems 5 Defence/Military 6 Education 7 Emergency Services/Law Enforcement/Security 8 Engineering Services 9 Environmental Services 10 Finance/Banking/Insurance/Legal 11 Food Industry - Bakery 12 Food Industry - Beverages 13 Food Industry - Confectionery 14 Food Industry - Dairy 15 Food Industry - Fruit & Vegetables 16 Food Industry - Meat 17 Government - Federal 18 Government - State 19 Government - Local 20 Health/Hospital 21 Instrumentalities (eg CSIRO) 22 IT - Networking 23 IT - Security 24 IT - Storage 25 IT - Wireless 26 Laboratory - Analytical 27 Laboratory - Clinical/Medical 28 Laboratory - Life Sciences 29 Logistics/Transport/Warehouse 30 Manufacturing 31 Mining 32 Oil/Gas/Coal 33 Packaging 34 Processing 35 Retail/Wholesale/Hire 36 Service/Maintenance 37 Telecommunication 38 Testing/Certification (eg NATA) 39 Utilities

CASE STUDY

Project Scope

Energy Australia Learning Centre Trigeneration System

The new Energy Australia Learning Centre will be the country’s largest electrical learning centre and will be home to the next generation of front line energy workers. The Learning Centre will also become the headquarters of the electricity provider’s smart grid operations and energy efficiency centre.

system installed is a high life expectancy grid paralleled Cogeneration system and waste heat cooling system. This system is illustrated and described below.

Urban energy was engaged to design, project manage, supply and install an efficient alternative energy system to the facility in order to reduce the electricity usage and reduce the running costs for the centre and to provide an efficient source of cooling and heating for the centre. The

2. Creates heat for use in the hot water generation of the Centre

System Design 1. Creates electricity for use within the facility

3. Creates cooling for the centre Both the hot water and chilled water are produced for “free” from the waste heat of the Trigeneration Plant.

SPECIFICATIONS CO-GENERATION SYSTEM 120kW Cogeneration System Daily electrical output Daily Thermal output ABSORPTION CHILLER 98kW Absorption Chiller Daily Thermal (cooling) output

Parallel Grid connected 120kW natural gas cogeneration system and waste heat recovery absorption chiller (Trigeneration).

The system utilises a sophisticated Cogeneration system and waste heat recovery Absorption Chiller to efficiently generate a proportion of the electricity used by the centre and efficiently generate cooling. This system is designed to operate for 15 hours of the day over the peak and shoulder electricity tariff periods.

1,470 kWh

Electricity

Fuel

Heat Heat

Urban Energy’s Trigeneration systems can reach efficiencies of 95% and achieve full synchronisation to the grid in around 45 seconds. Shown here is a simple energy schematic to graphically show how a Trigeneration system operates.

1,800 kWh 2,445kWh

Cooling

CARBON DIOXIDE AND COST SAVINGS OF SYSTEM ARE EQUIVALENT TO By installing this efficient alternative energy electricity generation and waste heat hybrid system, Energy Australia has reduced the running costs of the centre and saved significant quantities of carbon dioxide, the main contributor to global warming. Estimated Saving of 527 Tonnes CO2 per year compared with a Purchasing electricity from the grid and buying Gas to generate heat.

Planting 2,635 trees per year or

Taking 117 cars off the road per year

This new Trigeneration system reduces the CO2 output of the Centre by an estimated 40% as well as reducing the running cost of the facility by 35%.

Urban Energy Australasia Pty Ltd 1/10 Anella Avenue Castle Hill NSW 2154 Ph: 1300 66 99 81 Fax: (02) 8850 6344 sales@urbanenergy.com.au www.urbanenergy.com.au