Councils power-up efficiency

LED lighting a cause celebre for councils.

20 January, 2016

Queensland appoints new department heads

Queensland’s Tourism and Energy Departments have new Directors-General

6 July, 2015

Randwick Council tops NSW council sustainability awards

By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski There’s no shortage of awards and prizes for sustainability initiatives, but Sydney’s Randwick City Council has taken out top honours over its state local government peers for its unwavering commitment to a long-term, well-rounded suite of community measures designed to deliver water, waste and energy savings. The Eastern Suburbs […]

4 December, 2013

Fremantle pool goes geothermal

By Julian Bajkowski Councils across Australia might be looking to the sun to offset the rising costs of municipal pool heating, but in the historic Western Australian City of Fremantle they’re digging for fire to keep bathers warm when in the water. The innovative council has confirmed that a test-bore it has sunk to tap […]

2 September, 2013

States jolted over slow power reforms

By Julian Bajkowski Energy suppliers have accused state governments across Australia of failing to execute key electricity market reforms which they claim are essential to rein-in soaring prices for consumers and businesses. The peak industry group the Energy Supply Association of Australia has launched a stinging report card on the performance of individual states’ electricity […]

10 December, 2012

MAV anger over green light flip

By Councillor Bill McArthur, President of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV)   This week’s State Budget cut of the $20 million Green Light Plan will hurt local councils trying to convert to energy efficient street lighting to reduce their carbon price exposure.   MAVs condems the cut and called for the program to be […]

3 May, 2012

MAV helps councils achieve savings on energy costs

Councillor Bill McArthur, president of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) said that joint tenders conducted in 2011 provided participating councils with electricity cost savings for their buildings, public lighting and green energy, as well as gas savings for facilities.   “Large council buildings and facilities saved around 20 per cent on electricity costs during […]

28 February, 2012

Hervey Bay solar projects keep powers on

Energy Minister Stephen Robertson has welcomed another key milestone in the Bligh Government's $4 million plan to help power Hervey Bay with clean energy. Mr Robertson said Queensland Health had now completed contractual arrangements with ABB Australia to install a $1.3 million 266 kilowatt solar panel system at the Hervey Bay Hospital. "Depending on the […]

3 February, 2012

Cogent Energy powers central Sydney

The City of Sydney will use trigeneration as a low-carbon energy network to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Final negotiations will take place with Cogent Energy, a subsidiary of Origin, to power central Sydney after a tender process and negotiations with several other companies. According to a University of Technology Sydney study, the project could save […]

7 December, 2011

University uses solar energy

A photo-voltaic solar array at the Australian National University (ANU) will reduce the campus’s carbon emissions, feed energy back into the grid and help educate the community about energy conservation measures.   Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Senator Don Farrell, unveiled the 14.28 kilowatt array – located on the Concessions Building of ANU’s […]

7 September, 2011

Range of energy sources expanded for WA

Speaking at the 11th Energy in Western Australia conference in Perth, Mr Collier launched Synergy’s Powering WA’s Future initiative.   The corporation is seeking expressions of interest from new and existing market participants to provide in excess of 1,000 megawatts of renewable and non-renewable generation to 2020.   “WA is facing unprecedented change in its […]

17 August, 2011

Townsville council pilots $11.5m energy slasher

The Queensland based council has joined Ergon Energy’s Demand Management Pilot Program, to help customers save $7 million on power bills and cut 42000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.   Townsville council has volunteered 170 small sites into one demand project aiming to deliver 20 megawatts of demand reduction by 2015.   Ergon Energy will […]

9 May, 2011

WA assessed for renewable energy

The Australian Government has awarded a contract for work to begin on a detailed assessment of the renewable energy potential of the Mid-West and Pilbara regions of WA.   Evans and Peck, the successful tenderer for the Western Australia Regional Renewable Energy Assessment, will deliver a study to address some of the barriers to investment […]

21 April, 2011

Sydney moves ahead with trigeneration

By Lilia Guan   The City of Sydney has entered the first phase of the installation of a low carbon energy system at Town Hall House.   City of Sydney CEO Monica Barone said the network will slash greenhouse gas emissions and stem rising electricity costs in buildings across the City.   The building of […]

5 April, 2011