Environment

Small cars show a big thirst for petrol in road tests

12 February

Some small cars have a surprisingly big thirst for fuel, with the latest vehicle road tests showing three popular hatchbacks exceeded their advertised petrol consumption by more than 20 per cent. One popular model consumed 35 per cent more petrol...[Read More]

Festive frenzy: Christmas deliveries take climate toll

18 December

Santa might manage his present deliveries with just one sleigh, nine reindeer and a bit of magic, but for everyone else, Christmas shopping takes a greater toll. Every year, the volume of freight being delivered Australia-wide increases as more and...[Read More]

Calls to upgrade regional connectivity as 3G shuts down

30 October

Telcos are being urged to boost mobile coverage in regional Australia as thousands of residents with old phones lose their ability to make calls or texts as the 3G network shuts down. Telstra and Optus on Monday joined TPG Telecom/Vodafone in...[Read More]

Time running out for Australian hydrogen, green iron

17 October

Time is running out for investors in genuine clean industries, but a time-stamp for green hydrogen could track production down to the hour to prove its credentials, an inquiry has been told. Proposed Future Made in Australia laws being considered by...[Read More]

Making the Most of Your Solar Panels

29 August

Solar energy offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution to powering your home, 12-volt setup, or caravan. The benefits of harnessing the sun’s energy are substantial, ranging from reduced electricity bills to minimising your carbon...[Read More]

Google links solar farm deal to help big data go green

20 December

A business-critical data centre specialist and a global renewable energy provider are teaming up with tech giant Google to build new generation capacity in Australia’s energy grid. Data centre firm AirTrunk, Swedish energy giant OX2 and Google on...[Read More]

Asia’s biggest battery will power Australian homes

11 October

More than one million Australian households will be powered by one of the world’s largest battery systems after the government approved a new renewable energy hub. The battery will be located in Melbourne suburb of Plumpton, where it will store...[Read More]

Plucky farmer turns energy costs into chicken feed

21 June

A Victorian farmer has defied soaring energy bills to save $400,000 a year during the past decade – and he wants to show other producers how they can save money too. Chicken farmer Chris Freney has made the efficiency savings by installing...[Read More]

Green bonds to fund car-charging network, clean energy

14 June

Australian governments are tapping into investor hunger for AAA-rated green bonds to fund a fast-charging network for electric cars, wind farms, and greener schools and hospitals. Western Australia’s first green bond issuance has attracted more...[Read More]

War on urchins aims to save kelp forests

22 February

Ravenous sea urchins that are destroying kelp forests will be turned into farm fertiliser under a plan that will also boost some of Australia’s most valuable fisheries. In some parts of the Great Southern Reef, which wraps around the bottom half...[Read More]

Methane-eating organism a shapeshifter

18 January

A microorganism that feeds on methane to reduce the release of gas into the atmosphere is also a shapeshifter, a study has found. The microorganism, known as Candidatus Methanoperedens nitroreducens (or Ca. M. nitroreducens), is a critical life form...[Read More]

Sweet breakthrough in bio-manufacturing

18 January

Australian researchers are unlocking the secrets of sugarcane for future aviation fuel, plastics, rubbers and food additives. Gary Schenk from the University of Queensland has focused on an enzyme to speed up the slowest step in processing sugar...[Read More]

Rotting carp ‘plague’ after major floods

11 January

A carp “plague” has descended on flood-hit parts of the Murray-Darling Basin, creating headaches for farmers and concerns about the impact on native fish. Dairy farmer Heather Campbell, who manages about 200 cows on a property at Cohuna in...[Read More]

Mixed outlook for agriculture in 2023

14 December

It’s a mixed outlook for agriculture in the coming year, with grains and lamb expected to perform well while the number of dairy farmers leaving the industry takes a toll. Rural Bank’s 2023 outlook also listed global economic challenges and...[Read More]

Businesses forced to show emissions action