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"Godawari Power & Ispat started Asia's biggest solar-thermal plant as India limps toward clean-energy targets with prices almost half the global average."

""The world is making policy decisions which mean that coal usage, in my view, will progressively decline. It's a long-term structural change and that should not be dismissed as something that is purely cyclical." (Colin Barnett, West Australian Premier. 29 July 2013) Something deep and long-lasting is changing the thermal coal market, and the effects are already evident in Australia. Reportedly, over the last 12 months, 10,000 jobs have been cut in the coal industry, even though production has increased. Why? Because miners are desperate to staunch their losses as the price they're getting for their coal has plunged by around 40%."

Tired of hearing that sustainable construction has to cost more, Josh and his colleagues want to prove that resource efficient homes can be built at comparable cost and timeframes to regular houses. The homes will be thermally comfortable year round, without the need for air conditioning or additional heating. They will generate more electricity than they use, and will harvest and recycle water. In addition to private garden areas, a common productive garden will supply both houses with fresh food. What sets this project apart from many others is that the building designs have achieved a 10 Star energy efficiency rating*, whilst intentionally using conventional building materials and construction methods so they can easily be replicated by industry and the wider community. The project also demonstrates a more sensitive approach to residential subdivision that has considered maximising effective garden area around the homes to allow for natural shading, children's play spaces and local food production - important health and lifestyle benefits that are rapidly disappearing from our suburbs. Construction started in November 2012 and is scheduled for completion by May 2013.

The 2013 Students of Sustainability Conference, is a national wide conference being held at the Launceston Campus of the University of Tasmania from the 5th to 9th of July. The 5 day conference brings together speakers from around Australia, to present on various sustainability initatives with talks ranging from Concentrated Solar Thermal uses in Australia through to Permaculture and plant foraging. This years action packed conference has over 100 speakers over the five days and is sure to be an exciting conference for all those who attend.

"Australian solar thinks big * Published 9:06 AM, 9 Sep 2011 * Updated 9:44 AM, 9 Sep 2011