UQ’s Professor Paul Meredith was presented with the Premier’s Award at the 2103 Premier’s Sustainability Awards on Friday in Brisbane. [ + ]

Customising ventilation in large office buildings based on the number of people in a room could reduce annual energy bills by 18%, with no loss of comfort, according to a report from the US Pacific Northwest National Laboratory [ + ]

The 2013 ASHRAE Handbook-Fundamentals covers basic principles and data used in the HVAC&R industry, including updated information on building materials, load calculations, energy resources and analysis, refrigerants, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), sustainability, controls, duct and piping system design and more. [ + ]

Solco Ltd has established a national finance business, which leases products for solar retailers and installers servicing SMEs and residential property owners. [ + ]

Royal Philips has gained eight places in the annual ranking of the Best Global Green Brands by Interbrand. The company is one of the fastest climbers in this year’s ranking, moving from 31st in 2012 to 23rd in 2013. [ + ]

Fronius has won four Plus X Awards for its Galvo and Symo inverters, taking out the High Quality, Functionality and Ecology awards in the Energy category. The Fronius Galvo inverter was also named Best Product of the Year 2013. [ + ]

SolarMax and Sol Distribution have announced a partnership that will see Sol Distribution distribute SolarMax’s S-series and MT-series solar inverters and accessories to the Australian market. [ + ]

The City of Sydney’s new Renewable Energy Master Plan has been welcomed by both the Green Building Council of Australia and the Clean Energy Council. [ + ]

Eaton has appointed Anoop Nanda as Vice President and Managing Director - Australia/New Zealand for its electrical business. [ + ]

$400 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency is available for renewable energy projects that cut diesel use by remote communities and mining companies. [ + ]

The Communications Workers Union has called on the government to put a stop to sham contracting to facilitate the rollout of the NBN, claiming it has led to safety issues. [ + ]

Twenty-three providers have declared mass service disruptions due to natural disasters or extreme weather between July 2012 and March 2013, the TIO reports. [ + ]

Master Electricians Australia has backed calls for the gradual reform of domestic power subsidies, confirming the Queensland Competition Authority’s view that individual panels were driving up network costs for other users. [ + ]

The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) and Voltimum recently launched the “Does it comply?” initiative in a bid to raise awareness and educate users of the dangers of using products that are not compliant to Australian Standards. [ + ]

ABB Australia has launched its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan to advance opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. [ + ]