NSW's best environmental technologies - including a company developing an air conditioner 12 times more energy efficient than current models - have been inducted into the Australian Technology Showcase (ATS) program.

The ATS is promoting innovative NSW environmental companies to national and international markets to build green and smart jobs and help in the fight against climate change.

NSW has smart and green companies offering a wide range of environmental technology products and services - from long life batteries, solar and wind energy devices, water purification and environmental remediation to pollution monitoring, wastewater treatment and landscape management.

Concerns about global warming, Federal Government plans for a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, and increased corporate and personal efforts to be more environmentally-friendly are creating fresh opportunities for environmental innovation.

Environmental technologies in the ATS include Caringbah company Air Change Pty Ltd which has won a $450,000 grant from the Federal Government’s Climate Ready program to develop ‘The Green Machine’, a world-first air conditioning system up to 12 times more energy efficient than traditional systems.

The Green Machine will combine an indirect evaporative cooling system coupled with highly efficient heat exchanger technology and solar power and will eliminate the need for air conditioner compressors and ozone depleting refrigerants. The system is due on the market by 2011 for both domestic and commercial use.

Air Change says heating, ventilation and air conditioning accounts for up to 40 per cent of the energy used in commercial buildings and four per cent of Australian greenhouse gas emissions, so it hopes the Green Machine will help the fight against climate change by drastically reducing the energy consumption required for cooling.

Another NSW company in the ATS, Vecor Australia Pty Ltd of Roseville, has developed a process to convert fly ash waste from coal fired power stations into low cost and lightweight ceramic tiles. Vecor has also won a Climate Ready grant.

Other NSW environmental technologies being promoted through the ATS include:

• Katoomba company Clearwater Technology Pty Ltd, which makes chemical free water recycling systems for treating wastewater for re-use in irrigation, toilet cisterns and path washing www.aquacell.com.au
• Nimbin company Urban Ecological Systems Ltd, which makes a zero effluent, fully integrated aquaculture and vegetable production system www.ecocityfarm.com.au
• Cobbity company NuFlora International Pty Ltd, which produces drought tolerant landscaping plants requiring less water and maintenance www.nuflora.com.au
• Moorebank company Solar-Gem Pty Ltd, which makes a low cost and long lasting solar lighting and energy system for use in remote locations www.solar-gem.asia
• Sydney company TTG Transportation Technology Pty Ltd, which makes the FreightMiser, a sophisticated train driver assistance software system that optimises energy use to reduce fuel costs, wear and tear and transport delays www.ttgtransportationtechnology.com
• Warriewood company NEP Solar Pty Ltd, which makes the PolyTrough solar collector, an innovative reflector technology to deliver clean solar heat up to 220°C for industrial processes, high efficiency solar cooling, large scale water heating and power generation www.nep-solar.com
• Silverwater company Nubian Water Systems Pty Ltd, which makes a low energy and chemical free automated water filtration system that takes grey water from hand basins, showers, baths and washing machines and makes it suitable for irrigation and internal reuse www.nubian.com.au
• Dural company Evcco, which makes flame retardant conduits for cinemas, airports and underground areas. The recycled polypropylene conduits are lighter, impact resistant and have higher resistance to ultra-violet light and weathering giving them a long life span www.evcco.com.au.

Industry & Investment NSW has also developed a directory profiling 81 NSW companies working in the field of environmental improvement which is available for download at www.business.nsw.gov.au/industry/environmental