Page 16
Author: Laura Timberlake
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Female apprentice steps into a cool career
Brisbane resident Stephanie Peters has become the first female air conditioning and refrigeration apprentice to be hired by Broadcast Services Australia (BSA) in Queensland, a national technical services company. Peters herself admits she took a more conventional path before deciding to apply for her apprenticeship at TAFE Queensland. “In high school it was really drilled into us […]
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Whitest ever paint promises cooling benefits
A team of engineers at Purdue University has created the whitest paint in history and says that using it on buildings may help cool them down, reducing the need for air conditioning. The research team created an ultra-white paint last year, but have since improved the formula. Purdue professor of mechanical engineering, Xiulin Ruan, told […]
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ABCB publishes indoor air quality handbook
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has published a handbook to foster a greater understanding of the indoor air quality (IAQ) verification methods in the National Construction Code (NCC) Volumes One and Two. The IAQ verification methods include FV4.1 and FV4.2 (of NCC Volume One) and V2.4.5 of (NCC Volume Two). The handbook is written by […]
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Reforming Victoria’s building regulatory system
The Building Reform Expert Panel is inviting feedback on the Framework for Reform and possible improvements to Victoria’s building system. A group established by the Victorian government to lead its review of the building legislative and regulatory system, the Panel is accepting feedback until May 19. The Panel has been asked to advise on changes […]
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Victoria’s largest mass timber project reaches completion
Construction on one of Victoria’s largest mass timber projects has been completed, as La Trobe University unveils the new student accommodation at its Bundoora campus. Designed by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects and constructed by Multiplex, the accommodation utilises cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam beams and columns. The project has achieved a 5 Star Green Star Design rating and is […]
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Organic material holds promise for HVAC technology
A new study by researchers at Texas A&M University has found an organic material called polyimide that could bring down the cost of cooling air. Traditional heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems use a large amount of energy, and cost thousands of dollars to run – particularly in commercial buildings. However, the researchers believe […]
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New HVAC&R Technical Handbook released
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has released the sixth edition of its Technical Handbook. The Technical Handbook was first published in May 1989, and has a long history as a “go-to resource” for those working in the HVAC&R industry. Over the years, AIRAH members have helped develop, review, and curate […]
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Solar Decathlon launches 2022 and 2023 editions
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon has announced the launch of the 2022 Design Challenge and 2023 Build Challenge. The Solar Decathlon is a collegiate competition that challenges student teams to design and build highly efficient and innovative buildings powered by renewable energy. The Design Challenge is a one or two semester, design-only competition; while the Build Challenge is […]
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What to expect from a user-friendly NCC
The Australian Building Codes Board’s (ABCB) announced late last year that they would be releasing the 2022 National Construction Code (NCC) as a digital product, to make it more accessible and to improve its usability. The ABCB is running a webinar about the changes to the NCC’s structure and format on Tuesday, April 20, to […]
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Pro Clima offers Passive House scholarships
Pro Clima is offering three scholarships to building professionals to support the practice of Passive House in Australia. The scholarships include Passive House Introduction, Passive House Designer and Passive House Tradesperson. Each scholarship is open to people in the building sector – including builders, architects, building designers, consultants, roofers and more. To be eligible for […]
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James Harrison exhibition opens in Geelong
Geelong Design Week is hosting an exhibition about James Harrison at Barwon Grange from Saturday, March 20 until Sunday, March 28. The exhibition is titled James Harrison’s Momentous Achievements – models, medals, memorabilia and explores Harrison’s life from 1816–1893. He was the first to create ice via mechanical means, and the founder of the Geelong […]
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Biden sued over executive environmental order
Twelve American states have filed a federal lawsuit against President Joe Biden for his executive climate change order, alleging that he lacks the statutory and constitutional authority to dictate specific values for the “social costs” of greenhouse gases for regulatory programs administered by the federal government. Biden signed executive order 13990 on his first day […]
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Forecasting energy efficiency
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is seeking expressions of interest to attend a workshop about forecasting energy efficiency on Wednesday, March 24. The workshop is open to stakeholders with knowledge on energy efficiency policies, experience in designing and managing energy efficiency measures, and experience in modelling and quantifying energy efficiency impacts. AEMO is focused […]
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Ideaction.2021 shines a light on FM
The Facility Management Association (FMA) is holding Ideaction.2021 as a series of face-to-face events in Geelong, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth on Monday, May 31 and Tuesday, June 1. This year, the national conference and exhibition has the theme “Shining a Light on FM (facility management)”. FM professionals have been thrust into the spotlight in the past […]
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RACE for clean energy 2030
The Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) is calling for industry to take part in a series of surveys to help determine future energy needs in different sectors. A2EP is a partner of the RACE for 2030 Collaborative Research Centre (CRC), which aims to accelerate the transition to reliable, affordable and clean energy for 2030. The organisation is […]
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NCC seminars return in 2021
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is holding a seminar series across Australia in May about the National Construction Code (NCC). The seminars will provide a deep-dive into selected NCC content, and an overview of some provisions proposed for NCC 2022. The presentation topics will be tailored towards industry-specific needs, and aimed at practitioners of […]
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Why some people might feel the cold more than others
New research has revealed almost 20 per cent of people worldwide lack a protein called α-actinin-3 in their muscle fibre. The skeletal muscle in this group of people is made up of more slow-twitch muscle fibres. These muscles are more durable and energy efficient and provide better tolerance to low temperatures than fast-twitch muscle fibres. […]
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Natural Refrigeration Conference goes virtual
The International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) has announced it is cancelling the face-to-face portion of the 2021 IIAR Natural Refrigeration Conference and Expo due to COVID-19. It will now be held online. The event was originally slated to be held in Palm Springs, California, USA, from June 21–23, 2021. The current regulations that affect meetings […]
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HVAC&R is helping NASA find life on Mars
Those in HVAC&R often talk about the impacts this industry has had in supporting our modern way of life. Now another achievement can be added to the list: interplanetary exploration. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) landed one its largest and most advanced rovers, named Perseverance, on Mars on February 18, 2021. The aim […]
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How does climate change affect building codes?
The Global Resiliency Dialogue has released a report about the current integration of climate data and assessment of extreme weather events in building codes around the world. The group is composed of international industry organisations including the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), the National Research Council of Canada, the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and […]