Page 17
Author: Laura Timberlake
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Sustainable Starbucks built in six days
Starbucks Canada is opening the first sustainably constructed Starbucks drive-thru store in Abbotsford, Canada. The store was constructed in just six days with near-zero construction waste. It is also designed to reduce energy needs for heating and cooling compared to standard construction builds. Starbucks worked with Vancouver-based green building company, Nexii Building Solutions, to construct […]
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Important advance in harnessing waste heat
Scientists at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Tōhoku University in Japan have successfully increased the electrical power per footprint of thermomagnetic generators. Scientists have long been trying to find ways to harness waste heat. Recently, there was increased interest in finding new thermoelectric materials. Many technical processes unintentionally release unused heat into the environment, […]
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Discrimination in the construction industry
A new report has revealed that women working in trades and semi-skilled roles in construction experience high rates of discrimination. The Victorian government commissioned the report from RMIT as part of its Women in Construction Strategy, which aims to increase participation of women in the construction industry. The study found that women perceive a lack of acceptance […]
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Young Aussies tackle sustainable living
The Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), in partnership with Orica, has developed a remote learning module that focuses on sustainable housing. The module was designed for the STELR (Science and Technology Education Leveraging Relevance) education program and teaches secondary school students to design a low-energy home. ATSE Chief Executive, Kylie Walker, says the sustainable housing education kit is […]
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National search for engineering and technology champions
The International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) has established two annual communications prizes to find compelling technological and engineering innovations. The Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) is a founding member of CAETS, and is searching for technological scientists and engineers who are involved in ground-breaking work and are also […]
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Plan to expand energy-efficiency upgrades
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has opened a public consultation to expand the range of energy efficiency upgrades available to households and businesses, as part of the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program. The VEU program is established under the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) Act 2007 to help Victoria reduce its […]
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ASHRAE Virtual Winter Conference
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is holding the winter conference online from February 9–11 (EST). The conference will feature eight tracks (streams), with 40 live presentations and over 80 on-demand sessions; which will be available for 18 months. There will also be virtual technical tours, social events, meet-ups, networking opportunities […]
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Study shows workouts create higher bodily emissions
The University of Colorado Boulder has released a study which shows human bodily emissions can combine with bleach cleaners to produce new airborne chemicals. According to the study, a person who is exercising can emit as many chemicals as five sedentary people. And when this happens in a place such as a gym, the bodily […]
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The IOR extends call for abstracts
The Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) has extended the abstract deadline for its annual conference until January 29. The conference is being held online from April 21–22, 2021, and is called “The Journey to Net-Zero Heating and Cooling – Beyond Refrigeration 2021”. The IOR is inviting presentation papers that explore innovations or initiatives that will help […]
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AIRAH’s 2021 Industry Nights announced
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has announced it will be holding 19 Industry Nights across Australia in 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, AIRAH was only able to hold two face-to-face Industry Nights in 2020. AIRAH also transitioned the traditional Industry Nights into the Virtual Industry Showcase, and held two exhibitor […]
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Renewed interest in thermoelectric cooling
Researchers writing in Nature Materials have called for increased efforts to find new thermoelectric materials. In 1834, French physicist Jean Peltier discovered that at the junction of two different metals, a heating or cooling effect could be produced through electrical currents. Bismuth tellurium compounds have now been used for thermoelectric cooling for more than 60 […]
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CDC updates advice on COVID-19 and ventilation
The Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) has released updated advice to reduce exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. The advice includes suggestions to improve ventilation that may help reduce the concentration of virus particles in the air. According to the CDC website, SARS-CoV-2 viral particles spread between people more readily indoors than […]
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New look for NCC 2022
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has announced the 2022 version of the National Construction Code (NCC) will be released as a digital product. Historically a print-only publication, the digital release is being planned to improve the usability of the code. The ABCB is making the changes after consulting with industry groups, and the first […]
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Gender pay gap grows in construction
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s (WGEA) has released its findings from 4,943 reports submitted for 2019–20. The gender pay gap in the construction industry has risen by 0.1 per cent in the last year, and now has the second-highest rated full-time pay gap at 26.1 per cent. In a Build Australia article, National Chair of […]
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Skill up this summer says AIRAH
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) is offering free and/or discounted access to a range of technical resources and programs over summer. Participants will earn continuing professional development (CPD) points and at the same time stay updated on best practices in the HVAC&R space. The Summer Skill Up includes special offers […]
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Bennett re-elected as ARC Chairman
The Board of the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) re-elected Michael Bennett as chairman at the ARC Annual General Meeting on November 25. Bennett has successfully led the ARC through a challenging year with consistent results, says the ARC. The Council also welcomed Greg Picker and Scott Williams to the Board after directors Mark Padwick and Sumit Oberoi […]
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Are hotels suitable COVID-19 quarantine facilities?
As pressure mounts to allow more international arrivals into the country, the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has flagged serious concerns about the suitability of hotels as quarantine facilities. So far, the outbreaks connected to hotel quarantine facilities in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales have largely been blamed on […]
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Refrigerant course assessments go virtual
REAL Alternatives 4 Life has established a process for training centres to hold theory assessments online. The free online course now extends to 17 European countries and languages, and the assessments are now available in virtual format, allowing people in lockdown the opportunity to complete them online. The course provides education on the safe use of […]
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NSW releases draft regs for professional registration
New South Wales has taken a major step towards starting its scheme for professional registration of engineers. The draft Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2020 has been released for public consultation, and is open for comment until Monday, January 11. The Regulation has been developed to support the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020, which was […]
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Davina Rooney joins IWBI Governance Council
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Green Building Council of Australia, Davina Rooney, and Senior Director of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) at S&P Dow Jones Indices, Mona Naqvi, to the IWBI Governance Council. The Governance Council helps uphold the integrity of IWBI’s certification frameworks and accelerates the broader movement […]