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Author: Laura Timberlake
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Can humidity improve productivity?
Condair has produced a free guide about improving productivity in food manufacturing with better humidity management. The water content of food can effect its appearance, taste, weight and quality. Managing the water content allows food manufacturers to maximise their yield and maintain product quality. Benefits from controlling air humidity include reduced evaporative losses, extended shelf […]
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Igniting the circular economy
Sustainability Victoria is holding an interactive virtual event on Friday, November 20 called “Accelerating the circular economy”. The free event will address reducing the environmental impacts of production and consumption, and enabling economic growth through the productive use of natural resources. The panel session, featuring live polls and chat, will be hosted by CEO of Sustainability […]
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Second i-Hub Summit webinar series coming soon
The Innovation Hub for Affordable Heating and Cooling (i-Hub) and AIRAH are running a series of free webinars to provide updates on the current research and status of the projects that are under way. This is the second Summit series in 2020. Integrated Design Studios – Monday, November 30 The first webinar focuses on i-Hub’s Integrated Design […]
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REHVA gets ready for Brussels Summit 2020
The Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (REHVA) Brussels Summit 2020 is being held online on November 5, 2020. The Summit includes two sessions, including a technical seminar about the COVID-19 aftermath and an EU policy conference. The seminar will examine potential solutions regarding COVID-19 in the HVAC and building sector, with a focus […]
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Can seawater cool a warming world?
A study published in the journal Energy Efficiency, led by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), has found that using seawater air conditioning might be a viable alternative to traditional air conditioners. Seawater air conditioning (SWAC) works by pumping seawater from the ocean and exchanging heat with a district cooling system, and then returning […]
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Primed for space cooling
The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) have published the Primer for Space Cooling and accompanying Compendium, which address the critical need for access to sustainable space cooling. The Primer describes space cooling as “the means by which people are provided thermal comfort from heat by maintaining the […]
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Renters experience energy hardship
The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) has published research that examines how energy hardship is affecting the Australian rental sector. The research estimates that up to 40 per cent might be experiencing hardship due to rising energy costs and energy-inefficient dwellings, and between 14–18 per cent are unable to keep warm in winter. […]
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Global Cooling Prize prototypes now online
The Global Cooling Prize finalists’ prototypes have been installed for performance testing at the field test site in Bahadurgarh, India. The Global Cooling Prize is an innovation competition designed to spur development of a radically more energy-efficient cooling technology. Eight finalists were selected late last year, based upon their potential to have at least five times less climate […]
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Nano-thermometers a potential game changer
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the US has launched a new project to design and build a fleet of tiny ultra-sensitive thermometers. The project is called Thermal Magnetic Imaging and Control (Thermal MagIC), and if it succeeds it will be the first system to make real-time measurements of temperature on the microscopic […]
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Refrigerant report reveals industry changes
German manufacturer Bitzer has released the Refrigerant Report 21, and it provides an in-depth view on commercial and development refrigerants. The company published the first refrigerant report in 1992, and has since become known for its unbiased and innovative views. The report lists the latest development in refrigerants, which ones are no longer viable, and […]
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UniSA and Glaciem claim engineering award
The University of South Australia and Glaciem Cooling Technologies have been announced as South Australia’s Engineering Excellence Award winner and the Sir William Hudson Award finalist for their work on The Bend Motorsport Park. The Bend Motorsport Park has now won several awards, including the 2018 AIRAH Award for Excellence in Refrigeration. The Bend was developed and […]
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Passive House Virtual Conference 2020
The Australian Passive House Association is holding the South Pacific Passive House Virtual Conference from October 12–16, 2020. The conference will explore the importance of good design, and will include presentations from international keynotes and local experts. To be held alongside a virtual trade show, the event has been planned to offer multiple opportunities for […]
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Biomimetic fans improve ventilation
German ventilation and control company, Ziehl-Abegg has worked with the Motorwerk Berlin to reduce aerosol risk by improving ventilation design with biomimetic fans. The Motorwerk Berlin is an event location in Berlin’s Pankow district, which hosts events such as Germany’s Next Top Model and new car presentations by Porsche and Daimler. CEO at Motorwerk, Dr […]
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Microsoft’s underwater data centre resurfaces
In 2018, Microsoft’s Project Natick team stored the first data centre approximately 35m underwater near the Orkney Islands in Scotland. After monitoring the server for two years, the team recently retrieved the data centre. The concept of storing data centres under water was first conceived by Microsoft during ThinkWeek in 2014. According to this article, […]
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Webinar on geothermal systems
AIRAH is holding a Streamline webinar about geothermal systems on Thursday, October 1. Geothermal heating and cooling has become commonplace in Europe and the USA, but is still relatively new in Australia. This session will provide attendees with an understanding of geothermal systems, their suitability for different situations, and how to integrate them into projects. […]
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Using body heat to warm buildings
Whether inside a crowded train or packed exhibition hall, most of us have experienced stuffiness due to body heat radiated from the people around us. The excess body heat released into the atmosphere can actually be used to warm buildings and homes. According to a BBC article, numerous companies are already harnessing this organic warmth. […]
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LG’s smart systems in step with young renters
Although much of the building sector has slowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, apartment construction continues to boom. LG Electronics has created a line of smart air conditioning systems that favours this housing trend. Approximately 41 per cent of new homes built in Australia are apartments – in 2019, the average-sized home was 228 metres, […]
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Webinar on improving HVAC maintenance in the mid-tier
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) is hosting a webinar about HVAC maintenance and repair in mid-tier buildings on Tuesday, September 15. According to the Opportunity Knocks report, mid-tier buildings account for about 80 per cent of office buildings and about 50 per cent of floor space in Australia. “These buildings […]
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Out with the mould
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has published an article on CSIROscope about the dangers of mould and how to prevent it. Mould causes health issues and can damage buildings. A fungal growth that loves moisture, it can generally be found in poorly ventilated areas of the house where damp has a chance […]
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Cold Tube: Chilled panels beat the heat
A team of researchers has created a new way to cool down without using air conditioning. Researchers from the University of British Columbia, Princeton University, the University of California, Berkeley and the Singapore-ETH Centre claim that the creation known as Cold Tube is a better alternative to using air conditioning. The Cold Tube is a […]