Page 3
Category: General
-
Energy Efficiency Council names Dr Mary Stewart new President
Dr Mary Stewart has been named President of the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC). She replaces Professor Tony Arnel, who stepped down after six years. A recognised expert in sustainable development, Dr Stewart is a trained chemical engineer, and CEO of energy and climate risk advisory firm Energetics. “It is a great honour to take the […]
-
IIR develops model to calculate cold chain CO2 emissions
The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) has developed a model to calculate the CO2 emissions for each stage of the cold chain and for all countries in the world. Explained in the IIR’s latest Informatory Note, the model allows comparisons between the CO2 emissions associated with the current and “improved” versions of the global cold chain. According to […]
-
Using waste heat to power a sustainable future
Future turbine optimisation could mean considerably more efficient use of waste heat from the manufacturing industry, and in so doing reduce its environmental footprint. That’s the finding by City University of London’s Dr Martin White, whose research appears in Applied Thermal Engineering. The research explores a novel organic Rankine cycle system, based on a two-phase […]
-
Buildings with combustible cladding liable for fines
Owners of Queensland buildings with combustible cladding could now be liable for a hefty fine should their buildings be deemed unsafe. Time has run out for building owners to complete the process established by the Queensland state government’s Safer Buildings Taskforce to eliminate risk of catastrophic building fires caused by combustible cladding. The Safer Buildings […]
-
IIR releases blueprint for sustainable development
The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) has published its first Activity Report, emphasising the essential role of refrigeration at the heart of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. Originally announced in 2015, the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were designed to provide clear universal sustainability objectives for nations across the globe. The SDGs […]
-
ASHRAE launches Vision 2030
US engineering body ASHRAE has launched its Vision 2030 webpage. The webpage can be found at ashrae.org/vision2030. ASHRAE says its Vision 2030 is about providing professionals in the building industry with the resources to drive the innovative and strategic improvements needed to foment the revolution of the built environment. “The Vision 2030 webpage provides guidance […]
-
Australia’s infrastructure investment roadmap charts a resilient future
According to the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA), the 2021 Infrastructure Priority List is a welcome step towards a resilient, inclusive and low-emissions future. Infrastructure Australia has added 44 new proposals to its $59 billion investment roadmap across transport, energy, water, waste, telecommunications and social infrastructure. “We are pleased with the clarity of criteria […]
-
Vale ozone pioneer Paul Crutzen
Dutch scientist Paul J. Crutzen, who earned the Nobel Prize for chemistry for his work understanding the hole in the ozone layer, has died. Credited with coining the term “Anthropocene” to describe the geological era shaped by humankind and its impact on climate change, Crutzen died on January 28. He was 87. Crutzen was the […]
-
Cooling school playgrounds to counter climate change impacts
As part of a project to cool school playgrounds, environmental organisation Greening Australia and Western Sydney University have released a study revealing some of the most heat-vulnerable schools in the Sydney Basin. As part of its Cooling the Schools program, Greening Australia commissioned Western Sydney University to capture location-specific measurements at 100 schools from Western […]
-
Russian Federation ratifies Kigali Amendment
As part of the global effort to reduce the use of HFCs, the Russian Federation has ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, becoming the 105th country to do so. “According to the scientific community, if member states deliver on their obligations regarding substances that deplete the ozone layer, by mid-century the ozone layer […]
-
Property Council of Australia names its six developments of the year
The Property Council of Australia has unveiled its leading six developments from across the country as part of its 2020 Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards program. “While 2020 has been a challenging year, celebrating Australia’s finest projects and the people who create them serves as a powerful reminder,” says the […]
-
Project management expertise the key to revival?
A leading engineering consultancy and training provider suggest that one of the possibly overlooked keys to Australia’s economy recovery post-COVID-19 could be project management expertise. As federal and state governments allocate billions of dollars’ worth of shovel-ready infrastructure projects in an effort to boost local economies, the “Specialist project management – the engine of successful […]
-
ARBS partners with NABERS on scholarships
The ARBS Education and Research Foundation has partnered with NABERS to provide scholarships to HVAC&R sole traders studying to become accredited energy and water assessors. “The ARBS Education and Research Foundation is committed to supporting further education of people employed in the HVAC industry, along with practical research into contemporary industry issues,” says ARBS Foundation […]
-
IWBI launches WELL Health-Safety Rating
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has launched the WELL Health-Safety Rating for all building and facility types. The tool is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating system focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols and design strategies to address a post-COVID-19 environment. The WELL Health-Safety Rating is one of the earliest outcomes of IWBI’s Task Force […]
-
AIRAH and IRHACE seal MoU
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) and the Institute of Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers of New Zealand Inc., (IRHACE) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding. Although the two member bodies have co-operated on initiatives and knowledge sharing for many years now, the arrangement has always been an informal one. […]
-
Study on spread of COVID-19 in air conditioned bus
The coronavirus could be transmitted over a longer distance than previously thought, especially within an enclosed air conditioned environment, according to a study by a team of Chinese government epidemiologists. The research by the Hunan-based team throws into question the official guidelines from China’s health authorities on COVID-19 prevention to keep “a safe distance” of […]
-
25 King scores WELL Certification
25 King Street Brisbane has been awarded Queensland’s first WELL Core and Shell Certification at the Platinum level. Led by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), WELL is a global rating system for advancing health and wellbeing in buildings. The sustainable structure has also earned 6 star Green Star Design and As Built ratings. Dubbed […]
-
ACADS-BSG finds new owner
Building services software developer ACADS-BSG has found new ownership. The 38-year-old tech firm is now in the hands of Peter Glodic. Founded in 1981, ACADS-BSG is a building services software developer that provides building professionals with technological tools to design and check building services such as air conditioning for both new and existing buildings. More […]
-
Battle of the thermostat heats up
Is there a battle of the sexes when it comes to office air conditioning? And do men and women really work more efficiently at different temperatures? Certainly decades of anecdotal evidence and arguments about dress codes and set-points suggests men and women have different ideal temperature preferences at work. Now a new German study does […]
-
Umow Lai joins Integral Group
Australian building services and sustainability practice Umow Lai is joining Integral Group, a global network of mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers, energy analysts, commissioning authorities and sustainability consultants. Founded in Melbourne in 1991 by George Umow and Dominic Lai, M.AIRAH, Umow Lai has grown to become a leading multi-disciplinary building services engineering, fire engineering, ICT […]