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Category: News
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Opinion: The great Australian standards paywall
Clearscope Legal’s Raphael Brown looks at whether Australia’s pricing model for standards is helping or hindering the HVAC&R industry. Australian Standards are the unsung heroes of the HVAC&R world, defining the technical legal obligations that keep our heating, cooling and refrigeration systems in check. From the fine art of electrical wiring (AS/NZS 3000) to the […]
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NABERS embodied carbon tool taking shape
The work by NABERS towards launching an embodied carbon tool in mid-2024 has taken another stride forward following the release of a paper detailing the results of its public consultation, and responses to key questions about the tool. As the grid decarbonises and buildings move away from fossil fuels to all-electric systems, there is a […]
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Engineers Australia appoints new president
Engineers Australia has announced the appointment of Dr Raj Aseervatham as National President and Board Chair. Dr Aseervatham has more than 35 years’ professional experience, starting his career as a civil infrastructure engineer in local and state government. He has worked in two ASX 50 mining companies and one ASX 50 energy company, consulting and audit/assurance firms […]
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Latest Aussie acquisition for Beijer Ref
Beijer Ref has signed an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of the shares in Turner Engineering, an Australian HVAC distributor with an annual turnover of approximately AUD$28 million. Turner Engineering was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Perth. “The company, which is among the region’s longest-standing independent HVAC distributors, boasts a highly proficient […]
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World Ventil8 Day puts spotlight on health
The second annual World Ventilation Day (World Ventil8 Day) on November 8 will draw a direct link between ventilation in buildings and people’s health. The initiative, which is supported by professional bodies, universities, and environmental groups worldwide, aims to raise awareness of the vital role played by ventilation in maintaining people’s health, wellbeing, and productivity. […]
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Germicidal UV could contribute to indoor air pollution
Germicidal ultraviolet (UV) is used to reduce the load of airborne pathogens in viruses, but new research has found it could be producing harmful compounds. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Aerodyne Research and Harvard University have discovered 222-nanometer UV lights may produce harmful compounds in indoor spaces; and are best used in conjunction […]
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Stiebel Eltron welcomes new General Manager
Stiebel Eltron Australia, a leading provider of all-electric hot water, heating, and ventilation solutions, has announced the appointment of Nick Shepherd as its new General Manager. Shepherd has more than 20 years of experience in sales, marketing and product development and a proven track record of success in leading teams and driving growth. Stiebel Eltron […]
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AIRAH seeks views on professional registration
AIRAH has opened a survey to assess how HVAC&R building services engineers around the country are being impacted by the introduction of professional registration schemes. In particular, the peak industry body hopes to gauge the degree to which the qualifications requirements of the schemes are locking out highly experienced and knowledgeable practitioners. AIRAH is supporting […]
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Two million workers needed to reach net zero
The Clean Energy Council and the Energy Efficiency Council have launched the Careers for Net Zero campaign, designed to help fill Australia’s skills gap and encourage job seekers to pursue a clean economy career. According to the campaign organisers, at least two million new jobs are required to meet net zero by 2050, and 200,000 new […]
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New buildings roadmap thinks global, acts local
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and the Property Council have released a new version of the Every Building Counts roadmap aimed at local councils. Launched at a City of Melbourne event on October 23, Every Building Counts – For Local Government makes 19 policy recommendations over six key themes with the aim of […]
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ARBS names new CEO
ARBS has named Amanda Searle as its new CEO, effective from October 30. Boasting more than 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, and events, Searle is poised to lead ARBS into its next phase. “Taking the lead at ARBS is both an honour and responsibility,” Searle says. “I’m looking forward to contributing to ARBS’ […]
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Local initiative to reduce ‘outsized’ lab emissions
Australian experts are establishing a local chapter of the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL), with the goal of designing, building and operating more sustainable laboratories and other highly controlled environments. According to I2SL, laboratories have an outsized impact on carbon emissions due to their energy-intensive nature, making it vital that lab owners, managers, designers, […]
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Putting a freeze on meat waste
Although the HVAC&R industry often focuses on improving large-scale refrigeration equipment and practices in the food supply chain, a new report shows that refrigeration in households also requires serious attention to reduce Australia’s alarming levels of meat waste. Home truths The RMIT-led report, supported by the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre and Meat and […]
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Local Jobs National Priority Fund now open
Requests for Proposal (RFP) for the Local Jobs National Priority Fund 2023–2025 are now open. The RFP invites organisations to submit projects ranging from $200,000 to $1 million – GST exclusive – that help address structural and other barriers to employment faced by people in our communities and facilitate job creation. Applications for funding will […]
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EIA flags rogue emissions at fluorochemical plants
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has released a report presenting evidence of high-GWP and ozone-depleting gases being emitted from two major fluorochemical facilities in the US. For the report, EIA investigators used an infrared detection device at the fencelines of two production facilities operated by Honeywell and Chemours in Baton Rouge, LA and Corpus Christi, […]
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NABERS reports positive 2023
NABERS has released its FY23 Annual Report, showing growth and increased interest in its rating tools and enhancements. NABERS has continued to expand in the past financial year, with a growth in Sustainable Portfolios Index ratings (21 per cent), an increase in rated data centres (27 per cent), a 26 per cent increase in offices […]
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Geothermal project to tap underground lake
A Croatian energy company has discovered an underground lake with super-heated water that could supply tens of thousands of homes with clean geothermal electricity. Power company Bukotermal conducted a two-year study before they found the geothermal water source at Lunjkovec – Kutnjak field (located in the Varazdin County), near the Hungary border. The lake is […]
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Rinnai unveils new NATA-accredited Yukawa Lab
Rinnai has received NATA accreditation for its new “Yukawa laboratory”, which was designed, locally built, and commissioned within the company’s Melbourne, Mills Road – MTEC manufacturing facility. The lab is a twin-room 120kW dual chamber enthalpy test laboratory. “It is the largest in Victoria and second largest in Australia,” says Rinnai. “This enhanced facility will […]
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If heat pumps aren’t an HFC quota issue, what is?
The recent report on heat pumps released by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) looked to answer an important question. Would the increased uptake of heat pumps as a result of electrification jeopardise Australia’s HFC phase-down target? The answer it gave was a solid “no”. But although the report may […]
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New solar software to create greener buildings
Researchers at RMIT in Melbourne have developed software that allows architects and engineers to incorporate building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) into a building’s conceptual design phase. BIPVs are building features such as roof tiles, cladding and windows that double as solar panels. They can cover larger areas of buildings than traditional roof-mounted panels, and capture more energy using […]