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Category: News
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Victoria bans gas in new homes from 2024
The Victorian government has added major momentum to the electrification movement with the announcement that it is banning gas connections to new homes from next year. New homes and residential subdivisions that require a planning permit cannot connect to the gas network from January 2024. This will apply to new planning permit applications submitted from […]
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Electricity-generating windows in line for prize
Monash University researchers have been selected as finalists in Australia’s premier national science awards, the Eureka Prizes, for their research and innovation project which heralds substantial practical advances in renewable energy for a low-carbon future. The project, a collaboration between Monash University and CSIRO to develop windows that can efficiently generate solar electricity, is a […]
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Melbourne brewery completes heat pump upgrade
Melbourne brewer 3 Ravens has completed an award-winning energy upgrade to its Thornbury brewing facility that will enable it to ramp up production by up to four times current levels without increasing its energy consumption. In addition to upgrading the building fabric and installing 74kW of solar panels and a “cool roof”, the brewery has installed a […]
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New resources for building net zero homes
The South Australian government has established a learning hub to provide easy “one stop” access to builders, allied professions and trades seeking knowledge and skills for building energy-efficient and net zero energy homes. The site has six training webinars and case studies that make up the Net Zero Homes training course for builders, developed by […]
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Queensland NCC stance highlights ‘patchwork’ problem
Queensland has confirmed that it will maintain the original timetable for adopting improved energy efficiency, condensation management and livable housing provisions in NCC 2022. Although industry stakeholders have applauded the decision, they have also raised concerns about delays in other jurisdictions, and the inconsistent implementation of what is intended to be a national code to […]
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ASHRAE awarded major grant for energy code training
US engineering body ASHRAE has earned a US$2.85 million (AUD$4.17 million) grant from the US Department of Energy Building Technologies Office for Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation (RECI). The program invests $225 million over five years, to “enable sustained cost-effective implementation of updated building energy codes.” The award will fund the “Energy Code Official – […]
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BPEQ charges unregistered engineer
The Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland (BPEQ) has prosecuted a case involving an interstate engineer providing professional engineering services for a building in Queensland. According to the BPEQ, the engineer worked outside of Queensland and did not register as a registered professional engineer of Queensland (RPEQ). Unregistered engineers can face serious consequences for providing […]
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Net zero plan for Australia’s built environment
The federal government has confirmed that it will develop decarbonisation plans for different sectors – including a specific plan for the built environment. In its issues paper on setting, tracking and achieving Australia’s emissions reduction targets, the Climate Change Authority proposed focusing on sectors as set out in Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: electricity, stationary […]
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Climate control, termite style
Lund University researchers in Sweden have found that future buildings inspired by termites could achieve the same effect as traditional climate control but with greater energy efficiency and fewer emissions. According to the researchers, termite mounds have a sophisticated ventilation system that allows air to circulate throughout the structure. This helps maintain and regulate temperature […]
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US lays out next steps for HFC phase-down
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an HFC reduction of 40 per cent below historic levels from 2024 through 2028. The rule aligns with the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act’s goals to reduce the production and consumption of HFCs by 85 per cent by 2036. The US began its phase-down on […]
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NEXTgen program opens for 2023–2024
Standards Australia has opened its doors for the next intake of industry professionals wanting to benefit from its NEXTgen program. The NEXTgen Program selects emerging industry and technical experts and provides them with an opportunity to become involved in standardisation processes. It is open to people with five to seven years’ industry experience wanting to […]
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Cundall aims to be net zero hero
Multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy, Cundall, has committed to achieving net zero carbon on all its projects by 2030. The pledge recognises the critical need for practical, science-led action to transition all buildings, infrastructure, and human settlements to net zero carbon as rapidly as possible. “We know that buildings are one of the fastest and most effective […]
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Awards for low-GWP projects in developing countries
ASHRAE and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) have announced the project selections for the 2023 ASHRAE-UNEP OzonAction Lower-GWP Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Innovation Awards. The annual international award program promotes innovative design, research and practice by recognising people who have developed or implemented innovative technological concepts applied in developing countries to promote lower global warming potential […]
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Have your say on VET education in Queensland
The Queensland Parliament’s Education, Employment and Training Committee will be holding three community forums and a public hearing briefing about the delivery of vocational education and training (VET) for regional, rural and remote Queensland in July 2023. The committee is keen to hear directly from workers, employers, and their representatives as part of its inquiry. […]
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Global refrigerant licence scheme launched
After a decade of work from organisations around the globe and a series of pilot projects, the United Nations Refrigerant Driving Licence (RDL) scheme was launched at the 45th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, held in Bangkok. The RDL is a comprehensive refrigerant management qualification program that […]
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Novel CO2 supermarket cooling installed in Adelaide
A novel dew-point CO2 refrigeration system has been deployed at a Coles supermarket in Norwood, South Australia. The project is the culmination of seven years of research activities, trials and product development, including partnerships between the University of South Australia, the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre, Coles, and Adelaide-based Glaciem Cooling Technologies. According to […]
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The urgent need for thermal efficiency
Improving the thermal performance in Australian homes is an urgent priority to ease cost of living pressures, improve occupant wellbeing, and reduce energy consumption and emissions. So says H2: Opportunity Assessment Enhancing home thermal efficiency, a new RMIT University-led report, commissioned by RACE for 2030. The report assesses current challenges related to home thermal efficiency […]
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Blockchain refrigerant tracking tool in line for award
New Zealand HVAC&R professional body CCCANZ has earned a nomination in the prestigious RAC Cooling Industry Awards for its HVAC&R F-Gas Collaboration Project, which uses blockchain methodology. The group has been shortlisted in the “Environmental Collaboration of the Year” category, which recognises the importance of partnerships and collaborations in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector […]
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Equal Pay Day to be marked on August 25
Equal Pay Day, a day that calls attention to the the gender pay gap between men and women in Australia, will be held on August 25 in 2023. The particular date is chosen because it marks the 56 additional days from the end of the financial year that women must work to earn the same […]
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NSW offers preview of incoming fire safety schedule
The NSW government has shared an advance copy of the fire safety schedule template, due to start on August 1, 2023. The new schedule is one of a raft of reforms that respond to recommendations in the report on improving fire safety in new and existing buildings, developed by the Office of the Building Commissioner. […]