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Category: News
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Clean Air Accelerator seeks IAQ innovators
A new accelerator focused on clean air technologies is seeking 10 startups to receive mentoring and guidance from experienced startup founders and investors, and deep domain input from scientific and industry experts. The Clean Air Accelerator is a not-for-profit initiative that will support the development and implementation of technologies that can “provide clean air to […]
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Magnetic cooling technology attracts major funding
A magnetic cooling startup company in Darmstadt, Germany, has attracted the equivalent of more than $AU10 million in funding to begin mass production of its beverage refrigerators, which are cooled by a temperature-active metal. The company, MagnoTherm Solutions, was established in 2019 by a team of specialists in the field of permanent magnets and magnetic […]
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Demographic data shows workforce in its prime, says ARC
Australia’s HVAC&R workforce may not be as old as previously believed, with new figures released by the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) showing that the dominant age group for refrigerant handling licence (RHL) holders is 30–39 years old. ARC CEO Glenn Evans says the figures challenge the concept of an ageing workforce, since more than half […]
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Spray cooling to lower carbon footprint for data centres
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) researchers in Singapore say they have developed a more sustainable and green method for cooling down servers in data centres, potentially reducing both energy costs and carbon footprint by up to 26 per cent. Data centres in Singapore currently account for 7 per cent of the nation’s total electricity consumption. With […]
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SPI index reveals top sustainability performers
NABERS has released its Sustainable Portfolios Index for 2023, showing an increase in participation and high levels of performance. Now in its fifth year, the index was developed as a benchmarking tool to allow portfolios to compare their overall sustainability performance with their competitors. According to NABERS, the SPI offers the only publicly available, whole-of-portfolio […]
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AIRAH launches national mentorship program
AIRAH has launched a national mentorship scheme for those working in HVAC&R building services. The program connects highly experienced engineers and HVAC&R practitioners with those who are newer to the sector, or at a mid-career stage. AIRAH CEO Trish Hyde says the initiative is aimed at tackling the acute skills shortage in the industry. “Research […]
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Eye-tracking tech identifies building defects using laser focus
New eye-tracking technologies are being developed by Australian engineers to identify building defects early in the construction process. The tech could potentially save millions of dollars in time and resources. Embedded in 3D headsets, the technology is designed to help construction workers undertake more thorough checklists, cutting down on the estimated 60 per cent of […]
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Industry seeks solution on pipework insulation
Tests conducted by a specialist refrigeration piping contractor have confirmed negligible energy benefits from using higher R-value – and thicker – insulation on refrigeration pipework for air conditioning systems. As a result, industry stakeholders are now calling for a revision of the relevant section of the National Construction Code (NCC) to address the issues associated […]
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ARC activates fully online licence applications
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has now activated a completely online licence application process. ARC chief executive officer Glenn Evans says the system has been built around improving convenience for applicants, enabling them to upload qualifications and photographs and then finalise payment by credit card online. “The system puts control of an application or renewal […]
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Coconut and lemon composite to heat and cool homes
Researchers in Stockholm, Sweden have developed an eco-friendly material that they say can be used to cool and even heat homes. The team of researchers at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology – Sweden’s largest technical university – used coconuts, lemons, and modified wood, to create a “wood composite thermal battery.” According to the research […]
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Greater visibility coming for gender pay gap
A major step towards addressing the gender pay gap has been taken with the passing of the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023 in federal parliament. From 2024, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) will publish gender pay gaps by employer, in addition to publishing the gender pay gap at […]
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Engineering essential for improving indoor air
Improving indoor air quality was the focus of a recent full-day event at Parliament House in Canberra that brought together leaders from public health, engineering, architecture, law, economics and politics to discuss the state of play and the way forward. The Clean Air Forum was opened by Australia’s Chief Health Officer Professor Paul Kelly, who […]
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New tool tracks global contributions to climate change
University of East Anglia (UEA) researchers in the UK have published findings that show how countries have contributed to global warming through their emissions of key greenhouse gases since 1850. The work builds on published records of historical emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) – gases that have made significant […]
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Professional Engineers Act 2023 passed in the ACT
The Professional Engineers Act 2023 has been passed in the ACT Legislative Assembly. This brings the ACT into line with other states that are rolling out professional registration regimes, or that already have them in place, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. In Queensland, practising engineers have been required to be registered since 2002. […]
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Cambodia sets example for climate action in cooling
Cambodia, with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), has launched its first national strategic plan on cooling for a greener, cleaner and low-carbon future. “Sustainable approaches to cooling are critical to tackle climate change,” says UNEP. “Such approaches reduce […]
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Europe commits to ambitious HFC phase-down
The EU Parliament has voted to accept revisions to the F-gas regulation that will result in a steeper phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) on the EU market from 2039 onwards, with a full HFC production and consumption phase-out by 2050. This aligns with the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal. “To stimulate the uptake of climate-friendly solutions […]
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Scientists back hydrocarbon heat pumps
As the debate over the revisions to the F-gas regulation rumbles on, a group of more than 40 scientists from 24 different universities and research institutes in Europe have signed a position paper supporting the use of hydrocarbons as refrigerants in heat pumps. The researchers argue that hydrocarbons such as propane and isobutane are just […]
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Phase-change inks to revolutionise cooling and heating
A team of researchers from the University of Melbourne has developed new phase-change inks that could slash energy use in buildings through passive heating and cooling. According to the research team, the inks can adjust the amount of radiation that passes through them based on the surrounding environment, and could be used to develop coatings […]
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Electrification paving path towards decarbonisation
As building owners and businesses seek to reduce emissions, there is a growing requirement to convert buildings to be fully electric in order to decarbonise. At least that’s the case according to the latest Advisory Note from integrated building technical services provider A.G. Coombs. The note explores reasons for electrification, traditional fuels used in buildings, […]
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GBCA puts focus on nature and biodiversity
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released the first step towards developing a roadmap for building with nature that can be adopted by industry. Building with Nature 2.0 consolidates the latest science and global trends, research, policies, and views from industry, and will be used to inform the nature roadmap which will be […]