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Category: News
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Social media provides data on heat-vulnerable regions
New research into social media data at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, has provided insight into what motivates people to buy air conditioners worldwide. With temperatures rising around the world, more and more people globally regard air conditioning as an essential part of living. But AC units are also likely to increase energy consumption. […]
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World ‘gravely impacted by extreme weather and climate events’
According to the annual report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), climate change continued to advance at a tremendous and impactful clip in 2022. The WMO says droughts, floods and heatwaves affected communities on every continent and cost many billions of dollars. Antarctic sea ice fell to its lowest extent on record, and there was […]
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ARBS Foundation marks milestone in support for HVAC&R
The ARBS Foundation – the foundation for industry education and research – is celebrating nearly a decade of support for the HVAC&R industry. Now in its ninth year, the foundation has made significant contributions to the air conditioning, refrigeration, and building services industry through grants for various projects and initiatives. ARBS Executive Officer David Eynon […]
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Buildings the key to Australia’s net zero target
A new joint report by the Property Council of Australia and the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) sets out a suite of property-focused policy recommendations to help Australia achieve its decarbonisation goals. Every Building Counts 2.0 is a revision of the roadmap originally launched in 2019, and updates the original eight key policy recommendations […]
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CFCs on the rise again?
A new study has found increased emissions of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), despite their production being banned under the Montreal Protocol. The researchers say the most likely cause is a “loophole” that allows the creation of CFCs during the production of other chemicals, including common synthetic refrigerants. The research, published in Nature Geoscience and led by the […]
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Carrier acquires Viessmann Climate Solutions for $20 billion
Carrier Global Corporation will acquire Viessmann Climate Solutions, the largest segment of the German HVAC&R manufacturer the Viessmann Group, in a cash and stock transaction valued at AUD$20 billion, subject to working capital and other adjustments. “A privately held company with a 106-year legacy of innovation, Viessmann Climate Solutions provides Carrier with an iconic, premium […]
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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. […]