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Category: News
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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 […]
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Sustainable cooling could save thousands of lives
A collaborative study by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Yale University has found that it is possible to provide affordable cooling to an ever-growing population and also avoid increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Keeping people cool can save tens of thousands of lives each year, the report says. Those without access to indoor […]
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Scientists issue ‘final warning’ on climate crisis
As rising greenhouse gas emissions force the world to the brink of irreversible damage, scientists have delivered a “final warning” on the climate crisis. The message was issued by a panel of the world’s leading climate scientists in the final part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sixth assessment report. According to the […]
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Yellowstone pool provides insights into hydrothermal systems
A small pool just north of Yellowstone National Park’s famous Old Faithful geyser is helping University of Utah researchers to gain new understandings of the fluctuations of energy in the park’s extensive hydrothermal system. Doublet Pool is a pair of hydrothermal pools connected by a small neck, situated on Geyser Hill in Yellowstone National Park. […]
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NT mentoring program for women in trades
Charles Darwin University (CDU) has marked International Women’s Day 2023 by announcing the launch of a new Women in Trades mentoring program. The program connects young women commencing their apprenticeships with women working in the NT trades sector. CDU Careers Centre has partnered with the NT chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction […]
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ARBS celebrates the past – and looks to a bright future
Approaching its 10-year milestone, the ARBS Foundation is looking back at the work it has done to support Australia’s HVAC&R industry through $400,000 worth of grants. In 2014, ARBS Exhibitions Limited created the ARBS Foundation to support the HVAC&R industry. The goal was to promote education and research in the industry, solicit donations to help […]
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The EU phase-down plan – brave or foolhardy?
At the end of February, the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) agreed to major amendments to the F-gas regulation – the EU legislation that controls emissions from fluorinated greenhouse gases. If the changes are confirmed by the European Parliament, it will effectively see a phase-out of HFC refrigerants […]
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A sustainable solution to the engineering skills shortage
Inspiring a stronger connection with engineering among current and future engineers is the key to permanently solving the skills shortage, according to new research published by Dr Maryam Raji at the University of Melbourne. The skills shortage has in recent years become perhaps the biggest issue facing the building and construction sector, and that is […]
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Can growing crops at solar farms boost panel performance?
According to new research from Cornell University, growing commercial agricultural crops on solar farms can both increase commercial food production and improve solar panel performance and longevity. The research was published in the journal Applied Energy. “We now have, for the first time, a physics-based tool to estimate the costs and benefits of co-locating solar […]
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Pipework insulation provisions put to the test
A large Australian installer of refrigeration and air conditioning pipework is conducting tests to determine whether certain insulation provisions in the National Construction Code (NCC) could be revised to facilitate installation of refrigeration pipework without affecting energy efficiency. The provision in question in NCC 2019 is J5.8(a), specifically relating to insulation required on refrigeration pipework. […]
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Big investors Google and Sol Systems back small fixes
Google and clean-energy developer Sol Systems have unveiled a new approach to energy efficiency by pairing clean energy with community investment in two less prosperous US states. The two giant corporates are providing seed funding to three electricity co-operatives and a non-profit, all US-based outfits. The idea is to spend money upfront to make homes […]
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Campaign to improve smoke and fire wall penetrations
The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is launching a campaign to improve service penetrations in fire-rated and smoke-proof walls. The campaign will leverage the insights from extensive research work done on the issue with industry input. During 2020 and 2021, the VBA partnered with BehaviourWorks Australia to undertake research to understand how improper service penetration of […]
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OzHelp builds on mental health and wellbeing
The OzHelp Foundation has announced the launch of a new program aimed at preventing suicide and supporting mental health in the building and construction industry: the Health in Trades program (HiT). According to OzHelp, nine Australians, on average, die by suicide every day. Of all these deaths, 75 per cent are men, and construction workers […]
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AC based on air-cooled photovoltaic-thermal system
Scientists in China claim to have developed a photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) air conditioning system that uses an air-cooled condenser and a PV/T condenser combined in series. The research was published recently in Applied Thermal Energy, a technical journal. Researchers from Hebei University of Technology say they have designed the photovoltaic-thermal air conditioning system, whose novelty arises from using […]
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A.G. Coombs releases advisory note about net zero for FMs
Integrated building services provider A. G. Coombs has issued another in its series of informative guidance communiques or advisory notes. Aimed at facility managers, the latest is an exploration of net zero buildings. “The concept of ‘net zero’ is pivotal to any discussion regarding sustainability in the built environment,” the note says. “Despite its widespread […]