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Category: News
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Global award to recognise lower GWP innovation
Entries are open for the ASHRAE and OzonAction of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) 2022 Lower GWP Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Innovation Award. According to ASHRAE, the award promotes innovative design, research, and practice. It recognises people who have developed or implemented innovative technological concepts applied in developing countries to minimise global warming potential (GWP) through […]
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HVAC exhaust can boost rooftop crops
Researchers have found that planting vegetables crops near vents exhausting carbon dioxide-rich air can produce up to four times more growth. The farming system, known as BIG GRO, takes a sustainable waste resource that exists in excess in cities – human respiration – and applies it to farming. Conducted on the roof of the […]
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Building industry ready to lead decarbonisation efforts
A coalition of 25 major building industry organisations has issued a statement at COP27 pledging to assume a leadership role in decarbonisation efforts in the built environment. The statement, the Building Industry Steps Up to Address Climate Change, is addressed to government representatives that are parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes […]
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Unprecedented weather for Australia and world
As parts of Australia had their wettest spring on record, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that the Earth has just experienced its warmest eight-year period on record. Through mid-October, parts of Australia were experiencing unprecedented precipitation. On October 6, Sydney had received about 2,213mm of rainfall for the year, surpassing the previous record of 2,194mm […]
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NABERS on the march
NABERS’ FY22 annual report has confirmed a positive outlook for the successful ratings system, with more customers, more non-mandated ratings, and tools for more sectors. Growth in the NABERS platform was seen across the board. There were increases in Shopping Centre ratings (12.5 per cent), Waste for Offices ratings (72 per cent), Carbon Neutral ratings […]
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World grapples with refrigerant transition
A special international publication has collected perspectives from around the globe on the transition to low-GWP refrigerants under the Kigali Amendment. With the help of local experts, it reveals how the HFC phase-down is tracking, the major challenges so far, and the potential solutions. The Kigali Amendment aims to phase down HFC production worldwide by […]
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Summit takes on decarbonisation and disaster resilience
After a two-year hiatus from holding an in-person event, the Sustainability Summit and Awards has returned in a new hybrid format. As both an in-person event held in Sydney and an online broadcast via livestream, the event provides traditional networking opportunities while maintaining the previous years’ remote accessibility. Slated for November 10, the summit will […]
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Unequal economic impact of extreme heat
A new research article linking economic growth and extreme heat has highlighted that the worst impacted communities will likely be the least culpable when it comes to man-made climate impacts. According to researchers Christopher W. Callahan and Justin S. Mankin, “global inequality is both a cause and consequence of the unequal burden of climate change”. […]
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Worker shortage key concern for contractors
A recent report found that a shortage of skilled labour and supply chain disruptions are two of the major business issues impacting specialty contractors, with the skills shortage predicted to worsen. Released by construction management software provider Procore Technologies, in partnership with Dodge Construction Network, the 2022 Top Business Issues for Specialty Contractors Report aims […]
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Number of ARC-licenced technicians passes 100,000
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has announced that the total number of licensed HVAC&R technicians in Australia has topped the 100,000 mark, and has hailed this as a sign of continuing growth in the industry throughout Australia. The ARC confirms that more than 100,000 individuals now hold an ARCtick refrigerant handling licence (RHL). If refrigerant […]
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SA winery completes sustainable refrigeration upgrade
Jim Barry Wines recently upgraded its refrigeration plant to improve both the quality of its riesling, and also the operation’s environmental sustainability. Temperature control is a critical parameter in quality wine production, and is especially important operation in South Australian wineries, given the warm climate. Refrigeration addresses this need, but at a cost: it is […]
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Budget offers steady start, says AIRAH
AIRAH has welcomed the Federal Budget as a “steady first step” towards Australia’s longer-term goals. Among the investments announced were many aimed at addressing the housing crisis in Australia. Under the new National Housing Accord, the government expects one million new homes to be built over five years from 2024. The Accord also includes funding […]
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Better meetings for better business
Sustainable leadership drives long-lasting economic, social, and environmental benefits for businesses, says the Institute for Sustainable Leadership (ISL), which has launched a new microcourse on leading better meetings. The ISL says that while meeting management may seem like a small procedural detail, it affects a range of other practices that influence performance, including employee engagement, […]
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Refrigerant management key to curbing emissions
Fluorocarbon emissions equivalent to 90 billion tonnes of CO2 could be avoided through minimising refrigerant leaks and maximising recovery and reclamation, according to a new report from US agencies. The report, The 90 Billion Ton Opportunity: Lifecycle Refrigerant Management, estimates that better life-cycle management can prevent fluorocarbon emissions equal to nearly three full years of global […]
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Study stirs ambition for efficient and healthy homes
The authors of a new study hope their work will act as a catalyst for industry change as Australia moves to net-zero-carbon housing. As well as providing in-depth technical information on moisture management and airtightness, it recommends how construction practices need to change to achieve highly energy-efficient, durable and healthy buildings. An Australian Based Study […]
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New tool for measuring embodied carbon
CIBSE is holding an event about the recently launched TM65ANZ methodology for measuring embodied carbon in building services. Embodied carbon has been receiving increasing attention lately as countries make more detailed plans for achieving their net zero targets. As the grid decarbonises and operational emissions fall, embodied emissions – or those emissions associated with materials […]
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World Ventilation Day set for November 8
November 8 has been confirmed as World Ventilation Day, with the theme for the inaugural running to be “celebrating ventilation”. The initiative was established by a group of ventilation professionals in the UK from CIBSE, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), and academic researchers within the Future Urban Ventilation […]
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“Look for the tick” campaign hits TV screens
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has launched its annual “look for the tick” advertising campaign on internet-based television services. Each year, the summer advertising campaign encourages people to contact local licensed technicians for air conditioning services. In a bid to reach a wider audience, ARC has added television commercials to its media mix. Starting in […]
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AIRAH to release new edition of DA09
AIRAH is poised to release the fourth edition of its critical technical resource, DA09 Air Conditioning Load Estimation and Psychrometrics, with the official release date set for October 27. Used to help estimate air conditioning peak loads and partial loads in any given space, DA09 is a fundamental component of AIRAH’s technical manual offering. “Releasing […]
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Top talent on show at WorldSkills international competition
The WorldSkills international competition for Refigeration and Air Conditioning has been run and won in Nuremberg, Germany, as part of the giant Chillventa HVAC&R trade exhibition. Sixteen young technicians from around the world competed in the event as part of the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition. The event was organised after the international competition planned […]