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Category: News
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Engineers Australia CEO earns prestigious plaudit
Engineers Australia CEO Dr Bronwyn Evans AM has been honoured with the Women in Industry Excellence in Engineering Award at a recent gala dinner in Melbourne. The first woman to graduate from electrical engineering at Wollongong University, Dr Evans was acknowledged as an outstanding engineer and trailblazer in her field. Her career has included stints […]
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International alliance to promote women in cooling
The International Network for Women in Cooling (INWIC) has been launched to advance the engagement of women, promote career opportunities, and increase female participation in the HVAC&R sector. The initiative is led by the World Refrigeration Day (WRD) Secretariat and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction in cooperation with founding partners from around the […]
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ABCB offers new fire protection courses
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has released two courses on fire safety systems and passive fire protection, with discounted registration for a limited time. The ABCB notes that effective fire protection in buildings can save lives, and a good and up-to-date understanding of the National Construction Code (NCC) plays a critical role in this […]
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University to use food waste for heating
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UW-Oshkosh), USA, is planning to install a biogas-powered hot water boiler to generate heat in the coming winter. The university already has a biodigester that generates approximately 8 per cent of the campus’s electricity through capturing methane campus food waste and grass clippings. The school submitted an application last autumn […]
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Breakthrough material for heat storage
Researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the University of Leipzig have developed a new heat storage material that could improve energy efficiency in buildings. The material can both store heat and send it back into the environment as needed. While similar materials exist, this new one is more stable, made from non-harmful substances, […]
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ABC celebrates ‘forgotten’ godfather of refrigeration
Australian refrigeration pioneer James Harrison has featured in an episode of ABC rural affairs program Landline. Ahead of the Scotland-born innovator’s birthday on April 17, the program charted Harrison’s exploits in creating an ice machine in his adopted Victorian home of Geelong in the mid-1800s. Landline also explored reasons for Harrison’s lack of renown given […]
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GBCA releases guide to an all-electric future
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has published a guide that presents a compelling case for moving away from gas in new buildings – and lays out a straightforward method for doing so. Launched at the GBCA’s recent TRANSFORM conference, A Practical Guide to Electrification outlines the steps involved in delivering an all-electric new […]
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Now or never for emissions reduction, says IPCC
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that immediate and deep emissions reductions are required across all sectors to limit global warming to the levels set out in the Paris Agreement. The report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, provides an updated global snapshot of actions and pledges to […]
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Beijer Ref continues expansion in Australia
Beijer Ref has announced the acquisition of two Australian businesses: GMR Supplies and Mackay Air Supplies. GMR Supplies is a refrigeration wholesaler based in Perth, Western Australia. According to Beijer Ref, the company distributes high-quality refrigeration products and provides HVAC&R spare parts to metropolitan and country clients throughout Western Australia. Mackay Air Supplies is an […]
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Budget provides a short-term boost, says AIRAH
AIRAH has welcomed the immediate support provided for industry in the Federal Budget 2022–23, and says the HVAC&R building services industry stands ready to help develop a clear and sustainable long-term vision for Australia. A dominant theme in this year’s Budget has been the need for a stronger workforce. The government has announced a raft […]
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Heat pumps show promise in industrial applications
As heat pump technology grows in popularity across Europe, Australia has also turned its eye towards renewable energy in industrial settings. Commercial businesses such as brewers, pet food producers and food processors are exploring whether thermal storage and heat pumps could help reduce the use of natural gases. ARENA supplied $460,500 in funding to the Australian […]
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Government to extend apprentice wage subsidy
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has targeted trades as a key area for investment ahead of the Federal Budget, by announcing an extension to the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements and Completing Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidies. The end date for the program will now be extended to June 30, 2022. Through the subsidy, businesses that engage an Australian […]
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Compliance crunch coming for fire dampers?
A small note to the schedule of referenced documents in the National Construction Code that is set to activate on May 1 could cause big non-compliance risks with fire dampers, according to some industry sources. The issue relates to the testing standard AS 1530.4 for fire dampers called up in the National Construction Code (NCC). […]
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US government launches National COVID-19 Plan
The US government has released its National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, laying out a roadmap for dealing with the pandemic and getting back to more normal routines. It includes measures such as vaccination, accurate advice on the use of masks and PPE, and ongoing monitoring of the virus, as well as a focus on ventilation. Strong […]
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SA refrigeration mechanic fined for causing burn injuries
A refrigeration mechanic has been fined $33,000 by the South Australia Employment Tribunal (SAET) for unsafe work practices at a food outlet shop, that caused significant burns to himself and the shop owner. Angus Roberts pleaded guilty in the SAET for failing to comply with his duty under section 32 of the Work Health and […]
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Apprentices complete Kirby Scholarship Program
Recently, 10 fourth-year HVAC&R apprentices participated in the first round of the Kirby Apprentice Fund Naturals Training Scholarship Program. The apprentices were selected from across mainland Australia. Kirby Brand and Communications Manager Elizabeth Paparo, Affil.AIRAH, says the scholarship recipients were selected from a large pool of applicants. She says the 10 demonstrated a commitment to […]
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Humidity a major factor in emissions from cooling
Scientists from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Xerox PARC have released a study exploring the environmental impact of controlling humidity. The research first appeared in the journal Joule, titled “Humidity’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions from air conditioning”. While studies on air conditioners and greenhouse gases have been compiled before, this is the […]
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Victoria approves assessment scheme for HVAC&R engineers
The Victorian Business Licensing Authority has approved the AIRAH Professional Engineer Register (APER) program under the Professional Engineers Registration Act 2019. This follows the approval for the APER in Queensland in 2021, and represents the next step of AIRAH’s plan to provide a professional registration scheme for HVAC&R building services engineers across the country. AIRAH […]
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Infrastructure Sustainability Council calls for industry shake-up
Australia’s Infrastructure Sustainability Council has released two new agendas that it hopes will bring the building industry together around a shared vision to address climate change and combat inequality. The first agenda, Advance our nations, fair – world-class infrastructure for thriving nations, explores barriers to world-class infrastructure performance. The second, Place-based approaches to net zero, […]
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New study confirms IAQ benefits of plants
Research teams at the University of Birmingham and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) have recently discovered that indoor plants may be able to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by up to 20 per cent. The team chose to use common houseplants in their research, including peace lilies, corn plants and fern arums. Each plant was placed […]