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Category: News
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Refrigerant report underlines need for further efforts
The latest Cold Hard Facts report, just released, confirms that Australia has now very likely passed “peak bank” in terms of both total volume of refrigerant and its GWP value. But it also highlights segments of the refrigerant market that may require more attention, and the need for ongoing effort to restrict emissions. Since 2007, […]
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Breakthrough building materials moderate temperature
A research team from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has developed innovative materials that can moderate building temperatures. Designed by Scientia Professor Mat Santamouris (Anita Lawrence Chair High in Performance Architecture at the School of Built Environment, UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture), the new materials adjust the optical properties in conventional coatings for buildings. The design […]
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Government offers ventilation vouchers
As the Victorian government announces a relaxing of rules for mask wearing, it has also unveiled a stimulus package to support businesses and entice people back into venues and workplaces. Although the incentives for dining, entertainment and travel have been offered before, this time there is new funding aimed specifically at ventilation. A $60 million […]
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A new imperative for industrial IOT at scale
Although 96 per cent of international businesses believe digitalisation is “essential to sustainability,” just 35 per cent have implemented industrial IoT solutions at scale. This is one of the major findings of a new global study of international business and technology leaders on industrial transformation, looking at the intersection of digitalisation and sustainability. Commissioned by ABB, […]
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Scholarships in sustainable leadership
The Institute for Sustainable Leadership is offering 10 scholarships in support of International Women’s Day. The 50 per cent fee scholarships are available to organisations within the design and construction industry, and are open to all applicants, irrespective of gender. The Foundations in Sustainable Leadership course teaches participants to apply sustainable leadership practices to achieve […]
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Air quality protocol under development at QUT
International air quality expert Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska, in liaison with facilities management at QUT, is developing a protocol to undertake air quality auditing within the university’s facilities. Prof. Morawska says the assessment aims to ensure excellent air quality, which would ensure a lower risk of infection of airborne viruses including COVID-19, as well as […]
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World Refrigeration Day announces 2022 theme
At a session held during the 2022 AHR Expo in Las Vegas, World Refrigeration Day founder Steve Gill announced the theme for 2022: Cooling matters. Held annually on June 26 – the birthday of Lord Kelvin – World Refrigeration Day is an international initiative that raises awareness of the benefits of cooling. It also aims […]
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Grants up for grabs for plumbers and gas fitters
Rheem Australia is encouraging Australian apprentice plumbers and gas fitters to apply for a share of $30,000 in grants available from the 2022 Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grants scheme. Ten apprentice plumbers from around the country will receive a grant of $3,000 to support their studies and help launch their plumbing career. “This year marks a […]
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Carrier Acquires Systemax Australia
Carrier has acquired Systemax Pty Ltd, an independent Automated Logic controls contractor operating in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and in Papua New Guinea. The acquisition expands Carrier’s global footprint in building automation and controls in the region. Systemax will operate as part of BMS provider Automated Logic, which is itself a part of Carrier Global […]
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People power raising awareness of CO2 levels
Since the beginning of the pandemic and the confirmation that airborne transmission is the main pathway for spreading the COVID-19, much attention has been focused on improving air quality through better ventilation. And while governments have struggled to provide guidance and leadership, one group of citizens has taken it upon themselves to address the problem […]
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Open access to ASHRAE-UNEP eLearning modules
Access is now available to three HVAC&R eLearning modules and various other free resources through the ASHRAE-UNEP Portal. The Refrigerants Literacy module offers a basic understanding about refrigerants types, policies, classifications and management practices. It is aimed at non specialists in the field, such as facility managers, policy makers, and other individuals who are involved […]
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AIRAH launches IAQ Assembly
AIRAH has launched the IAQ Assembly, a free suite of videos, guides and articles that reflect the latest thinking on indoor air quality and preventing the airborne spread of COVID-19. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, and particularly since the recognition of the critical role of airborne transmission, AIRAH has been curating resources about how […]
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ABCB farewells Neil Savery
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has thanked Neil Savery for his contributions as he ends his term as CEO. Savery’s connection with the ABCB began during his time as Executive Director of Planning SA, the Chief Planning Executive of the ACT Planning and Land Authority, and as the Deputy Victorian Building Commissioner. In these […]
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Future shines bright for AIRAH Awards leadership hopefuls
The AIRAH Awards 2021 winners will be revealed at three-course gala dinner slated for Thursday, February 17 in Sydney. Three finalists are competing for the coveted Future Leader gong, which is sponsored by A.G. Coombs. The finalists are Alyce Wilson, Affil.AIRAH; Iain Stewart, Affil.AIRAH; and Malik Muhammad Awais, Affil.AIRAH. The trio of tyros are pictured […]
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Winners of the 2022 AHR Expo Innovation Awards
After the forced cancellation of the 2021 event, the 2022 AHR Expo returned this year at Las Vegas. One of the largest HVAC&R shows in the world, it featured more than 1,600 exhibitors, covering 42,447 m2 of exhibitor space. One of the highlights of the show is the announcement of the AHR Expo Innovation Awards […]
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Beyond the business case for sustainable buildings
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has released a report that lays out a value proposition to drive investment in a sustainable built environment. Beyond the Business Case, launched at COP26, aims to provide a timely and unique perspective for decision-makers to accelerate the industry’s sustainability transformation by capitalising on the economic opportunities, addressing risk […]
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Australian aerosol tests offer COVID-19 insights
In an Australian first, aerosol tests have been conducted to evaluate the impact of ventilation using a breathing thermal manikin. The results confirm the importance of fresh air in dispersing aerosols, highlight the role that airflows play in aerosol transmission, and raise questions about the effectiveness of a 1.5m social distancing rule indoors. The team […]
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Heat transfer discovery reveals potential for ice
Researchers at Virginia Tech, USA, have made a heat transfer discovery that expands on a phenomenon discovered more than two centuries ago and points to potential new uses for ice. Associate Professor Jonathan Boreyko and graduate fellow Mojtaba Edalatpour worked together to expand on the Leidenfrost effect, named after the German doctor and theologian who wrote a paper […]
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Smart windows to reflect or harvest heat
New research from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Oxford proposes a new “smart window” design. The design for the versatile window proposes harvesting the sun’s energy in the winter for warming and reflecting it in the summer to help keep it cool. “The major innovation is that these windows can change according […]
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Demand for RAC skills to rise, says STC
Since the start of the COVID pandemic, the entire HVAC&R industry has had to adapt to keep working. For those in the training sector, that has proved especially difficult. Robert Parsonson is General Manager of Superior Training Centre (STC), based in Sydney. He says conditions in 2021 were nothing if not challenging. “Trade courses normally […]