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Category: News
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An engineering adventure
ASHRAE has published its first children’s picture book, developed by the ASHRAE Student Activities Committee to promote careers in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) and in engineering. Titled Lucy’s Engineering Adventure, the book introduces children to the concepts behind HVAC&R and the built environment. It follows Lucy on her journey through an unfinished […]
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ARC welcomes guidelines for managing emissions
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has applauded the release of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria’s draft guidelines for managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for public consultation. “EPA Victoria’s release of these draft guidelines demonstrates a growing emphasis on the role we all play in the protection of our environment and broader community health from […]
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Does R134a alternative hold promise for Australia?
US refrigerant manufacturer Koura has launched R456A, an alternative to R134a for automotive aftermarket applications. R456A has a global warming potential of 626 – about half that of R134a. According to Koura, trials have shown R456A to be compatible with existing R134a automotive air conditioning systems while maintaining “high-quality, efficient performance”. The development comes as […]
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New training on the way for smoke control features
A new project is under way to develop training materials for assessing and reporting on smoke control features of mechanical services systems. Release 3.0 of the UEE electrotechnology training package includes a unit to cover the installation and maintenance of smoke control equipment, including fire dampers, smoke dampers, smoke and heat vents, and mechanical services […]
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IOR releases refrigerant selection guide
The Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) has released a new Guidance Note, a guide to refrigeration selection. The guide aims to provide an overview of the critical points that should be considered in selecting refrigerants. The IOR says the guide, which it refers to as Guidance Note 37, will be of particular interest to equipment owners, […]
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Global survey on women in HVAC&R
The international Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) and UNEP OzonAction have launched the first global survey on women in HVAC&R. “In recent years, the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps sector has been paying increasing attention to the importance of gender mainstreaming and providing equal opportunities for both women and men,” says IIR Director General Didier […]
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Jelly ice cubes take the cake
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, USA, have developed a new type of cooling ice cube that doesn’t melt. The researchers believe the “jelly ice cubes” could revolutionise how food is kept cold and shipped without relying on ice or traditional cooling packs. The cubes are compostable and anti-microbial, and prevent cross-contamination. Professor in […]
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Steps to improve fire safety in NSW
The NSW government has released a report that provides recommendations on how to improve fire safety in new and existing buildings. The project was commissioned by the Office of the Building Commissioner to draw upon specialist industry expertise to identify practical measures the NSW government could take to help improve fire safety in class 2 […]
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Fixing Australia’s billion-dollar defect problem
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has released a series of best-practice model guidance publications in response to the Building Confidence Report. At the request of building ministers, the ABCB prepared model guidance in response to the recommendations of the Building Confidence Report (BCR), which examined the effectiveness of compliance and enforcement systems for the […]
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WELL booming in Asia-Pacific region
As the pandemic heads into its third year, the Asia-Pacific region has increasingly adopted WELL programs. The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) recently highlighted the exponential growth as it crossed the 300 million square metre mark of spaces enrolled in WELL programs. IWBI reports that nearly 80 million square metres of real estate are applying […]
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A.G. Coombs Group aims for net zero by 2030
The A.G. Coombs Group has committed to a clear net zero goal: Scope 1 and Scope 2 operational emissions by 2030. The building services specialist will work with its value chain, industry partners and customers to achieve net zero Scope 3 emissions by 2040. “Climate change is the most critical challenge facing the world today,” […]
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Penrith Council shares strategies for urban heat
Penrith Council in Sydney has developed an issues paper to advocate for changes to be made to the state planning system. The aim is to ensure that all new developments across Western Sydney are designed to be adaptive to urban heat in both current and future climates. The council began developing the issues paper after […]
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National review of engineering education
The Australian Council of Engineering Deans (ACED) has released the results of a recent study as part of the Engineering 2035 Project, a national review of engineering education. The Engineering 2035 Project explores the practices and methods used for educating professional engineering students, and makes recommendations on how educators and universities can move forward. Approximately […]
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Migrating engineers could solve skills shortage
A study by Engineers Australia, titled Barriers to Employment for Skilled Migrant Engineers, has found migrants may be the key to filling the skills shortage in the industry. The study reveals that while migrants account for almost two thirds of qualified engineers in Australia, 47 per cent of are unemployed and struggling to find a […]
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Victoria sets new mark with COVID-19 ventilation guide
The Victorian Department of Health has published guidelines on ventilation principles and strategies to reduce aerosol transmission of COVID-19. With the release of the document, the Victorian government has gone further than other jurisdictions in providing detailed information and advice on the subject of COVID-19 and ventilation. The state is still recording a high number […]
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Government must lead the way on energy efficiency
A new guide, Best practice for energy management in government operations, provides advice to help governments put in place policies and programs that will drive systematic energy performance improvements in their own operations. The guide has been developed by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC), the Green Building Council […]
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AIRAH releases inaugural Resilience Checklist
AIRAH has released the inaugural version of its AIRAH Resilience Checklist. A resource aimed at improving the resilience of the built environment, the checklist provides considerable information on how buildings can be made more resilient in order to survive a world impacted by climate change. “The 2021 IPCC climate change report highlighted that Australia will […]
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Green walls reduce heat loss by more than 30%
A study conducted at the University of Plymouth, UK, has revealed retrofitting existing building walls with a living wall could reduce heat loss by more than 30 per cent. The researchers retrofitted a green wall at the university on a pre-1970s building, and monitored the differences in heat lost between the retrofitted wall and a normal […]
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RAC apprentice wins tradeswoman of the year award
TAFE Queensland refrigeration and air conditioning apprentice Natasha Kirchner has been chosen as the Construction Skills Queensland Tradeswoman of the Year at the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Awards in Brisbane. Held annually, the NAWIC Awards showcase the achievements and industry advancements of women, men and organisations in the construction industry. A third-year […]
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New program to build diversity of STEM workforce
The STEMAZING Inspiration Academy in conjunction with World Refrigeration Day is opening up spaces for women from the Asia-Pacific region to participate in its program. The STEMAZING initiative is aimed at building the diversity of the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) workforce. “To tackle our current and future global challenges we need a bigger, […]