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Category: News
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The 2021 State of the Industry Report
The International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) has released its 2021 State of the Industry Report, which provides information on important topics in the natural refrigeration industry. The report summarises data from the IIAR’s annual State of the Industry Report Survey. It examines the use of ammonia as a refrigerant, and includes information on emerging […]
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Call for submissions to bench-test RAC equipment
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is seeking responses through an open tender process to bench-test a selection of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. The testing will aim to capture increased energy used on new or “as new” equipment when operating with a selection of preventable common faults. The government says that the […]
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Paul Bannister awarded James Harrison Medal
AIRAH has named Paul Bannister, F.AIRAH, as the 2021 winner of the James Harrison Medal for notable achievements in the Australian HVAC&R industry. Over his career, Bannister has focused on improving energy efficiency in buildings, especially energy related to HVAC. Bannister was heavily involved in the development of the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating System, which […]
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Tradies travelling north for work
The latest licence statistics from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) indicate that a high number of trades have crossed the border over the past 18 months. According to the QBCC, the jump in licensee numbers is the biggest in more than five years. The number of tradies moving from New South Wales and […]
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ASBEC names Alison Scotland as new Executive Director
The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has appointed Alison Scotland as the organisation’s new Executive Director, effective from November 1. Scotland has been Interim Executive Director for the past four months. ASBEC President, Ken Maher, has welcomed Scotland’s appointment, saying it marks the beginning of a new chapter for the organisation. “The board is […]
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Home heating and cooling program ramps up
Victoria’s Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades (HHCU) program is expanding to include landlords and renters, and is looking for suppliers to join the program. The program offers rebates to replace gas, electric and wood heaters with reverse-cycle split systems in low-income and vulnerable households. It plans to reach 250,000 households over the next three years, […]
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Embracing renewable energy could reduce emissions
Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) are exploring new ways to reduce energy consumption while still keeping homes cool. Dr Mohammad Al Hashmi from UBC Okanagan has been using data from Saudi Arabia to develop an operational framework that cools homes with minimal environmental impacts. He believes rapid population growth has led to […]
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A-Gas appoints Jack Govers as CEO
After an extensive global search, Jack Govers has been named Chief Executive Officer of refrigerant titan, the A-Gas Group. Govers will lead A-Gas’ plans for growth, sustainability and operational business excellence. “I am joining A-Gas at an exciting time for the business as it continues on its environmental journey and plans for growth into new […]
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NSW Health issues Legionella warning as state reopens
NSW Health is reminding building owners, occupiers, and the water treatment industry of their responsibility to ensure that cooling water systems are maintained effectively in accordance with the Public Health Regulation 2012. “Businesses reopening their premises during the easing of COVID-19 restrictions should pay particular attention to ensuring their cooling water system servicing regimen is […]
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Energy experts urge Australia to ‘electrify everything’
A report released by Rewiring Australia, a new energy think tank, shows that Australian households could vastly reduce their energy bills through electrification, and cut domestic emissions by around one-third by 2030. Rewiring Australia’s inaugural report, Castles and Cars: savings in the suburbs through electrifying everything presents new modelling, which shows electrification will save the […]
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Study identifies potential game-changer for UV
New research has highlighted the effectiveness of a specific wavelength of UV light in limiting the spread of COVID-19 without harming humans. According to the team at University of Colorado Boulder, the study is the first to comprehensively analyse the effects of different wavelengths of UV light on SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses. Researchers also […]
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FairAir gets a new look
AIRAH has released a new and improved version of its website FairAir, offering independent advice for residential air conditioning. Already well known within the industry, and referenced by consumer groups such as CHOICE, FairAir has been revamped and updated to support residents and HVAC&R technicians in selecting suitable equipment for residential cooling and heating. AIRAH […]
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Report calls for better measures of energy sector
A new report produced by RACE for 2030 says Australia and the world need a new approach to counting employment in the energy sector. It calls for a single coordinated survey of the entire energy industry, from energy production to use, and sets out a detailed research roadmap for measuring and developing employment in the […]
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Global pressures force up refrigerant prices
A perfect storm of international forces may cause significant rises in the price of refrigerants in Australia. The first of these pressures is the US HFC phase-down, set to begin on January 1, 2022. As occurred in other markets around the world, importers and users are stocking up before restrictions begin, leading to increased demand. […]
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Nightclub to reuse body heat to warm and cool
A Glasgow dance club and arts venue is implementing a geothermal heat pump system designed to store and reuse body heat from its patrons. A retrofit ahead of COP26 will see the venue, SWG3, implement a geothermal heat-pump system known as Bodyheat. The system is designed to suck up the heat generated by thousands of […]
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New WHO air quality guidelines could save millions of lives
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidelines for air quality in recognition of the damage air pollution inflicts on human health, at even lower concentrations than previously understood. The guidelines set maximum levels for a range of pollutants: particulate matter (as PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. They […]
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US set to cut HFCs
The Biden administration has announced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will release a new rule to reduce the emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 85 per cent over 15 years. The move, signalled earlier this year, will bring the USA in line with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which has now been ratified by […]
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Peak bodies call for government-endorsed guidance
A coalition of nine industry peak bodies has called for the development of credible, government-endorsed, public information regarding the airborne transmission of COVID-19 and the importance of indoor air quality. A letter addressed to the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, has been signed by the Association of Consulting Architects, the Australian Institute […]
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APER opens new road to professional registration
The Queensland government has approved the AIRAH Professional Engineer Register (APER) program under its Professional Engineers Act 2002. This opens a dedicated pathway for engineers working in HVAC&R and building services to be assessed and secure Registered Professional Engineer Qld (RPEQ) status. The announcement comes as states and territories roll out professional registration schemes in […]
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Victoria invests big in school ventilation
The Victorian government has announced it will invest more than $190 million in initiatives to support a COVID-safe reopening of schools, with a focus on ventilation. Billed by the government as “the biggest investment in education ventilation in Australian history”, the initiative will see 51,000 air purification devices rolled out to all government and low-fee […]