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Category: News
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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 […]
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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 […]