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Category: News
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Exposing hidden emissions in embodied carbon
A new report warns that embodied carbon could become a primary source of built environment emissions unless Australia acts now. Embodied Carbon & Embodied Energy in Australia’s Buildings was developed by the GBCA and thinkstep-anz with support from the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. It says that without action, embodied carbon […]
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R U OK? launches Tradies Tools to Talk
R U OK? has released a resource called “Tradies Tools to Talk”, to help people understand when tradespeople might be struggling. The initiative has been launched ahead of R U OK? Day 2021, on September 9. Trades workers and technicians make up more than 13 per cent of the Australian workforce, with men filling 84 […]
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ARC digs deep to promote refrigerant safety in mines
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has developed a booklet and wall chart highlighting the benefits of preventative maintenance and leak detection for mobile air conditioning in the mining sector. “Regular servicing, maintenance and repairs to mobile air conditioning systems are critical in ensuring minimum downtime of mine site vehicles and optimisation of air conditioning performance […]
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Climate report a call to action for engineers
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its latest in a series of assessment reports on the state of the planet’s climate. The report concluded that the world cannot avoid some of the devastating impacts of climate change. These are inevitable. Yet it also said there is still a narrow window to keep […]
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Focus on fire safety in new DAs
AIRAH is releasing two Design Application (DA) manuals that focus on fire, smoke, and (smoke exhaust) air dampers within the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. The DA manuals are titled DA05 Guide to Fire and Smoke Control in Buildings using AS 1668 Part 1, and DA06 Guide to Fire, Smoke and Air Dampers […]
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Shape-memory alloy could replace HFCs
A small company in Ireland has developed a new type of air conditioning system that could negate the need for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Researchers at Exergyn, based in Dublin, worked in secret collaboration with another company – believed to be Carrier – for two years on the project. The system uses a shape-memory alloy (SMA) called […]
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Improving refrigerant recovery from split systems
A new report from Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) has highlighted the concerning volume of refrigerant lost when split systems reach end of life in Australia. It estimates that each year, hundreds of tonnes of refrigerant are not being reclaimed. Factoring in the global warming potential of the gases, this could equate to more than a […]
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Victoria rolling out heating upgrades to 250,000 homes
The Victorian government has initiated the next major stage of its program to help low-income households replace old heaters with energy-efficient reverse-cycle systems. The Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades Program will help 250,000 low-income and vulnerable households improve their thermal comfort by offering rebates to upgrade gas, electric and wood heaters with energy-efficient reverse-cycle split […]
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Gradient CEO reveals details of new AC
In recent years, especially in Australia, split systems have become the default appliance for home air conditioning, displacing the once ubiquitous “window rattlers”. Now, US company Gradient has reinvented the classic design and is offering a sleeker and more sustainable solution. Gradient hopes its new system – created by thermal scientists, engineers and executives from […]
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When refrigeration meets quantum physics
An international team of researchers has created a new cooling concept by combining thermodynamics with quantum theory. The team – consisting of researchers from TU Wien, in collaboration with FU Berlin, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and the University of Lisbon – have discovered quantum effects can be used to cool a cloud of ultra-cold […]
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Australia’s first zero emissions leisure and aquatic centre announced
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has allocated up to $1.53 million in funding for Brimbank City Council’s mooted zero emissions indoor leisure and aquatic centre. To be located in Melbourne’s west and making use of an $8.1 million integrated energy system, the facility will be an Australian first. The aquatic centre is part of […]
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ABCB launches new website
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has launched a new website. It forms part of a larger effort to develop a more user-friendly online NCC, and provides access to a refreshed suite of digital products that the ABCB says delivers “a tailored and more engaging experience”. The site design was informed by stakeholder consultation. It […]
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Winding road ahead for mobile air conditioning
While the HVAC&R sector tends to focus on the built environment, mobile air conditioning represents a significant portion of Australia’s refrigerant bank – and poses serious challenges as we look to phase down HFCs. The most recent Cold Hard Facts report indicates that mobile air conditioning comprises more than 20 per cent of Australia’s total […]
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500 Collins Street achieves Platinum WELL certification
The Melbourne CBD office tower at 500 Collins Street has become the first existing building in Australia to earn WELL Certification at the Platinum level, the International WELL Building Institute’s highest rating. Completed in 1973, 500 Collins Street is a 26-storey tower featuring approximately 26,000m2 of net lettable area comprising an office tower with a […]
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The most significant change in NCC 2022?
Although the 2022 edition of the National Construction Code is still at draft stage, one of the biggest changes is already confirmed: a new look with improved useability. This will apply across all three volumes of the NCC: Volume 1 (Class 2 to 9 buildings); Volume 2 (Class 1 and 10 buildings); and Volume 3 […]
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New guide offers insight on moisture management
Pro Clima has released a book that explores a variety of construction systems, to help inform and guide simulations of the combined heat and moisture transport of residential and commercial façades. It also takes into account natural environmental impacts on the building envelope. The Blue Book is authored by Pro Clima’s building science manager Jesse […]
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Kirby Apprentice Fund celebrates second birthday
The Kirby Apprentice Fund is celebrating its second anniversary with the announcement of training scholarships to promote the use of natural refrigerants. The Naturals Training Scholarships will be available to fourth-year apprentices registered in the Kirby Apprentice Fund who want to further their trade knowledge with an understanding of natural refrigerants. The scholarship will facilitate […]
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New design guide supports building reform in NSW
To support the recent NSW Building Confidence reforms, Consult Australia, Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Architects have developed the Guide for Design Practitioners and Engineers. The guide is designed to be a practical resource that highlights key issues relevant to contracts and professional indemnity (PI) insurance relating to the recent legislative and regulatory […]
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Autonomous drones to sniff out refrigerant leaks
Researchers at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have developed a swarm of tiny drones that can autonomously detect and localise gas sources in cluttered indoor environments. One of the key challenges the researchers faced was the minimal processing capacity of the drones. They overcame this by using bio-inspired navigation and search strategies. […]
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New controls proposed for HFCs and HFOs
Five European countries have proposed new legislation that could see HFCs and HFOs classed as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – and covered by tighter regulations. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals that are very persistent in the environment and the human body. They do not break down, and can accumulate over time. They […]