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Category: News
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How will you celebrate World Refrigeration Day?
World Refrigeration Day, celebrated on June 26, is an international awareness campaign established to raise the profile of HVAC&R. It focuses attention on the significant role that the industry and its technology play in modern life and society. It also draws attention to engineering and science that is all around us every day. As the […]
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City of Sydney proposes energy targets for development applications
In an Australian-first plan, the City of Sydney is considering mandatory energy target requirements for building development applications. Should the council proceed, development applications would have to comply with minimum energy performance standards. Summarised in a report, Performance standards to net zero energy buildings, the proposal requires applications to comply with minimum energy ratings from […]
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Suppliers sought for home heating and cooling program
The Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is inviting HVAC&R companies to express their interest in becoming registered suppliers for the Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades program. The Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades (HHCU) program has the goal of helping 250,000 low-income and vulnerable households improve their thermal comfort by offering rebates […]
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A cool career move for Woolworths manager
Geoffrey Craggs is proving it’s never too late to follow your passions, after switching roles from a duty manager to an apprentice refrigeration technician within the Woolworths Food Group. Craggs migrated to Australia from Belgium in 2012, and is now settled in Rockdale, Sydney. After working as a duty manager for nine years he wanted […]
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Researchers sound further warnings about HFOs
A new report from the German Environment Agency, and research from the University of New South Wales have raised more concerns about the environmental impacts of HFO refrigerants. When hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were identified as greenhouse gases, and targeted for phase-down under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) were put forward as an […]
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Concerns grow over IAQ in Australian schools
A recent RMIT research project has highlighted the poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in some Victorian classrooms, and added to concerns around ventilation in Australian schools in general. Given their developmental stage and the amount of time they spend in the classroom, school children are particularly vulnerable to poor air quality. According to the report, […]
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AIRAH calls for industry to unite at Census time
As part of its World Refrigeration Day 2021 celebrations on June 26, the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) is calling on those involved in HVAC&R to highlight this vital sector in their response to the 2021 Census of Australia. The Census takes place Tuesday, August 10. AIRAH is rallying its members […]
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Queensland will adopt licensing reforms when “fully ready”
The Queensland government has indicated it will be working with the Commonwealth to resolve issues around automatic mutual recognition before adopting the reforms, due to take effect on July 1 around Australia. “The Queensland government is supportive of improving occupational mobility to support economic recovery, but not at any cost,” says the government. “It is […]
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New comprehensive guide to refrigeration
Fundamentals of Refrigeration is a new manual published by Volker Stamer, Director of the international Bitzer training centre Schaufler Academy. According to Bitzer, the text is a comprehensive guide to refrigeration, with a wealth of basic information aimed at new entrants to the industry, and extensive reference material that will serve experienced refrigeration technicians. “The […]
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Dr Bronwyn Evans honoured in Queen’s Birthday list
Engineers Australia CEO Dr Bronwyn Evans has been appointed as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) for significant service to engineering, to standards and to medical technology. As well as possessing a background in electrical engineering, Dr Evans has been an important figure for promoting the engineering sector and mentoring young […]
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Monash University inks MoU with Engie to accelerate Net Zero Initiative
Monash University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with global energy company Engie. The two organisations will explore opportunities to co-develop scalable zero-carbon solutions that accelerate the implementation of Monash’s Net Zero Initiative, winner of the 2018 United Nations “Momentum for Change Award”. As part of its broader scope, the collaboration to be developed […]
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ARBS Foundation publishes new research on chilled beams
The ARBS Education and Research Foundation and Team Catalyst have published a detailed study of active chilled beam systems that they say offers “groundbreaking findings”. Funding was provided to Team Catalyst to research active chilled beam systems and to compare the performance of two chilled water plant configurations: Standard using chilled water plant of multiple […]
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Purpose-built quarantine facilities a must for every state
Australian governments must construct purpose-built COVID-19 quarantine facilities in every state regardless of the nation’s progress with vaccinations. So argues leading epidemiologist at UNSW Sydney, Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, who says the buildings could be constructed relatively quickly and cheaply as modular structures using prefabricated components. Although the federal government has now agreed to fund a […]
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Alfa Laval publishes white paper on sustainable refrigerants
Heat transfer specialist Alfa Laval has published a white paper offering guidance on selecting and accommodating refrigerants for diverse heating and cooling applications. The document, titled Navigating a changing refrigerants market, was developed by the company as a response to customers seeking guidance when choosing from the growing range of new refrigerants generally, and natural […]
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To infinity and refrigeration
A team of engineers from Purdue University, Air Squared Inc and Whirlpool Corporation are collaborating to build a refrigerator for astronauts that works in zero gravity – and upside down. The team ran tests last month on their fridge design at the Zero Gravity Corporation’s (ZERO-G) weightless research lab. The unique testing centre allowed them to test the […]
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Greenstar achieves carbon neutral certification
Although the HVAC&R industry has often shown its power to reduce emissions through innovative net zero projects and technology, there are fewer examples of companies that have taken on the challenge themselves as organisations. Perth-based HVAC and electrical firm Greenstar has now done this by earning carbon neutral certification through Climate Active. Climate Active is […]
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Energy Efficiency Council names Dr Mary Stewart new President
Dr Mary Stewart has been named President of the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC). She replaces Professor Tony Arnel, who stepped down after six years. A recognised expert in sustainable development, Dr Stewart is a trained chemical engineer, and CEO of energy and climate risk advisory firm Energetics. “It is a great honour to take the […]
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Why is R404A still a go-to option in Australia?
Despite its tag as an “outgoing” refrigerant in the HFC phase-down, there are signs that R404A remains a go-to option for key sectors of Australia’s HVAC&R industry. According to experts, pressure from end-users for low first-cost and straightforward, low-risk solutions, and a lack of incentives to move to new technologies have made R404A an ongoing […]
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IIR develops model to calculate cold chain CO2 emissions
The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) has developed a model to calculate the CO2 emissions for each stage of the cold chain and for all countries in the world. Explained in the IIR’s latest Informatory Note, the model allows comparisons between the CO2 emissions associated with the current and “improved” versions of the global cold chain. According to […]
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Using waste heat to power a sustainable future
Future turbine optimisation could mean considerably more efficient use of waste heat from the manufacturing industry, and in so doing reduce its environmental footprint. That’s the finding by City University of London’s Dr Martin White, whose research appears in Applied Thermal Engineering. The research explores a novel organic Rankine cycle system, based on a two-phase […]