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Category: News
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NSW confirms professional registration plans
The New South Wales government has taken the next step towards introducing professional registration of engineers and other building practitioners by gazetting the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2021. The regulation includes details on the classes of practitioners who must register, registration pathways and CPD requirements, lodgement of compliance declarations, insurance, and more. From July […]
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Changing the game for residential AC
A new air conditioner with the potential to transform the global residential AC market is set to be unveiled at the Global Cooling Prize Grand Award Ceremony on April 29. It marks the end of an innovation competition that began in 2018, but also the start of a larger effort to drive the air conditioning […]
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New modelling of aerosol movement in HVAC systems
A new Australian study published in the latest issue of Ecolibrium has sought to determine the potential for droplets expelled from people when sneezing or coughing to propagate through a typical HVAC system. “The current pandemic has forced the HVAC community to look closely at the systems we use in buildings,” says co-author and LCI […]
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Whitest ever paint promises cooling benefits
A team of engineers at Purdue University has created the whitest paint in history and says that using it on buildings may help cool them down, reducing the need for air conditioning. The research team created an ultra-white paint last year, but have since improved the formula. Purdue professor of mechanical engineering, Xiulin Ruan, told […]
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ABCB publishes indoor air quality handbook
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has published a handbook to foster a greater understanding of the indoor air quality (IAQ) verification methods in the National Construction Code (NCC) Volumes One and Two. The IAQ verification methods include FV4.1 and FV4.2 (of NCC Volume One) and V2.4.5 of (NCC Volume Two). The handbook is written by […]
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IOR joins Cool Coalition
The Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) has joined the Cool Coalition – a UNEP-led initiative that supports the UN sustainable development goals and Paris Agreement through action on cooling. The move will see the IOR working with other organisations such as the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) and the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment […]
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China and US commit to Kigali Amendment
China and the US have affirmed their joint commitment to phasing down HFCs in line with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The announcement came after two days of talks between US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and China Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua. Chinese president Xi Jinping had earlier […]
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Small businesses score $5m energy saver bonus
The Victorian government has launched the Small Business Energy Saver Program through Sustainability Victoria. The initiative will offer $5 million in bonuses to small businesses across the state to support their transition to a low-cost, energy-efficient business model. Victorian small businesses with 19 full-time employees or fewer can receive up to $2,000 to install energy-efficient […]
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Liquid tribute to James Harrison
A Geelong brewery has launched a new craft beer to celebrate the achievements of Australia’s refrigeration pioneer James Harrison. Harrison’s Rocky Point Dark Lager is a special release from the Southern Bay Brewery. According to general manager Michael Connell, the brew was suggested by the Geelong and Region Branch of the National Trust, which recently […]
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IIR partners with World Bank to set up Bangladesh cold chain
In partnership with British and Bangladeshi universities, the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) has inked a pact with the World Bank to develop a sustainable cold chain in Bangladesh. Named “Technical Assistance on Clean and Energy-Efficient cooling solutions for Livestock Supply Chain,” the project will provide the analytical underpinning to inform the Livestock and Dairy […]
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Victoria’s largest mass timber project reaches completion
Construction on one of Victoria’s largest mass timber projects has been completed, as La Trobe University unveils the new student accommodation at its Bundoora campus. Designed by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects and constructed by Multiplex, the accommodation utilises cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam beams and columns. The project has achieved a 5 Star Green Star Design rating and is […]
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Quarantine restart: What have we learnt?
This week, international travellers began arriving in Melbourne again, and are re-entering Victoria’s revised hotel quarantine facilities. Numbers have been capped at 800 per week and will increase to 1,120 per week on April 15 provided that key recommendations are addressed – including many relating to ventilation. Focus on airborne transmission It has been almost […]
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End of an era at Bitzer for ‘living legend’ Hermann Renz
After more than 50 years with German multinational Bitzer, stalwart Hermann Renz has worked his last day for the Rottenburg-based Teutonic titan. “In five decades and beyond … Hermann Renz has characterised the way in which Bitzer provides technical support and information to its customers,” Bitzer says. “During the years as Director Application Engineering and […]
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David Harrison elected new Property Council president
The Property Council of Australia has a new president: Charter Hall Managing Director and Group CEO, David Harrison. Harrison takes the reins of the industry association from JLL CEO Australia and New Zealand Stephen Conry AM, who has concluded his two-year term. GPT Group CEO Bob Johnston and Brookfield’s Sophie Fallman have both been elected […]
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Organic material holds promise for HVAC technology
A new study by researchers at Texas A&M University has found an organic material called polyimide that could bring down the cost of cooling air. Traditional heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems use a large amount of energy, and cost thousands of dollars to run – particularly in commercial buildings. However, the researchers believe […]
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New HVAC&R Technical Handbook released
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has released the sixth edition of its Technical Handbook. The Technical Handbook was first published in May 1989, and has a long history as a “go-to resource” for those working in the HVAC&R industry. Over the years, AIRAH members have helped develop, review, and curate […]
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EIA and shecco publish Cooling Product List
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and natural refrigerants advocate shecco have teamed up to produce a consumer guide titled Pathway to Net-Zero: Cooling Product List. The EIA says the guide is aimed at helping companies cut their collective carbon footprint by providing a selection of products across all major cooling sectors, with a focus on […]
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ASHRAE issues ‘unequivocal’ COVID advice
The ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force has released an updated, unequivocal statement on the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) in buildings. “Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is significant and should be controlled,” says the statement. “Changes to building operations, including the operation of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems, can reduce airborne exposures.” […]
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New electric motor attracts big-name investors
Question: What do Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Hollywood actor Robert Downey Jr have in common? Both are investing in Turntide Technologies, a Silicon Valley start-up that is developing an energy-efficient electric motor. Turntide Technologies says it has completed an US$80m (A$105m) funding round that was led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, the clean-tech fund […]
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Trade licences to go digital in NSW
The NSW government has announced it will add trade licences to the digital wallet within the Service NSW app. According to a NSW Fair Trading spokesperson, the general construction induction “White Card” is the first category to go live as a Digital Trade Licence, followed by a range of other categories including Home Building contractors, […]