Page 53
Category: News
-
How does climate change affect building codes?
The Global Resiliency Dialogue has released a report about the current integration of climate data and assessment of extreme weather events in building codes around the world. The group is composed of international industry organisations including the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), the National Research Council of Canada, the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and […]
-
Sustainable Starbucks built in six days
Starbucks Canada is opening the first sustainably constructed Starbucks drive-thru store in Abbotsford, Canada. The store was constructed in just six days with near-zero construction waste. It is also designed to reduce energy needs for heating and cooling compared to standard construction builds. Starbucks worked with Vancouver-based green building company, Nexii Building Solutions, to construct […]
-
Supermarket refrigerant leaks caught on camera
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has released the details of an investigation into refrigerant leakage in US supermarkets. The project, aimed at raising mainstream awareness of refrigerant management issues, is titled “Leaking Havoc” – and the results are indeed alarming. EIA investigated dozens of supermarkets in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland using portable […]
-
Body heat powers new wearable device
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a new wearable device that harvests energy from the wearer’s own body heat. Using an elastic material, the device can be worn like a ring, bracelet or any accessory that makes direct contact with your skin. It employs thermoelectric generators to convert the body’s internal temperature […]
-
Condair shares advice on making buildings healthier
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a rethink on the risks posed by viral transmission in buildings. Fresh air, temperature, minimum relative humidity and even sunlight are gaining greater attention as factors that can control the spread of viruses. Humidity specialist Condair has released a white paper entitled “Making buildings healthier” that provides an overview of […]
-
Umow Lai fully integrates into Integral Group
Umow Lai’s Melbourne practice has taken the final step in joining the Integral Group brand. With the Sydney and Brisbane offices of Umow Lai having already been absorbed into the global operation, the rebranding of the erstwhile Victorian Umow Lai office – its national HQ – means the organisation previously known as Umow Lai will […]
-
South Australia opens new ‘medi-hotel’ for COVID cases
International travellers in South Australia who test positive for COVID-19 infection are now being transferred to a hotel quarantine facility with upgraded ventilation systems and processes. The 72-bed Tom’s Court hotel in Adelaide’s CBD will mainly house new international arrivals, but rooms will also be available should there be any further cases of community transmission […]
-
Hotel quarantine outbreaks prompt ventilation review
The Victorian government is conducting a review of hotel ventilation and air conditioning systems amid an increase in COVID-19 cases linked to quarantine. The situation has raised further concerns about the suitability of hotels as quarantine facilities, and the role of airborne transmission in spreading the virus. The Australian hotel quarantine system has registered outbreaks […]
-
Draft training units on VRF and fire and smoke control
New training units have been drafted for the electrotechnology training package and are open for comment. The two new units cover variable refrigerant flow (VRF) AC systems, and emergency lighting and alarm systems/fire and smoke control systems. Both will be included as an elective in Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration. The new unit of […]
-
ARC applauds world’s ‘greatest repair job’
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has highlighted the impact of the Montreal Protocol – and the work of refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) technicians in protecting the ozone layer and the environment. The Montreal Protocol is an international environmental agreement between 197 countries to phase out refrigerants and other substances that deplete the ozone layer. […]
-
UK government confirms 2025 gas boiler ban
The UK government has confirmed a ban on fossil fuel heating systems such as natural gas boilers from new homes by 2025. The ban follows a response to an initial consultation on the Future Homes Standard, which was proposed as a green standard for new build homes. The response sets out broad proposals for ensuring […]
-
Important advance in harnessing waste heat
Scientists at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Tōhoku University in Japan have successfully increased the electrical power per footprint of thermomagnetic generators. Scientists have long been trying to find ways to harness waste heat. Recently, there was increased interest in finding new thermoelectric materials. Many technical processes unintentionally release unused heat into the environment, […]
-
Discrimination in the construction industry
A new report has revealed that women working in trades and semi-skilled roles in construction experience high rates of discrimination. The Victorian government commissioned the report from RMIT as part of its Women in Construction Strategy, which aims to increase participation of women in the construction industry. The study found that women perceive a lack of acceptance […]
-
ASHRAE presents to congressional hearing on COVID-19 safety
US engineering body ASHRAE has provided witness testimony in a congressional hearing on COVID-19 risks and response in transportation systems. Titled “Protecting Transportation Workers and Passengers from COVID: Gaps in Safety, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps,” the hearing examined COVID-19 safety gaps in the protection of US transportation workers and passengers. “Protecting the transportation workforce […]
-
REHVA launches online COVID-19 course
The Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA) has launched an online course for the safe operation of buildings and HVAC systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The online course takes around 8 hours to complete and covers key topics on how to resume activities, safely operate buildings, and use densely occupied indoor […]
-
Vale ozone pioneer Paul Crutzen
Dutch scientist Paul J. Crutzen, who earned the Nobel Prize for chemistry for his work understanding the hole in the ozone layer, has died. Credited with coining the term “Anthropocene” to describe the geological era shaped by humankind and its impact on climate change, Crutzen died on January 28. He was 87. Crutzen was the […]
-
Design competition looks at adapting empty buildings
An Australian design competition based around tackling major issues facing the construction sector has issued a new challenge this year: adapt and reconfigure empty buildings. Established in 2020, the Fleetwood Challenge Cup is an inter-university, cross-disciplinary team competition which aim is to uncover the next generation of built environment professionals. The competition is developed by […]
-
Young Aussies tackle sustainable living
The Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), in partnership with Orica, has developed a remote learning module that focuses on sustainable housing. The module was designed for the STELR (Science and Technology Education Leveraging Relevance) education program and teaches secondary school students to design a low-energy home. ATSE Chief Executive, Kylie Walker, says the sustainable housing education kit is […]
-
National search for engineering and technology champions
The International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) has established two annual communications prizes to find compelling technological and engineering innovations. The Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) is a founding member of CAETS, and is searching for technological scientists and engineers who are involved in ground-breaking work and are also […]
-
Australian researchers develop ‘green’ ammonia
Researchers at the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales have found a way to make ammonia production “green” – using only air, water and renewable electricity. The breakthrough has implications for refrigeration, as well as for fertiliser production and energy storage. For more than 140 years, ammonia has been a popular […]