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Category: News
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Wearable heating and cooling?
A material called graphene is changing the game for textiles, and could revolutionise the way we cool and heat our shared spaces. Graphene is a thin form of graphite, and can radiate or detract heat. Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize in Physics for their work with isolating the carbon. The scientific breakthrough […]
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Demand rises for solar heating and cooling
A new report from the International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA SHC) indicates that demand for solar heating and cooling is on the rise worldwide for the first time since 2015. The report, Solar Heat Worldwide, notes that 10 of the 20 largest national markets reported growing sales in 2018. […]
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Apprentices get a $4K boost
The Australian government is offering small businesses up to $4,000 in an attempt to address industry skills shortages. The Additional Identified Skills Shortage (AISS) package offers up to $4,000 to eligible employers in small businesses, and $2,000 to new apprentices commencing a Certificate III or IV qualification on or after July 1, 2019. Air conditioning […]
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ABCB to play key role in industry reform
The Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) met last Thursday to discuss a range of issues facing the building and construction sector – many of which were flagged in the Shergold Weir Building Confidence report. All jurisdictions agreed to a national approach to implementing the recommendations. And the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) will play a key […]
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How flammable is ‘mildly flammable’?
A multi-million-dollar research project led by AHRI, with support from ASHRAE, the US Department of Energy and the California Air Resources Board, has comprehensively tested refrigerants to answer questions around their flammability. In Australia, the topic continues to provoke debate, and understandably so. Because of the HFC phase-down, previously common non-flammable A1 refrigerants are giving way […]
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June 2019 the hottest on record
Buoyed by historic heatwaves in Europe and warmer conditions in the Arctic and Eurasia, June 2019 was the hottest on record. According to data released by NASA and the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), Earth soared to its highest level recorded in June. Records stretch back almost 140 years. “The record warm streaks we’ve seen in […]
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Cladding safety plan unveiled
The Victorian government has announced a plan to replace combustible cladding. But the proposed approach has not met with support from all quarters. Earlier this month, the Victorian Cladding Taskforce delivered its report. It contains the results of audits performed on buildings in Victoria. Combustible cladding: state of play The report notes that although some […]
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MHIAA scores gold for design
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia (MHIAA) has been recognised at the 61st annual Good Design Awards ceremony. The Avanti Plus split system air conditioner received a prestigious gold accolade in the product design category for outstanding design and innovation. “With the rise in electricity costs and awareness around climate change, along with many air conditioners […]
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Woolies’ WRD success
The first World Refrigeration Day (WRD) took place on June 26, and businesses and organisations around the world hosted activities to celebrate the occasion. One standout event in Australia was Woolworths’ public plant room open day. Woolworths’ refrigeration team, with support from AIRAH, RACCA, RMIT University and TAFE NSW, gave participants a tour of two […]
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VEU program targets gas bills and emissions
The Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program helps businesses and households cut power bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It does this by providing access to discounted energy-efficient products and services. Six new gas efficiency activities were recently added to the program, which provides access to energy-saving products through accredited providers. The activities can be undertaken by […]
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Solar cooling and heating standard
Standards Australia has published AS 5389:2019 Space heating and cooling and ventilation systems – Calculation of energy and comfort performance. AS 5389 provides a method to estimate how much energy will be saved and to what degree comfort will be improved using solar and other heating and cooling technologies. Performance is based on four different […]
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Saint-Gobain announces ‘multi comfort’ winners
International producer of building materials Saint-Gobain has chosen the winners of its 15th Multi Comfort Students Contest. More than 2,200 students from 199 universities entered the contest, mainly from the fields of architecture and engineering. The final, held in Milan, saw 60 competing teams from 34 countries present their projects to an international panel of […]
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Expert advice on air filtration
The extensive suite of Design Application (DA) manuals published by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) is receiving some important updates. To keep up with changes in the sector, AIRAH and its network of expert members periodically update the DA manuals and publish new editions. The latest of these is DA15 […]
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Darryl K. Boyce named ASHRAE President
Darryl K. Boyce, P. Eng., has been named ASHRAE’s President for the 2019–20 term. Previously a treasurer, vice-president and director-at-large on the ASHRAE board of directors, Boyce is the recipient of sundry ASHRAE honours. Boyce announced his theme for the year of his presidency is “Building for People and Performance. Achieving Operational Excellence”. “We must […]
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Health check for VET system
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has published the results from an expert review of Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) program – and there is definitely work to be done. Late last year, the Prime Minister announced an independent review of Australia’s VET sector to examine ways to deliver skilled workers for […]
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NSW opens talks on professional registration
Earlier this year, a bill passed in Victoria that should see professional registration of engineers become mandatory in that state. Queensland already has this requirement. Now it appears that New South Wales will go down the same path. The NSW government has released a discussion paper that responds to recommendations of Shergold and Weir’s Building […]
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What is HVAC&R?
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has produced a flyer to help promote the HVAC&R industry. AIRAH Executive Manager – Government Relations and Technical Services, Phil Wilkinson, F.AIRAH, says the nature of the HVAC&R industry means that people don’t have to think about it. “We do our best to be hidden […]
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Energy efficiency the key
A new report from the Energy Efficiency Council has highlighted the vital role that improvements that energy efficiency can play around the world, and especially in Australia. The World’s First Fuel is an attempt to distil world’s best practice around energy efficiency into recommendations that can inform Australia’s energy debate. The title comes from the […]
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NABERS set for starring role in UK
According to industry legend, when the NABERS initiative was first released as a system for measuring and comparing the environmental performance of Australian buildings and tenancies, it had a less memorable name. The final acronym was coined as a cheeky (and catchier) reference to the popular soap opera. Since then, the initiative has brought about huge […]
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Aussie ingenuity on show
The History Channel is running a new series called Aussie Inventions That Changed The World, and it includes an episode dedicated to refrigeration. “Historically, Australia has punched well above its weight on the world stage of timely innovations, scientific breakthroughs, and cleverly designed new technologies,” say the creators. “Throughout its history this continent has produced […]