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Category: News
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Aurecon debuts Engineering Reimagined podcast
Global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon has announced its foray into podcasting with the release of Engineering Reimagined. In it, Aurecon employees interview experts on topics that are “changing our world”. The series will focus on people’s envisioning of the future, as well as their roles within it. “We want our audience, and ourselves, […]
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Trajectory on track, but focus is on fire
The Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) met in Hobart on February 8 to discuss issues ranging from safety to energy efficiency. The BMF oversees policy and regulatory issues affecting Australia’s building and construction industries. It is made up of federal and state and territory government ministers who have responsibility for building and construction. It was thought […]
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NCC 2019 Preview release
The NCC (National Construction Code) 2019 Preview has been released. Versions of all three volumes and the guide to volume one are now available to download as PDFs. The NCC sets the minimum acceptable standards for all new construction work in Australia. Since 2005, it has included provisions in Section J for energy efficiency, including […]
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The Future of Refrigerants: Unitary and VRF Systems
ASHRAE is presenting a webcast called The Future of Refrigerants: Unitary and VRF Systems this April. The two-hour session will be held on two days and times to suit international time differences. The webcast will examine the world’s most prolific air conditioning system configurations. It will look at how those systems can adapt to worldwide regulatory […]
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Standards Australia to ‘move beyond’ SAI Global
Standards Australia has announced it will look to improve access to standards in the wake of a ruling that SAI Global will no longer have exclusive distribution rights. In late December 2018, an independent arbitration determined that any extended distribution agreement with SAI Global will be non-exclusive. This means that Standards Australia can now take […]
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Incoming: New AC energy-efficiency standards
As reported last month, the Australian government is changing energy efficiency regulations for air conditioners up to 65kW in capacity. A draft version of the new “determination” (the instrument that regulates energy efficiency) is now available, and more details of the changes have been confirmed. The first major change is the introduction of a more […]
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Heatcraft renews support for WorldSkills
WorldSkills Australia (WSA) partner Heatcraft has announced its major sponsorship of the Refrigeration category for both the 2019 round of regional competitions and the 2020 WSA National Refrigeration Competition. It marks a 23-year association between Heatcraft and WSA. “This is a long-established affiliation that aligns firmly with our core business and values, being a heritage of […]
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Madew and Verwer earn Australia Day 2019 honours
Two building industry veterans and sustainability champions have earned Order of Australia recognition in the Australia Day 2019 Honours List. Outgoing Green Building Council of Australia CEO Romilly Madew and former Property Council of Australia CEO Peter Verwer were cited for their services to the Australian built environment. Madew, who has also served as deputy […]
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Aussies are aircon ‘wasters’
A survey published by consumer comparison site Finder has highlighted the extent to which Australians waste energy by running their air conditioning when they are not at home. The survey reports that 2.3 million Australians – or 24 per cent of the population – have their air conditioning running when they are out. Put another […]
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Order of Australia for HVAC&R leader
Olivia Newton-John and Kylie Minogue may have grabbed the headlines in this year’s Australia Day Honours, but there was also recognition for a big name in the HVAC&R industry: Steve Anderson. Executive Director of Refrigerants Australia from 1987–2014, the initiator of the ACRtick program, and one of the key figures in establishing Refrigerant Reclaim Australia […]
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Free online Flammable Refrigerants Safety Guide
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has released an online, updated version of its Flammable Refrigerants Safety Guide. The resource – which was developed by independent organisations and stakeholders with support from the Department of the Environment and Energy – provides vital information about the use and management of flammable refrigerants […]
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ARC promotes fully licensed fridgies
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has released a video designed to educate consumers. The video explains the different licence types, and encourages consumers to find and use fully licensed air conditioning technicians. Running as part of the ARC’s summer campaign, the video seeks to raise awareness that fully licensed (or Certificate III) technicians are qualified […]
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AIRAH and IOR strengthen ties
Two of the world’s leading HVAC&R member organisations have put pen to paper on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) and the UK-based Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) formalised the agreement on January 14 at the ASHRAE Winter Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The MoU is aimed at […]
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Regulators look to the stars for air conditioners
New labelling for air conditioners and highers standards of energy efficiency are on the way after the COAG Energy Council ministers met on December 19 and agreed to the Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS). The RIS proposed tightening regulations on the energy efficiency of air conditioners. Approximately 40 per cent of energy usage in Australian […]
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Madew moves to Infrastructure Australia
After 13 years at the helm of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), Romilly Madew will be stepping down and moving to a new role as CEO of Infrastructure Australia – an independent statutory body that conducts research on significant infrastructure projects to provide advice to government, investors and owners. “Romilly has driven a […]
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Fire risk causes recall on AC unit
Due to a fire risk, a national recall has been put in place for two models of outdoor air conditioning units. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released the recall on Seeley International’s Braemar SCHF21C3S and Braemar SCHF25C3S outdoor air conditioner units on January 8. The ACCC says the power factor correction capacitors fitted in the […]
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Branson blasts slow-moving AC industry
Renowned entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has lashed out at the global air conditioning industry for its lack of innovation, and has reiterated his backing of the Global Cooling Prize as a much-needed incentive to disrupt the status quo. Branson has noted the expected growth of domestic air conditioning – from the already massive $100bn current […]
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NSW offers discounts for energy efficient AC
Households and small businesses in New South Wales could receive discounts of up to $1,000 when they install an energy efficient air conditioning unit. The program is part of the Climate Change Fund initiative, and is designed to encourage people to buy high-efficiency units. It was announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian in September 2017 as part […]
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Fridgies wanted … in Antarctica
The Australian Antarctic Program is currently recruiting refrigeration mechanics. The program is led by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), a division of the Department of Environment and Energy, which operates from its headquarters in Kingston, Tasmania. The position is part of the team which maintains and develops the Australian stations on the Antarctic continent and at […]
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Inside Sydney’s new Passivhaus apartments
A new breed of sustainable housing has landed in Sydney’s inner-city with the opening of The Fern. The 11-unit development from Steele Associates is Australia’s first certified Passive House high-rise project. It endeavours to “set a new standard in sustainable urban living where luxury, lifestyle and comfort co-exist.” “This is a significant milestone for construction […]