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Category: News
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Official training now available for A2/A2L refrigerants
Training for A2/A2L mildly flammable refrigerants has been officially endorsed by the Victorian Registration and Qualification Authority (VRQA). This unit of competency can now be utilised across the nation. Kevin O’Shea, Chairperson of the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) says it’s a big win for technician safety. “Up until now, there were no training competencies endorsed […]
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The Global Cooling Prize
The Global Cooling Prize is a global competition designed to spur development of a radically more energy efficient cooling technology. The competition was developed by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a Colorado-based sustainability research and consulting organisation with a special focus on profitable innovations for energy and resource efficiency. It aims to combat the critical […]
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ARMA launches mentorship program
The Australian Refrigeration Mechanics Association (ARMA) has launched a mentorship program for HVAC&R mechanics. The initiative pairs experienced technicians with those who are keen to learn. It is suitable for trade-qualified workers and apprentices. According to ARMA CEO Kim Limburg, the idea came from ARMA president Mike Gilmore, and was seen by the team as […]
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Standards Australia puts faith in young leaders
Standards Australia has announced the 2018-19 participants in its NEXTgen (Young Leaders) program. The program takes emerging industry and technical experts and involves them in the national and international standardisation processes. “The goal of the program is to support the future of standards development through investing in the next generation of standards leaders and experts,” […]
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Energy efficiency and building services jobs survey
Common Capital is working with the Victorian Government on a short but important survey of the national energy efficiency and building services industry. The survey is being distributed through over 20 industry associations across the building and energy services market. It is aimed at organisations involved in the supply management of building materials, appliances, equipment […]
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Contractor dies in Cairns workplace incident
On August 20, air conditioning contractor Sol Fagan tragically fell from a vent at James Cook University (JCU) in Cairns. Fagan, 40, died as a result of the fall. A spokesperson from JCU offered the following statement: “We can confirm that Mr Sol Fagan passed away while working at James Cook University’s Cairns Campus. “The […]
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Cladding ban comes into force
Strata corporations and building owners in NSW must act immediately to avoid fines and even imprisonment as a result of a new ban on combustible cladding with a core of more than 30 per cent polyethylene. The ban came into place on August 15. The ban will affect any form of the combustible building material […]
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Australia’s tallest building to lead in sustainability
If everything goes to plan, the Green Spine, a $2 billion twin-tower mixed-use skyscraper proposed for Melbourne’s Southbank, won’t just be Australia’s tallest structure. It will also be the world’s biggest building built to Passive House standards. The dual-tower design was the winning entry in an international competition held by developer Beulah International, which purchased the […]
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NEEBP ramps up energy efficiency training
A suite of online training materials is now available as a result of a collaboration between the National Energy Efficiency Building Project (NEEBP) and several peak construction industry groups and RTOs. The range of materials will be of interest to builders and trades, including those specialising in HVAC&R. The NEEBP began in 2012 with the […]
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Sunshine Coast Hospital earns 6 Star Green Star
The $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) has become the largest public healthcare facility in Australia to earn a 6 star Green Star Healthcare v1 Design and As-Built rating. Exemplar Health, a consortium comprised of Lendlease, Siemens and Capella Capital, in partnership with Queensland Health, surpassed the original 4 star target, using innovative design […]
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New report predicts rise in heatwave deaths
A report released on July 31 predicts that the toll from heatwave deaths could rise by up to 2,000 per cent in some parts of the world by 2080. It was published in the online journal PLOS Medicine, and is one of the most extensive studies that has been done in the area. The study […]
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NABERS launches new website and steering committee
The National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) has launched an Australian-first search engine for green buildings. “This new tool will allow people to find the best examples of sustainable buildings and green businesses in the country,” Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said. NABERS is a national program, administered by the NSW government, that measures the […]
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Refrigeration Efficiency Masterclass announced
Sustainability Victoria has announced a series of free workshops for business owners and operators to learn how to make their refrigeration systems more efficient, with a special focus on walk-in coolrooms. The walk-in coolroom segment has attracted plenty of attention lately. Cold Hard Facts 3 – still in draft form – estimated that the number […]
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Condair Group acquires Aireven
Condair Group AG has acquired Aireven Pty Ltd in Australia, and from August 1 has changed its company name to Condair Pty Ltd. The acquisition of Aireven in Australia continues the strategic forward integration of Condair into promising geographic markets, as well as the global strengthening of its humidification and evaporative cooling business. Condair has […]
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Video thrills with HVAC&R!
AIRAH has produced a video that celebrates and promotes the essential role played by the HVAC&R industry in the Australian economy and everyday life. AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson says that although it plays a pivotal role in contemporary life, the sector remains below the radar. “Despite employing 170,000 Australians in a range of occupations and being […]
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Future Skilling Australia’s Workforce
Hosted by prominent journalist and author Kerry O’Brien, Australian Industry Standards is holding a series of free Industry Skills Forums around the country to explore current and future skilling needs in the digital age. As more jobs become automated, industries will need to work together to tackle what our workforce of the future will need. […]
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BlueScope signs landmark solar energy deal
On Friday, July 20, Australian steel manufacturer BlueScope signed a seven-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with ESCO Pacific’s Finley Solar Farm. The deal was coordinated by Schneider Electric. The direct agreement will enable ESCO Pacific to start building the farm later this year. It will comprise 500,000 solar panels across a 300ha site located 100km […]
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Resilient Sydney: Extreme heat our biggest risk
Resilient Sydney – a strategy document created by 33 Sydney metropolitan councils and the 100 Resilient Cities initiative – has stressed the importance of planning for climate change. The strategy document was released this week with the aim of strengthening the city’s ability to survive, adapt and thrive in the face of increasing global uncertainty […]
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Tackling air tightness seminar
GBCA (Green Building Council Australia) is holding seminars about air tightness practices for existing and new buildings in Melbourne and Sydney in September. Air tightness is a big challenge that building performance faces. Ensuring that a whole building is well-sealed creates measurably better performance for both energy efficiency and control of the indoor environment. The […]
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Cool podcasts from Danfoss
Danfoss is producing a series of educational podcasts on refrigeration. Hosted by Jens Andersen, a professional with over 40 years’ experience in the cooling industry, the series is aptly titled Chilling with Jens. It reflects the growing popularity of podcasts for educational content. Many people are finding that their vehicle or even their train carriage […]