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A new white paper is encouraging leaders from government and industry to use the COVID-19 recovery to transform our traditional construction processes. “The global construction industry cannot continue operating the way it does,” write co-authors Sumit Oberoi and Alain Waha in the paper, titled Industrialised Construction: The Rebound from COVID-19. “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, […]
The National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) Sustainable Portfolios Index (SPI) 2020 is now available online. The SPI explores the top 40 property portfolios in Australia achieving measurable sustainability actions. A portfolio consists of two or more buildings with NABERS ratings owned by the same company. The SPI also provides comparative business intelligence on […]
World Refrigeration Day (WRD) is celebrated annually on June 26, the birth date of Lord Kelvin, after whom the absolute temperature scale is named. This year, the day will be dedicated to cold chain technology, and its vital role in food security and in preserving public health and wellbeing. Designated as the world’s biggest celebration […]
The Property Council of Australia, Facility Management Association (FMA) and the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) have called on building owners and facilities managers to commence careful planning for the safe reopening of commercial buildings and workplaces across Australia. The advice comes as the national cabinet and state governments announce easing […]
Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) CEO Luke Menzel has been appointed to the Steering Committee of the Innovation Hub for Affordable Heating and Cooling, or i-Hub. Established by AIRAH in association with the CSIRO and PRIME, the i-Hub has been designed to facilitate the HVAC&R industry’s transition to a low-emissions future, stimulate jobs growth, and showcase […]
Five companies were selected into the CaaS Incubator program, an initiative that seeks to promote the concept of cooling as a service (CaaS). The CaaS initiative aims to decrease energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from cooling use through a pay-per-service model for more efficient cooling systems. The winning projects offer highly efficient air […]
Rob Seeley is leaving Mitsubishi Electric Australia after nearly a decade, and wrapping up his career in the HVAC&R industry after more than 30 years. Seeley was the HVAC state manager for Victoria and Tasmania at Mitsubishi Electric. His role developed over the course of his career, from direct engagement with consulting engineers to leading […]
Leading members of the international scientific and medical community have called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish global guidance on the minimum lower limit of air humidity in public buildings. Those behind the move have created a petition, which they say is aimed at increasing global public awareness about the crucial role indoor […]
HVAC field device manufacturer Belimo has announced the Australian launch of its webinar platform. The Switzerland-based company has been conducting webinars in the US since 2012. The American webinars are delivered as part of Belimo University’s training programs that were designed to assist with understanding HVAC fundamentals. According to regional application consultant, Asia Pacific, at […]
Daikin has released three new products that are aimed at simplifying the use of its systems, whether in the set-up process or operational control. Economiser Kit Daikin says its rooftop-packaged units are designed for flexible and easy installation into various commercial applications. The 150–300 class models now feature an optional Economiser Kit that can be […]
An economic modelling released by Master Builders Australia has shown that up to 43,000 new homes will not be built this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. CEO of Master Builders Australia, Denita Wawn, says the new modelling conducted by Master Builders Australia shows the devastating impact the lockdown of the economy is having on the […]
By Craig Roussac, M.AIRAH. All buildings are created for people, and building owners must ensure they are safe. But unfortunately, as with most things in life, there is no guidebook setting out the “ideal” way to achieve that outcome. This is especially true in a pandemic. Over recent days, research has been published in the journal Nature that […]
The Centre For Sustainable Cooling (CFSC) and Shecco announced the launch of their Clean Cooling project. According to Accelerate News, which is published by Shecco, the project refines the concept of Clean Cooling, representing a holistic approach to refrigeration and air conditioning systems that incorporates the most efficient and environmentally friendly technologies while addressing the […]
In a move criticised by industry bodies, the Western Australia government has changed its building regulations and extended the provisional use of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2016 until May 2021. AIRAH (the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating) is one of the bodies that has questioned the strategy behind the decision. It […]
The Queensland government has confirmed it will work to address a loophole in its new licensing framework for air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. At the beginning of 2020, a new HVAC&R licensing framework was introduced in Queensland. Workers now require a Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licence for mechanical services work. This includes air […]
New studies have fuelled speculation about COVID-19 spreading through the air, and emphasised the vital role that HVAC systems will play in controlling the virus. Since the beginning of the outbreak, the World Health Organization has advised that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets. When someone with […]
RC-Reporter 3.7 is a building performance reporting solution from Reliable Controls that is designed to extract intelligence from building data and discover actionable insights to improve operational efficiency. “Everyone is talking about the power of data and a lot of people are not quite sure how to unleash that power,” says Reliable Controls Australasia Regional […]
The Climate Change Authority (CCA) has released a consultation paper on its 2020 review of the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF). To inform its review, the Authority is currently inviting input from organisations, businesses and individuals. Established in 2014, the ERF is a government policy to incentivise emissions reductions. It is key to Australia meeting its […]
The Secretary of the NSW Department of Customer Service has advised that the start date for the Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme (FPAS) in NSW has been delayed. The new date will be July 1, 2020. The scheme was expected to be gazetted in early April. This would have made it compulsory for competent fire safety […]
AIRAH has announced the 2020 edition of Big Data and Analytics Forum will be hosted online. Originally scheduled to take place in Melbourne on August 6, this year’s event will instead be delivered entirely as a virtual forum. The 2020 Big Data and Analytics Virtual Forum will be a live-streamed half-day event to be held […]