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The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has suspended all scheduled events up until May 31, 2020, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH, says the Institute is closely monitoring developments regarding the coronavirus. “Unfortunately, as a result of COVID-19, AIRAH has had to make the decision to […]
The NSW government has released its Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020–2030. It is the foundation for NSW’s action on climate change and goal to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Under the plan, the NSW economy will see over $11.6bn of private investment and 2,400 new jobs. Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean says […]
The government has committed $1.3bn in wage subsidies to help small businesses retain apprentices displaced by the coronavirus downturn. As part of Australia’s COVID-19 response, the subsidies will support small businesses with funding of up to $21,000 ($7,000 per quarter) for every apprentice. The intention is to help small businesses get back on track after […]
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has suspended the Refrigeration 2020 Conference, scheduled for March 23–24 in Melbourne, due to concerns around the spread of COVID-19. “In this time of great upheaval for everyone, we ask for your patience as we work with attendees, speakers, sponsors and other stakeholders to reorganise,” […]
The coronavirus could be transmitted over a longer distance than previously thought, especially within an enclosed air conditioned environment, according to a study by a team of Chinese government epidemiologists. The research by the Hunan-based team throws into question the official guidelines from China’s health authorities on COVID-19 prevention to keep “a safe distance” of […]
The NSW Institute of Instrumentation, Control and Automation (IICA) is preparing its first Technology Expo of 2020 on April 29 at Doylonson, on the Central Coast. The IICA is a not-for-profit institute that aims to further the science and practice of measurement, instrumentation and control. It describes the Technology Expo as “a one-stop shop, featuring […]
The Energy Efficiency Council has postponed the National Energy Efficiency Conference 2020, scheduled to take place in Melbourne from May 26–27. Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) CEO Luke Menzel says the decision was made to minimise the potential for transmission of COVID-19, and to deliver the highest quality event possible. “We did not make this decision […]
Late last year, doubts were cast over whether plants actually improve indoor air quality (IAQ) after new research was published in Nature’s Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. Ronald Wood PhD, BSc, from Innovative Plant Technology, has taken issue with the study in an article published in Ecolibrium. He says that a “literature review with […]
Aurecon, Pride in Diversity and Engineers Australia have jointly launched a new community in Sydney to promote LGBTQI+ inclusion in engineering. Interengineer will be an independent industry group designed to promote LGBTQI+ inclusion through networking and advocacy activities, says the media release. The group’s formation would allow for additional support and resources towards the engineering […]
ECS Group is offering customers and industry associates a complimentary trial of the building automation systems (BAS) version of the FIN Framework 5.0 software. The free one-day event is called “Take FIN for a spin” and will be held at The Grand Hyatt Melbourne on March 20. ECS Group specialises in building automation and controls, […]
Grosvenor Engineering Group has announced the appointment of Graham Hindley to the role of Chief Operating Officer. Hindley is a qualified engineer, industrial relations and commerce professional. He spent 20 years in senior management roles in Sydney, Malaysia, China and Germany working for engineering and manufacturing companies. Managing Director at Grosvenor Engineering Group, Nicholas Lianos, […]
ARBS Exhibitions Ltd has held an extraordinary board meeting where it was decided that the ARBS 2020 exhibition scheduled to be held from May 19–21 will be postponed due to the COVID-19 virus. “Circumstances relating to the virus have triggered the postponement,” says ARBS Events Organiser Sue Falcke. She cites a number of factors as […]
In the age of fake news, the building industry has encountered its fair share of falsehoods. There has been an increasing volume of misappropriate behaviour – be it in the filing of false evidence to support regulatory conformance or the use of inferior-quality materials. This consequently puts the profile of Australian buildings at risk. And […]
HVAC&R Search Compendium 2020 is now in circulation. The Compendium is a hardcopy version of the online HVAC&R Search directory, and provides a comprehensive listing of companies operating within the country’s HVAC&R sector. It is produced by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH). The HVAC&R Search Compendium 2020 complements its digital […]
As reported previously, fire safety rules are changing in New South Wales from April. For HVAC practitioners, the major change at this stage is that only those who are accredited as competent fire safety practitioners (CFSPs) under the Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme (FPAS) will be authorised to conduct the annual assessment of essential fire safety […]
REAL Alternatives 4 Life is a free online course that provides education on the safe use of alternative refrigerants such as ammonia, hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide. The course was developed in response to the European F-Gas Regulation, which encourages wider adoption of refrigerants with a lower global warming potential (GWP). The program is now offering […]
The Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA), ClimateWorks Australia and the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) have released an issues paper highlighting the foundational role of infrastructure in Australia’s quest for a net zero emissions future. The organisations point out that infrastructure is responsible for up to 70 per cent of Australia’s emissions. And […]
Both the Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF) and Master Builders Australia have flagged the serious fallout of the coronavirus for Australia’s construction industry. ACIF has urged industry and government collaboration to address the growing disruption to construction projects as a result of the coronavirus. The most pressing issue is the reduced supply of building products […]
25 King Street Brisbane has been awarded Queensland’s first WELL Core and Shell Certification at the Platinum level. Led by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), WELL is a global rating system for advancing health and wellbeing in buildings. The sustainable structure has also earned 6 star Green Star Design and As Built ratings. Dubbed […]
The second iteration of the Australian Residential Energy Rating (ARER) conference will be held in Sydney at Doltone House from May 12–13. Hosted by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and supported by the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), the conference will feature sessions focused on energy efficiency, sustainability regulations and opportunities, […]