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Productivity Green Paper urges VET reforms
Despite a decade of reviewing the Vocational Education and Training (VET), the educational system still lags in its modernised learning modes, career pathways and relationships with industry. This premise is highlighted by the NSW Productivity Commission in its Continuing the Productivity Conversation Green Paper. Among other draft policy recommendations, the Commission is calling for reforms […]
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LG’s smart systems in step with young renters
Although much of the building sector has slowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, apartment construction continues to boom. LG Electronics has created a line of smart air conditioning systems that favours this housing trend. Approximately 41 per cent of new homes built in Australia are apartments – in 2019, the average-sized home was 228 metres, […]
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Could thermal ‘LEGO’ blocks be the future?
The University of Newcastle has patented a new type of stackable thermal storage material, which can be housed in blocks, stored cheaply and safely, and then used to run steam turbines at power stations rather than burning coal. Dubbed Miscibility Gaps Alloy (MGA), the blocks are capable of receiving energy generated by renewables. A team […]
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Daikin expands ducted AC series
Daikin has announced the release of additional models to its R32 series of Premium Ducted and Inverter Ducted air conditioning systems. Newly added to the R32 Premium series is an 8.5kW model, expanding the company’s single-phase range of 7.1kW to 16.0kW models. Latest inclusions to the R32 Inverter series are 5.0kW, 6.0kW and 8.5kW models, […]
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Webinar on improving HVAC maintenance in the mid-tier
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) is hosting a webinar about HVAC maintenance and repair in mid-tier buildings on Tuesday, September 15. According to the Opportunity Knocks report, mid-tier buildings account for about 80 per cent of office buildings and about 50 per cent of floor space in Australia. “These buildings […]
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Reducing vibrations in HVAC systems
Vibration isolation specialist Getzner is hosting a free technical webinar on the topic of structure-borne noise and vibrations in the HVAC sector. “Silence is the key for relaxation,” says Getzner. “As you know as an acoustic expert this can be quite hard to accomplish when installing HVAC systems in the basement or on the roof. […]
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Bangladesh blueprint for COVID-19 vaccine delivery
An international team of researchers will assess Bangladesh’s cold-chain framework and create a blueprint for delivering mass vaccination for COVID-19 across the Global South. With a vaccination framework supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the World Health Organisation (WHO), Bangladesh has one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and vaccine industries. However, like many countries, […]
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IAQ legend to speak at AIRAH forum
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has announced world-renowned indoor air quality (IAQ) expert Max Sherman as the keynote for its Building Physics Virtual Forum slated for September 17. Sherman’s presentation, titled “Build tight and ventilate right. It’ll be OK”, will look at some of the challenges faced by airtight high-performance […]
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Carel releases white paper on humidification in healthcare facilities
Carel, a manufacturer of HVAC-related control and humidification solutions, has published a white paper on the importance of air humidification inside healthcare facilities. As epidemiologists ruminate on whether to classify COVID-19 as being “airborne”, the paper discusses a timely subject on the pivotal role of relative humidity (RH) in environmental control for the airborne transmission […]
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Kingspan appoints Ductus for KoolDuct distribution
Insulation specialist Kingspan has announced Ductus as its new national distribution partner for KoolDuct. “The phenolic based KoolDuct insulation board, produced in our Somerton, Victoria, facility, is a real game-changer for the HVAC market, and we are excited to make it more readily available to Australian consumers through our new partnership with Ductus,” says Kingspan […]
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Green light for new training package
Changes to Australia’s most widely offered RAC qualification were finally approved by the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) on August 12 as part of Release 2 of the UEE Electrotechnology Training Package. The qualification, UEE32220 Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, will supersede the current UEE32211 course. Apart from amendments to meet the 2012 […]
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Construction sector calls for help
The Australian economy was officially declared in recession this week, with the announcement of a record 7 per cent drop in GDP for the June quarter – the largest fall in quarterly GDP since records began in 1959. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the plunge in GDP was due to the combined […]
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Bitzer chills at waterfront hotel
A new refrigeration system featuring Bitzer compressors and condensers has been installed in Hotel Alsik, the biggest hotel in the Danish-German border region around the Flensburg Fjord. The hotel, located on Sønderborg’s waterfront, opened last year. Its construction and development was focused on sustainability, in support of the town’s goal of being CO2-neutral by 2029. […]
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How to benefit from embedded networks
The Green Building Council Australia (GBCA) will be hosting a webinar on leveraging the benefits of embedded networks. Embedded networks are becoming a commonly used feature of our energy systems. This session will explore why their applications are increasing, how they are integrated in a range of projects, opportunities for the built environment, and the […]
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Funding for gas industry could harm economy
A new report by energy thinktank the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) suggests proposals for providing long-term subsidies to the flailing gas industry could cause significant long-term economic damage to Australia. Led by Western Australian gas industry executive Nev Power, the National COVID-19 Commission (Advisory Board) (NCC) is proposing taxpayer funds steered […]
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Out with the mould
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has published an article on CSIROscope about the dangers of mould and how to prevent it. Mould causes health issues and can damage buildings. A fungal growth that loves moisture, it can generally be found in poorly ventilated areas of the house where damp has a chance […]
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Cooling solution doubles as installation art
The Panasonic Corporation, in collaboration with Obuchi Laboratory from Advanced Design Studies at the Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Engineering of the University of Tokyo (T_ADS Obuchi Lab), has conducted a field test to assess the effectiveness of its Green AC Flex innovation both as an outdoor air cooling solution and as installation art. […]
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Cold Tube: Chilled panels beat the heat
A team of researchers has created a new way to cool down without using air conditioning. Researchers from the University of British Columbia, Princeton University, the University of California, Berkeley and the Singapore-ETH Centre claim that the creation known as Cold Tube is a better alternative to using air conditioning. The Cold Tube is a […]
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Aussie HVAC&R company makes COVID-19 advance
Australian IAQ, deep clean and corrosion protection expert Aeris Environmental has secured extended residual claims from the Therapeutic Goods Administration for its Aeris Active disinfectant cleaner. The on-label claims now include “Residual COVID-19 kill for up to seven days” and “Residual antibacterial for up to 30 days (or 200 touches) against gram-negative E. coli and […]
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Webinar on airborne transmission of coronavirus
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) is presenting a webinar on Thursday, September 3, on airborne transmission of coronavirus. Since the pandemic began, more attention has been focused on the possibility of aerosol transmission of the virus. This session, presented as part of AIRAH’s Streamline series of webinars, will look at […]