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Dodgy short courses are no more, says ARC
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) says it has put the kibosh on dodgy RTOs that issue spurious qualifications. According to the ARC, tell-tale signs of inadequacy for these so-called qualifications are course length – typically two days when a minimum of 360 hours has been deemed necessary – and inappropriate reliance on recognition of prior […]
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Women in cooling survey reveals global challenges
The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) has published a new report surveying 810 women worldwide working in the HVAC&R sector, to better understand their careers, challenges, motivation, and opportunities. According to the report, more than 15 million people are employed worldwide in the HVAC&R industry, with the under-representation of women evidenced by the fact that […]
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Global award to recognise lower GWP innovation
Entries are open for the ASHRAE and OzonAction of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) 2022 Lower GWP Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Innovation Award. According to ASHRAE, the award promotes innovative design, research, and practice. It recognises people who have developed or implemented innovative technological concepts applied in developing countries to minimise global warming potential (GWP) through […]
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HVAC exhaust can boost rooftop crops
Researchers have found that planting vegetables crops near vents exhausting carbon dioxide-rich air can produce up to four times more growth. The farming system, known as BIG GRO, takes a sustainable waste resource that exists in excess in cities – human respiration – and applies it to farming. Conducted on the roof of the […]
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Building industry ready to lead decarbonisation efforts
A coalition of 25 major building industry organisations has issued a statement at COP27 pledging to assume a leadership role in decarbonisation efforts in the built environment. The statement, the Building Industry Steps Up to Address Climate Change, is addressed to government representatives that are parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes […]
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Unprecedented weather for Australia and world
As parts of Australia had their wettest spring on record, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that the Earth has just experienced its warmest eight-year period on record. Through mid-October, parts of Australia were experiencing unprecedented precipitation. On October 6, Sydney had received about 2,213mm of rainfall for the year, surpassing the previous record of 2,194mm […]
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ABCB making editorial corrections to NCC 2022
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) will be making editorial corrections to the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022. According to the ABCB, the corrections do not change the effect of the provisions. “The relevant editorial updates will correct some minor typographical errors and hyperlinks across the national requirements and state and territory variations,” says the […]
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Worldwide celebration of ventilation
November 8 is being celebrated as the first official World Ventilation Day – or, as it has been dubbed, World Ventil8 Day. Launched by a coalition of scientists, academics, engineering bodies and environmental activists, the international awareness campaign promotes the critical role of better building ventilation in supporting health, wellbeing, and productivity. It is being […]
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APS Industrial to distribute Siemens products
APS Industrial has been confirmed as an Australian national distribution partner for Siemens building technology products. The latest agreement adds the Siemens building technology product portfolios to the partnership. These include building automation and associated HVAC field devices (valves and actuators, damper actuators, sensors, metering products and room thermostats), variable speed drives, and Siemens’ GAMMA […]
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Daikin launches new VRV R Series Heat Recovery System
Daikin Australia has launched the newest addition to its VRV range – the VRV R Series (REYQ-BYM). Daikin says the sixth-generation model enables simultaneous cooling and heating operation in a single VRV system, and boasts considerable improvement over previous generations. “Daikin VRV systems have continually set the standard for energy efficiency, reliability and comfort for […]
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NABERS on the march
NABERS’ FY22 annual report has confirmed a positive outlook for the successful ratings system, with more customers, more non-mandated ratings, and tools for more sectors. Growth in the NABERS platform was seen across the board. There were increases in Shopping Centre ratings (12.5 per cent), Waste for Offices ratings (72 per cent), Carbon Neutral ratings […]
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World grapples with refrigerant transition
A special international publication has collected perspectives from around the globe on the transition to low-GWP refrigerants under the Kigali Amendment. With the help of local experts, it reveals how the HFC phase-down is tracking, the major challenges so far, and the potential solutions. The Kigali Amendment aims to phase down HFC production worldwide by […]
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Impact X aims to accelerate action for a net zero future
The second Impact X Summit Sydney will present an expanded three-day agenda of dialogue, workshops, and events, designed to accelerate action for a net zero, climate-positive future. The conference is scheduled to take place from November 9–11 at the International Convention Centre, Sydney. It has been timed to coincide with the UN COP 27, allowing […]
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Summit takes on decarbonisation and disaster resilience
After a two-year hiatus from holding an in-person event, the Sustainability Summit and Awards has returned in a new hybrid format. As both an in-person event held in Sydney and an online broadcast via livestream, the event provides traditional networking opportunities while maintaining the previous years’ remote accessibility. Slated for November 10, the summit will […]
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Unequal economic impact of extreme heat
A new research article linking economic growth and extreme heat has highlighted that the worst impacted communities will likely be the least culpable when it comes to man-made climate impacts. According to researchers Christopher W. Callahan and Justin S. Mankin, “global inequality is both a cause and consequence of the unequal burden of climate change”. […]
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Worker shortage key concern for contractors
A recent report found that a shortage of skilled labour and supply chain disruptions are two of the major business issues impacting specialty contractors, with the skills shortage predicted to worsen. Released by construction management software provider Procore Technologies, in partnership with Dodge Construction Network, the 2022 Top Business Issues for Specialty Contractors Report aims […]
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Number of ARC-licenced technicians passes 100,000
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has announced that the total number of licensed HVAC&R technicians in Australia has topped the 100,000 mark, and has hailed this as a sign of continuing growth in the industry throughout Australia. The ARC confirms that more than 100,000 individuals now hold an ARCtick refrigerant handling licence (RHL). If refrigerant […]
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SA winery completes sustainable refrigeration upgrade
Jim Barry Wines recently upgraded its refrigeration plant to improve both the quality of its riesling, and also the operation’s environmental sustainability. Temperature control is a critical parameter in quality wine production, and is especially important operation in South Australian wineries, given the warm climate. Refrigeration addresses this need, but at a cost: it is […]
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Budget offers steady start, says AIRAH
AIRAH has welcomed the Federal Budget as a “steady first step” towards Australia’s longer-term goals. Among the investments announced were many aimed at addressing the housing crisis in Australia. Under the new National Housing Accord, the government expects one million new homes to be built over five years from 2024. The Accord also includes funding […]
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Johnson Controls expands manifold product line
Johnson Controls has expanded its Tyco RM-2 Riser Manifold product offering with the launch of two RM-2 Base models designed to complement the fully integrated RM-2 Riser Manifold. The riser manifolds support fire safety by supplying, monitoring, and regulating water flow to a building’s fire suppression piping system. Johnson Controls says the new base models […]