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James Harrison in the spotlight at Geelong Show
A special exhibit about Australian refrigeration pioneer James Harrison features in the Royal Geelong Show, running from October 13–16. The exhibit forms part of the Pioneer Museum, a collection of vintage machinery including some equipment powered by two enormous steam engines. The James Harrison section of the Pioneer Museum features items provided by the Geelong […]
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Combination passive cooling for crop storage
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers have designed an innovative passive cooling system that requires no power, and only a small amount of water. Combining radiative and evaporative cooling with thermal insulation in a slim package similar to a solar panel, designers say the system can provide up to 9.3°C of cooling from ambient temperature. […]
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Plan to make Australia an energy-efficiency winner
The Australian federal government has kicked off work to develop a National Energy Performance Strategy. The announcement was made by Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister at the 2022 Energy Efficiency Summit in Sydney. “For too long, Australia’s efforts at reducing emissions and cutting energy costs have lacked a national plan that […]
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Property Council chief to step down
The Property Council of Australia has announced that Chief Executive Ken Morrison will leave the organisation in December after eight years in the role to pursue other career opportunities. Morrison has served as Chief Executive of the Property Council of Australia since 2014. He has spent a collective 25 years in the organisation, having previously […]
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RectorSeal adds trifecta to product offering
HVAC&R and plumbing accessories manufacturer RectorSeal has added two new product lines and a company acquisition to its offering. The two new products include Cover Guard lineset covers and AC Guard HVAC condenser protection cages. Both product lines will be covered by RectorSeal’s three-year limited warranty with no registration required. Designed for residential and commercial […]
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Safe Work Month in October
October is National Safe Work Month, when Safe Work Australia (SWA) invites business owners, employers, and workers nationwide to commit to building safe and healthy workplaces. SWA preliminary data shows that around 163 people died while doing their job in the past year. And approximately 120,300 people made a workers’ compensation claim for serious injury […]
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Finalists named for AIRAH Awards 2022
AIRAH has named the finalists for the AIRAH Awards 2022. The AIRAH Awards celebrate the leading projects, people and products driving Australia towards a sustainable future. “Over the past few years we’ve seen how the COVID pandemic has shifted attention to the importance of the HVAC&R industry to Australia’s health, comfort and productivity,” says AIRAH […]
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Chief troublemaker to present conference keynote
The Building Physics Forum is coming up on October 12 in Sydney and online. Organised by AIRAH, the event unites experts on ventilation, moisture and condensation management and building envelopes. It’s a highly technical community that is also renowned for its passion and energy. This year, the keynote speaker promises to stir up even more […]
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Decarbonisation promise of district heating and cooling
District heating and cooling (DHC) was the focus of a full-day event held recently in Melbourne, which explored the potential of this technology. DHC systems are local energy networks provide heating and cooling to buildings in a district. They do this by supplying hot water or steam for heating systems, and chilled water for air […]
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ARBS 2022 declared an ‘overwhelming success’
ARBS 2022, held from 16–18 August in Melbourne, has been lauded as an “overwhelming success” by the organisers, based on positive attendance numbers and feedback from visitors and exhibitors alike. The official visitor count – not including staff or exhibitors – came in at 7,408, with 216 stands filling out the 15,000m2 of exhibition space. […]
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Australia’s first all-electric aquatic centre opens its doors
The opening of the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre in Melbourne’s western suburbs has been celebrated as Australia’s first all-electric, renewable energy aquatic centre. Located in Keilor Downs, the $60 million facility aims to provide an energy-efficient blueprint to councils across Australia. According to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), leisure centres are among the most […]
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Hydrogen not the future for home heating
A review of independent studies on the use of hydrogen for heating has delivered a damning verdict for the idea that we may one day replace our existing gas network with a hydrogen network. The evidence review, undertaken by energy influencer Dr Jan Rosenow, looked at 32 independent studies. These were conducted at international, regional, […]
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Research reveals huge health benefits of humble retrofits
A comprehensive study conducted through the Victorian Healthy Homes Program has measured the impact of an energy efficiency and thermal comfort home upgrade on temperature, energy use, health and quality of life. It found that for every dollar saved in energy, more than $10 is saved in health. Over three years (2018–20), Sustainability Victoria oversaw […]
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NT to adopt NCC 2019 energy-efficiency provisions
The Northern Territory has confirmed it will introduce energy-efficiency provisions for non-residential buildings, as specified in Section J of Volume One of NCC 2019. The decision was made after a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis was undertaken by energy-efficiency specialists DeltaQ. This examined the impact of the potential adoption of either the energy efficiency provisions in the […]
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NCC 2022 now available online
The 2022 version of the National Construction Code (NCC) is now available online. The major changes are the lifting of the minimum energy efficiency requirements for new homes from 6 to 7 NatHERS stars, and a new annual energy-use budget applicable to major appliances such as space conditioning, hot water, lighting, pool and spa pumps, […]
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National campaign to promote careers in HVAC&R
A new campaign promoting careers in HVAC&R is being rolled out by the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), targeting students at almost 3,000 secondary schools across Australia. Each school’s careers adviser will receive a package explaining the careers the HVAC&R industry can offer, and how students can make a difference. ARC chairman Michael Bennett says the […]
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Fujitsu General celebrates dealer loyalty
Fujitsu General Australia held its Fujitsu General dealer loyalty program (DLP) event on Hamilton Island recently, for the first time since 2019. For the almost 200 delegates, Fujitsu’s DLP event was the first chance to reconnect since pandemic restrictions began. Over six nights of activities, attendees enjoyed culinary experiences and entertainment, including musical performances by […]
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New guide to electrifying existing buildings
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released A Practical Guide to Electrification for Existing Buildings. Developed in partnership with Cundall and with funding from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and NSW government, the guide provides a step-by-step outline of how to retrofit an existing building to be all-electric. It covers the types […]
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GJ Walker announces new industrial fan division
GJ Walker Air Handling Systems has announced its new industrial fan division, Walker Industrial Systems (WIS), as part of the company’s new focus on the industrial ventilation market. The GJ Walker Group says WIS will add a range of industrial fans and blowers to its portfolio of products, bringing a new market with different ventilation […]
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US commits to HFC phase-down
The US Senate has ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, joining the 137 other countries that have already ratified the treaty. The Kigali Amendment calls for a gradual reduction in the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are potent greenhouse gases. Many of these are used as refrigerants in HVAC&R systems. “The […]