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Tag: Slider
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The EU phase-down plan – brave or foolhardy?
At the end of February, the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) agreed to major amendments to the F-gas regulation – the EU legislation that controls emissions from fluorinated greenhouse gases. If the changes are confirmed by the European Parliament, it will effectively see a phase-out of HFC refrigerants […]
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Pipework insulation provisions put to the test
A large Australian installer of refrigeration and air conditioning pipework is conducting tests to determine whether certain insulation provisions in the National Construction Code (NCC) could be revised to facilitate installation of refrigeration pipework without affecting energy efficiency. The provision in question in NCC 2019 is J5.8(a), specifically relating to insulation required on refrigeration pipework. […]
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Campaign to improve smoke and fire wall penetrations
The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is launching a campaign to improve service penetrations in fire-rated and smoke-proof walls. The campaign will leverage the insights from extensive research work done on the issue with industry input. During 2020 and 2021, the VBA partnered with BehaviourWorks Australia to undertake research to understand how improper service penetration of […]
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Europe votes to move away from fluorinated refrigerants
The European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) has agreed to amendments to the F-gas regulation that will see bans on fluorinated gases in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment over the next five years. It signals a major move away from synthetic gases and towards natural alternatives. “We are making […]
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Employers’ gender pay gaps to be disclosed
Under a new federal government bill aimed at improving gender equity, the gender pay gaps for employers of 100 workers or more will be publicly disclosed. According to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), Australia’s national gender pay gap is 14.1 per cent. From May 2022, women in Australia earned $263.90 less than men each […]
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Harnessing heat pumps could deliver huge savings
The Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) and the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) have released a report that reveals the huge potential energy and emissions savings offered by heat pumps in Australia. Harnessing heat pumps for net zero: The role of heat pumps in saving energy and cutting emissions spotlights the critical role of heat […]
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Householders get free hot water in server cooling trial
UK company Heata is rolling out small but powerful servers that can be attached to home hot water heating systems. The servers get the cooling they need, and the householders who install them get free hot water heating in return. The installation works by fitting the server and a patented thermal bridge to a standard […]
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AIRAH names Trish Hyde as new CEO
Following a detailed recruitment process, the AIRAH Board has appointed Trish Hyde to the role ofAIRAH Chief Executive. Hyde replaces Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH, who announced his impending resignation late last year, but will help with the seamless leadership transition over the coming weeks. AIRAH President Paul Jackson, F.AIRAH, says Hyde’s passion for sustainability, proven ability […]
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Bans on horizon for common refrigerants
All eyes are on a European proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that may result in bans on many widely used refrigerants. Alex Pachai, who chairs the Eurammon technical committee, the International Institute of Refrigeration working group on safety, and the industrial heat pump manufacturer’s group at the Danish Heat Pump Association, explains […]
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NSW government targets women in trades
The NSW government plans to invest more than $20 million over three years to attract more women into the construction industry, hoping to see women in 15 per cent of trade and non-traditional roles by 2030. The Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program (IIP) is a grant funding initiative that aims to deliver projects aligned […]
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Tool to support move away from gas boilers
The Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) has launched an online estimation tool designed to aid Australian businesses in sizing heat pumps to replace gas boilers in a bid to reduce skyrocketing energy costs and decarbonise operations to meet net zero targets. A2EP notes that although the implementation of industrial heat pumps is growing rapidly […]
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Gender segregation worsening in critical industries
Australian construction and engineering industries continue to have a high level of occupational gender segregation despite more women entering the workforce, according to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA). Occupational gender segregation occurs when an occupation is dominated by either male or female workers. According to CEDA, this is worsening in critical industries […]
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Updated advice on indoor air quality
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) with support from AIRAH has released an updated handbook on indoor air quality. The handbook, last updated in 2021, has been revised to align with NCC 2022 and assist in understanding the indoor air quality (IAQ) verification methods in NCC Volume One and Volume Two. “The handbook contains explanations […]
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A clearer view of Australia’s commercial building stock
A new national report on energy consumption of buildings has revealed that Australia’s commercial building stock is almost double what was previously thought – and offers important signposts for the journey towards net zero. The 2022 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Baseline Study, published by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), […]
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Flame war ignites over gas stoves
A new report highlighting the health impacts from gas stoves and the subsequent suggestion of potential product bans has sparked radical reactions in the US. The brouhaha began with the release of a study from the Rocky Moutain Institue (RMI), which links gas stoves in US homes to 13 per cent of the country’s childhood […]
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AC installation rules changing in SA
As a result of demand response requirements, installation rules for air conditioners functions are set to change in South Australia from July 1, 2023. From July 1, technicians must not install or connect certain air conditioners unless they comply with the demand response requirements in the Technical Regulator’s new guideline. Air conditioners covered by these […]
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New cooling technology harnesses ions
Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory claim to have developed a new cooling method, which they have named “ionocaloric cooling”. In a recent paper published in Science, researchers explained that ions in solution can be used to control the melting and crystallisation of a material, creating an ionocaloric cycle. Existing and […]
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Industry calms fears around incoming NSW licence
The mechanical services licensing saga took another twist when NSW Fair Trading sent out an email earlier this month to contractors urging them to start applying for the new mechanical services licence, which comes into effect on March 1, 2023. The email warned that the licence will be legally required by those “testing and commissioning […]
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Dr Stephen White awarded AIRAH’s highest honour
During the holiday period, HVAC&R News is featuring the winners of the AIRAH Awards 2022. The James Harrison Medal is the highest honour AIRAH can bestow upon an individual. Named after Australian refrigeration pioneer James Harrison, it recognises the highest levels of individual achievement in the Australian refrigeration and air conditioning industry. The James Harrison […]
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Excellence in Sustainability award for regional NSW first
During the holiday period, HVAC&R News is featuring the winners of the AIRAH Awards 2022. The AIRAH Award category for Excellence in Sustainability is open to all individuals, companies, corporate bodies, institutions and government authorities, recognising work carried out during 2020/2021. This award recognises Australian initiatives that have made clear improvements in the sustainability of […]