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Tag: Slider
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Deadline for new training package extended to 2023
The adoption deadline for the new electrotechnology training package UEE11, which includes various refrigeration and air conditioning qualifications, has been extended from October 5, 2022 until January 31, 2023. Within the HVAC&R industry, there is particular interest in the roll-out of the new Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration qualification UEE32220. Importantly, it includes […]
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New method for dissipating heat in electronic devices
A research team from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and University of California (UC) Berkeley has published a paper that explores a new cooling method for electronic devices. Electronic devices often generate high temperates, and these need to be cooled to prevent the device being compromised or damaged. Traditionally, exisiting cooling methods can have […]
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AC company fined for unlicensed electrical testing
Following the prosecution of a Perth air conditioning company, the Western Australian government is warning manufacturers that testing of electrical equipment above a certain voltage must only be carried out by licensed electricians. Westbury Holdings, trading as Air Group Australia and CoolBreeze Air Conditioning, was fined $15,000 at Perth Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to […]
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Days of R404A are numbered
High-GWP refrigerants may soon be in short supply and rising in price as stockpiles dwindle, international pressures hit our shores, and the HFC phase-down quotas start to bite. And according to experts at AIRAH’s Refrigeration 2022 conference this week, that means it’s time for contractors to urgently switch away from R404A. When the HFC phase-down […]
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Tackling embodied carbon for building services
As Scope 3 emissions emerge as the next big obstacle on the road to net zero, new industry initiatives are looking at the way forward for building services. Until now, businesses have generally focused on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions (or operational emissions) when making net zero commitments. Scope 1 covers direct emissions, for […]
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Solar power after dark
A research team at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has discovered how to harness “night-time” solar power. The team, from the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, made the breakthrough by using a semi-conductor device called a thermoradiative diode to generate electricity from the emission of infrared light. The results of the study […]
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APCO launches recycled packaging pledge
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has launched an initiative to drive a greater uptake of recycled content in packaging. The Recycled Materials Pledge challenges major brands across all industries, including HVAC&R, to publicly commit the volumes of specific materials they will transition from virgin materials to recycled materials by 2025. It will play a […]
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Overcoming the stigma of VET
Vocational education and training (VET) has long been surrounded by negative perceptions. In a recent “What if” paper, VOCEDplus discusses what would happen if we could overcome these negative perceptions. The paper notes that societal perceptions of VET are influenced by a variety of factors, including the terminology surrounding vocational training versus higher education. VET […]
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ARBS 2022 Awards finalists announced
Ahead of ARBS 2022 in Melbourne on August 16–18, the finalists have been revealed for the ARBS 2022 Industry Awards. A panel of industry experts evaluated and selected the finalists based on various criteria such as leadership, sustainability, performance, and origination. The award winners will be announced and honoured at a gala dinner on Wednesday […]
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First glimpse of NCC 2022
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has released the first stage of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 preview to familiarise stakeholders with the major changes. The first stage of the release contains most of the amendments finalised for NCC 2022, including: New livable housing features to assist people with disability and through more stages […]
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Towards a better performance metric for cooling
Key players behind the Global Cooling Prize have launched a project to establish new performance metrics for air conditioners that will promote the uptake of next-generation technology. The Global Cooling Prize was an innovation competition that offered prizes for developing a room air conditioner with five times less climate impact than a standard model in […]
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Hydrocarbons the future for residential AC?
Industry stakeholders have applauded a revised International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) safety standard that will allow larger charges of flammable refrigerants in household appliances such as air conditioners, heat pumps and dehumidifiers. In particular, it could open the way for greater use of hydrocarbons in residential air conditioning. Standard IEC 60335-2-40 deals with the safety of […]
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Victoria to set 2035 emissions reduction target
The Victorian government is setting an emissions reduction target for 2035 and is seeking public input as part of the process. The 2035 target is part of the state’s longer-term path towards net zero, as defined in Victoria’s Climate Change Act 2017. The target for 2020 was to cut emissions by 15–20 per cent below […]
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NSW to invest in ventilation systems for schools
Automatic fresh air ventilation systems will be rolled out to more than 10,000 public school classrooms in New South Wales to bolster protection against COVID-19. With winter approaching, case loads are expected to increase. Considering that in Australia, 2022 has already seen more than double the number of COVID-related deaths in 2020 and 2021 combined […]
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Industry faces new deadline for fire testing
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has issued a corrigendum for NCC 2019 that delays the changeover to new testing requirements for passive fire protection systems. Previously, as of May 1, 2022, these systems were to be tested to the latest version of AS 1530.4; this has now been pushed back to September 1, 2022, […]
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International alliance to promote women in cooling
The International Network for Women in Cooling (INWIC) has been launched to advance the engagement of women, promote career opportunities, and increase female participation in the HVAC&R sector. The initiative is led by the World Refrigeration Day (WRD) Secretariat and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction in cooperation with founding partners from around the […]
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University to use food waste for heating
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UW-Oshkosh), USA, is planning to install a biogas-powered hot water boiler to generate heat in the coming winter. The university already has a biodigester that generates approximately 8 per cent of the campus’s electricity through capturing methane campus food waste and grass clippings. The school submitted an application last autumn […]
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Breakthrough material for heat storage
Researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the University of Leipzig have developed a new heat storage material that could improve energy efficiency in buildings. The material can both store heat and send it back into the environment as needed. While similar materials exist, this new one is more stable, made from non-harmful substances, […]
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Now or never for emissions reduction, says IPCC
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that immediate and deep emissions reductions are required across all sectors to limit global warming to the levels set out in the Paris Agreement. The report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, provides an updated global snapshot of actions and pledges to […]
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Budget provides a short-term boost, says AIRAH
AIRAH has welcomed the immediate support provided for industry in the Federal Budget 2022–23, and says the HVAC&R building services industry stands ready to help develop a clear and sustainable long-term vision for Australia. A dominant theme in this year’s Budget has been the need for a stronger workforce. The government has announced a raft […]