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Tag: Slider
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Heat pumps show promise in industrial applications
As heat pump technology grows in popularity across Europe, Australia has also turned its eye towards renewable energy in industrial settings. Commercial businesses such as brewers, pet food producers and food processors are exploring whether thermal storage and heat pumps could help reduce the use of natural gases. ARENA supplied $460,500 in funding to the Australian […]
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Government to extend apprentice wage subsidy
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has targeted trades as a key area for investment ahead of the Federal Budget, by announcing an extension to the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements and Completing Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidies. The end date for the program will now be extended to June 30, 2022. Through the subsidy, businesses that engage an Australian […]
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Compliance crunch coming for fire dampers?
A small note to the schedule of referenced documents in the National Construction Code that is set to activate on May 1 could cause big non-compliance risks with fire dampers, according to some industry sources. The issue relates to the testing standard AS 1530.4 for fire dampers called up in the National Construction Code (NCC). […]
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Humidity a major factor in emissions from cooling
Scientists from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Xerox PARC have released a study exploring the environmental impact of controlling humidity. The research first appeared in the journal Joule, titled “Humidity’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions from air conditioning”. While studies on air conditioners and greenhouse gases have been compiled before, this is the […]
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Victoria approves assessment scheme for HVAC&R engineers
The Victorian Business Licensing Authority has approved the AIRAH Professional Engineer Register (APER) program under the Professional Engineers Registration Act 2019. This follows the approval for the APER in Queensland in 2021, and represents the next step of AIRAH’s plan to provide a professional registration scheme for HVAC&R building services engineers across the country. AIRAH […]
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Infrastructure Sustainability Council calls for industry shake-up
Australia’s Infrastructure Sustainability Council has released two new agendas that it hopes will bring the building industry together around a shared vision to address climate change and combat inequality. The first agenda, Advance our nations, fair – world-class infrastructure for thriving nations, explores barriers to world-class infrastructure performance. The second, Place-based approaches to net zero, […]
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New study confirms IAQ benefits of plants
Research teams at the University of Birmingham and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) have recently discovered that indoor plants may be able to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by up to 20 per cent. The team chose to use common houseplants in their research, including peace lilies, corn plants and fern arums. Each plant was placed […]
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The end of hotel quarantine in Victoria
Hotel quarantine will finish in Victoria at the end of the month, with the purpose-built Victorian Quarantine Hub in Mickleham, north of Melbourne, becoming the sole quarantine site for unvaccinated travellers. The hub, which opened in February, has gradually been ramping up operations. From April, it will have capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 residents […]
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Triple-pane windows to gain market traction
A new generation of more affordable thin, triple-pane windows has been proven to reduce energy costs and noise levels. Researchers from the Department of Energy at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have led a series of studies with the aim of creating products with greater availability and lower costs. PNNL says windows typically make up approximately […]
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Global HVAC&R industry called to support Ukraine
The Refrigerating Association of Ukraine has issued an open letter calling for the global HVAC&R sector to provide its support in the face of the ongoing Russian invasion. The letter, written by Association Chairman Serhii Anashkin and shared online, appeals to manufacturers of HVAC&R equipment and refrigerant, as well as experts and participants in the […]
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Breaking the bias in HVAC&R
To mark International Women’s Day (IWD) and its theme for 2022, AIRAH has launched a survey to collect and share experiences of gender in Australia’s HVAC&R building services sector, and identify ways to “break the bias”. Sharing experiences The survey was initiated by the Women of AIRAH special technical group (STG). Ura Sarfejoo, M.AIRAH, is […]
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Solid-state refrigeration tech wins £1.3m funding
A zero-carbon refrigeration start-up company has received funding to commercialise its refrigeration technology, which aims to cut global emissions. Barocal, a spin-out from Cambridge University, has secured £1.3m to develop the solid-state temperature changing materials that work in both heating and cooling applications. The barocaloric materials offer a zero-carbon alternative to gas-compression cooling and heating. […]
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Report confirms massive demand for engineers
The latest Australian Engineering Employment Vacancy Report, produced by Engineers Australia, shows that demand for engineers is at a 10-year high. It also warns that this is exacerbating the existing skills crisis. According to the report, the number of jobs advertised increased 50 per cent nationally in 2021. Demand grew most strongly in Queensland, New […]
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Government offers ventilation vouchers
As the Victorian government announces a relaxing of rules for mask wearing, it has also unveiled a stimulus package to support businesses and entice people back into venues and workplaces. Although the incentives for dining, entertainment and travel have been offered before, this time there is new funding aimed specifically at ventilation. A $60 million […]
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AIRAH announces award winners
AIRAH has announced the winners of the AIRAH Awards 2021 at a black-tie gala event in Sydney. Leading figures from Australia’s HVAC&R building services industry took a long-awaited opportunity to reunite and raise a toast to the standout people, projects and products in the sector. The winners, selected across 13 categories, exemplify the industry’s efforts […]
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Air quality protocol under development at QUT
International air quality expert Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska, in liaison with facilities management at QUT, is developing a protocol to undertake air quality auditing within the university’s facilities. Prof. Morawska says the assessment aims to ensure excellent air quality, which would ensure a lower risk of infection of airborne viruses including COVID-19, as well as […]
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World Refrigeration Day announces 2022 theme
At a session held during the 2022 AHR Expo in Las Vegas, World Refrigeration Day founder Steve Gill announced the theme for 2022: Cooling matters. Held annually on June 26 – the birthday of Lord Kelvin – World Refrigeration Day is an international initiative that raises awareness of the benefits of cooling. It also aims […]
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AIRAH launches IAQ Assembly
AIRAH has launched the IAQ Assembly, a free suite of videos, guides and articles that reflect the latest thinking on indoor air quality and preventing the airborne spread of COVID-19. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, and particularly since the recognition of the critical role of airborne transmission, AIRAH has been curating resources about how […]
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ABCB farewells Neil Savery
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has thanked Neil Savery for his contributions as he ends his term as CEO. Savery’s connection with the ABCB began during his time as Executive Director of Planning SA, the Chief Planning Executive of the ACT Planning and Land Authority, and as the Deputy Victorian Building Commissioner. In these […]
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Winners of the 2022 AHR Expo Innovation Awards
After the forced cancellation of the 2021 event, the 2022 AHR Expo returned this year at Las Vegas. One of the largest HVAC&R shows in the world, it featured more than 1,600 exhibitors, covering 42,447 m2 of exhibitor space. One of the highlights of the show is the announcement of the AHR Expo Innovation Awards […]