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Tag: Slider
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Purpose-built quarantine facilities a must for every state
Australian governments must construct purpose-built COVID-19 quarantine facilities in every state regardless of the nation’s progress with vaccinations. So argues leading epidemiologist at UNSW Sydney, Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, who says the buildings could be constructed relatively quickly and cheaply as modular structures using prefabricated components. Although the federal government has now agreed to fund a […]
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To infinity and refrigeration
A team of engineers from Purdue University, Air Squared Inc and Whirlpool Corporation are collaborating to build a refrigerator for astronauts that works in zero gravity – and upside down. The team ran tests last month on their fridge design at the Zero Gravity Corporation’s (ZERO-G) weightless research lab. The unique testing centre allowed them to test the […]
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Why is R404A still a go-to option in Australia?
Despite its tag as an “outgoing” refrigerant in the HFC phase-down, there are signs that R404A remains a go-to option for key sectors of Australia’s HVAC&R industry. According to experts, pressure from end-users for low first-cost and straightforward, low-risk solutions, and a lack of incentives to move to new technologies have made R404A an ongoing […]
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New generation of wearable AC
Fujitsu has released the second iteration of its wearable cooling device, the Cómodo gear i2. Last year, the company developed a wearable cooling device called the Cómodo gear. The updated version has an improved cooling function and is now adjustable. Feedback from users has resulted in the new version being 15g lighter, and it will […]
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Tensions rise over EU refrigerant transition
Debate is intensifying in Europe over the future of HFCs as the European Union eyes stricter limits on the global warming potential of refrigerants, and manufacturers push back on the proposed switch to hydrocarbons. The European Union (EU) is in the process of reviewing its F-Gas Regulation, which provides a roadmap for phasing down fluorinated […]
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Hotel quarantine ventilation back in the spotlight
The most recent outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria has brought renewed attention to ventilation systems in hotel quarantine. The new wave of cases began when a Victorian man returned to Melbourne after spending 14 days in the Playford medi-hotel in Adelaide. Although he initially returned a negative result, he later tested positive, and it has […]
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Building commissioning gets a boost
Standards Australia has published SA TS 5342:2021 – Technical specification for building commissioning. The document has been developed to provide industry with a common framework and consistent minimum requirements for commissioning buildings, and related activities. It has been many years in the making, with representatives from the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating […]
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NCC the key to making buildings COVID-safe?
Last week, an international group of scientists and indoor air quality (IAQ) experts called for a “paradigm shift” in combating airborne pathogens such as COVID-19 by improving indoor ventilation systems. They say that the potential benefit to public health is comparable to that achieved in the 1800s when cities started organising clean water supplies and […]
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New occupational licensing system clears parliament
The government is charging towards a July 1, 2021 implementation date for its new Automatic Mutual Recognition legislation after the bill was passed by the Senate. The reform will enable licensed workers such as HVAC&R technicians to operate across jurisdictions, without having to apply, pay for and wait for a further licence to perform the […]
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Suzanne Toumbourou moves on from ASBEC
The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has announced that Executive Director Suzanne Toumbourou has been appointed CEO of the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) and will conclude her tenure at ASBEC at the end of June 2021. “It has been an immense pleasure and privilege to work with ASBEC’s members over the past decade,” […]
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Time for ‘paradigm shift’ on indoor air quality
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) air-quality expert Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska is leading an international call for a “paradigm shift” in combating airborne pathogens such as COVID-19 by improving indoor ventilation systems. Professor Morawska led a group of almost 40 researchers from 14 countries in a call published in Science for a shift in standards […]
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IIR releases blueprint for sustainable development
The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) has published its first Activity Report, emphasising the essential role of refrigeration at the heart of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. Originally announced in 2015, the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were designed to provide clear universal sustainability objectives for nations across the globe. The SDGs […]
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Case grows stronger for all-electric homes
A report developed by Renew has analysed the optimum fuel and technology choices for households in Western Australia – and found that the ecological argument for all-electric homes also stacks up economically. The objective of the project was to understand the most cost-effective choices for residential consumers to access stationary energy in the South West […]
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EPA forges ahead with HFC phase-down
After the US government committed to phase down HFCs in line with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a concrete step by putting forward the first rule under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. The AIM Act directs the EPA to sharply reduce production and […]
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Mid-tier survey reveals barriers to HVAC&R maintenance
The results of a national survey focused on HVAC&R maintenance in mid-tier buildings have now been published. The Better Ways To Work Report offers a plant-room perspective of maintenance practices, and pinpoints the main obstacles that must be overcome to improve energy efficiency in Australian buildings. The Better Ways to Work survey, run in 2020, […]
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NABERS Sustainable Portfolios Index 2021
The third edition of the NABERS Sustainable Portfolios Index (SPI) is available online. In 2021, the SPI showcases the proven environmental performance of the top 43 building portfolios and funds around Australia. The SPI provides a public portfolio of building performance in terms of emissions, water usage, waste and indoor environment quality, and tracks progress […]
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Daikin and Gree teams win Global Cooling Prize
Team Daikin with partner Nikken Sekkei Ltd and team Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai with partner Tsinghua University have been announced dual winners of the Global Cooling Prize. The manufacturing giants showcased breakthrough technologies with five times less climate impact than conventional AC units and are planning to bring them to market by 2025. […]
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Upgrade ahead for Certificate III RAC qualification?
Australian Industry Standards (AIS) is seeking feedback on cases for change for various training packages and qualifications – including the Certificate III refrigeration and air conditioning qualification. Last year, the new Certificate III qualification for refrigeration and air conditioning, UEE32220, was finalised and will come online with registered training organisations by October 2022. Although the […]
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NSW confirms professional registration plans
The New South Wales government has taken the next step towards introducing professional registration of engineers and other building practitioners by gazetting the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2021. The regulation includes details on the classes of practitioners who must register, registration pathways and CPD requirements, lodgement of compliance declarations, insurance, and more. From July […]
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Changing the game for residential AC
A new air conditioner with the potential to transform the global residential AC market is set to be unveiled at the Global Cooling Prize Grand Award Ceremony on April 29. It marks the end of an innovation competition that began in 2018, but also the start of a larger effort to drive the air conditioning […]