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Tag: Victoria
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Free vehicle registration for Victorian apprentices
The Victorian government has announced it will make vehicle registration free for eligible apprentices from July 2023. The $10 million initiative, included in the Victorian Budget 2023/24, will provide free registration to apprentices if their employer can verify that their vehicle is an essential part of their work. Apprentices who need their car for work […]
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NCC energy efficiency improvements put on hold?
The Victorian government has announced that some requirements in the National Construction Code that were due to come into effect in October 2023 may be delayed, including those around energy efficiency. In 2022, industry stakeholders advocated strongly to lift the minimum energy efficiency requirements for new homes from 6 to 7 NatHERS stars – the […]
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Victoria tables ambitious 2035 emissions reduction target
The Victorian Government has tabled in parliament its formal determination of Victoria’s 2035 emissions reduction target under its Climate Change Act 2017. The Act sets a framework to keep developing new policies to meet the targets, or sector pledges. The 2035 target aims to reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions by 75–80 per cent below 2005 levels. […]
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Suppliers sought for Home Heating and Cooling Program
The Victorian government is once again looking for suppliers to join the Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades Program. In response to industry feedback, applications are now open online, via VendorPanel, the government’s eProcurement Platform. The program offers rebates to replace gas, electric and wood heaters with reverse-cycle split systems in low-income and vulnerable households. It […]
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Optimising commercial refrigeration and cooling equipment
The Victorian government has published a guide to optimising the performance of commercial refrigeration and cooling equipment. Aimed at end-users, it contains information on refrigerant gases, energy use, and a maintenance checklist for typical equipment. “Refrigeration and cooling systems can use a lot of energy and, if not properly maintained, may leak refrigerants,” reads the […]
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Government backs hydrogen for home heating
Representatives from Victorian and federal governments were present for the unveiling of two new technologies from Rinnai Australia that are designed with future energy in mind. The first is a continuous flow hot water system developed by Rinnai Japan for the domestic market, which uses 100 per cent hydrogen combustion technology. Rinnai plans to start […]
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Focus on efficiency and electrification in gas roadmap
The Victorian government has released its Gas Substitution Roadmap with the stated aim of helping the state navigate the path to net-zero emissions while providing greater consumer choice and cutting energy bills. The government is touting the plan as Australia’s “first coordinated decarbonisation plan for the gas sector”. And there are good reasons for Victoria […]
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Building owners may carry cost of new servicing rules
Industry has warned that building owners and operators may face a financial burden as a result of amendments to the Gas Safety Regulation 2022 in Victoria and the new requirements for maintenance of gas-fired equipment that came into effect on June 1, 2022. With the amendments, two major changes have taken place. First, AS 4575 […]
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CPD is go for electrical licence holders in Victoria
After a successful pilot program, Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) has officially announced the continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for electrical licence holders. At its most simple, most licence holders, including electricians and restricted electrical licence (REL) holders, must now complete a day of CPD training, before their licence can be renewed. CPD can be completed […]
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Victoria eyes ban on non-compliant gas space heaters
Energy Safe Victoria is assessing whether to exercise its powers to restrict the supply and sale of open-flued gas space heaters (OFGSHs) that do not comply with the current AS/NZS 5263.1.3 standard. After a consultation in 2020–21 to decide on the best approach to phasing out of OFGSHs that may pose safety risks for households, […]
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Government survey on Victoria’s HVAC sector
The Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts, and Regions (DJPR) is running a survey to analyse the capabilities of the HVAC sector in Victoria. The survey has been created in response to the combined challenges of supply-chain disruptions and greater demand for improved HVAC systems to prevent the airborne spread of COVID-19. The survey takes less […]
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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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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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Draft guidance on reducing GHG emissions
The Victorian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has released a new draft guideline for managing greenhouse gas emissions. Under Victoria’s Environment Protection Act 2017, which came into effect on July 1, 2021, people conducting activities that pose risks of harm to human health or the environment from pollution and waste must understand those risks and take […]
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Victoria sets new mark with COVID-19 ventilation guide
The Victorian Department of Health has published guidelines on ventilation principles and strategies to reduce aerosol transmission of COVID-19. With the release of the document, the Victorian government has gone further than other jurisdictions in providing detailed information and advice on the subject of COVID-19 and ventilation. The state is still recording a high number […]
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Victoria pledges millions to build clean energy workforce
The Victorian government has launched a $6 million fund to support projects that promote training for an expanded clean energy workforce. The Clean Economy Workforce Capacity Building Fund provides grants up to $1 million for collaboration between industry and training providers to deliver innovation in clean economy training and workforce development. Funding can be used […]
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Home heating and cooling program ramps up
Victoria’s Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades (HHCU) program is expanding to include landlords and renters, and is looking for suppliers to join the program. The program offers rebates to replace gas, electric and wood heaters with reverse-cycle split systems in low-income and vulnerable households. It plans to reach 250,000 households over the next three years, […]
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Victoria invests big in school ventilation
The Victorian government has announced it will invest more than $190 million in initiatives to support a COVID-safe reopening of schools, with a focus on ventilation. Billed by the government as “the biggest investment in education ventilation in Australian history”, the initiative will see 51,000 air purification devices rolled out to all government and low-fee […]
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NSW launches ventilation review of public schools
As students and staff prepare for a return to face-to-face learning, the NSW government has begun a comprehensive review of ventilation in public schools. Described as a “mammoth undertaking”, it will look at 2,200 schools in the public system, which has more than 50,000 learning spaces. Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell […]
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Victoria rolling out heating upgrades to 250,000 homes
The Victorian government has initiated the next major stage of its program to help low-income households replace old heaters with energy-efficient reverse-cycle systems. The Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades Program will help 250,000 low-income and vulnerable households improve their thermal comfort by offering rebates to upgrade gas, electric and wood heaters with energy-efficient reverse-cycle split […]