Laura Timberlake
Articles by Laura Timberlake | Page 32
Reflective roads paving the way to cooler cities
Researchers in MIT’s Concrete Sustainability Hub have been modelling lighter-coloured and more reflective roads in a bid to lower air temperatures. Dark asphalt is known to raise the surrounding air temperature. Approximately 40 per cent of urban areas are paved, and by absorbing and reflecting heat it can increase the urban heat island effect. The researchers believe […]
National Skills Week celebrates vital workers
Celebrating the value of apprentices and trainees across Australia, National Skills Week is taking place from August 23–29. National Skills Week is an initiative of SkillsOne, and highlights the talents and skills of apprentices and trainees across multiple industries. Industry and training organisations are encouraged to get involved. The theme this year encourages Australians to […]
R U OK? launches Tradies Tools to Talk
R U OK? has released a resource called “Tradies Tools to Talk”, to help people understand when tradespeople might be struggling. The initiative has been launched ahead of R U OK? Day 2021, on September 9. Trades workers and technicians make up more than 13 per cent of the Australian workforce, with men filling 84 […]
Focus on fire safety in new DAs
AIRAH is releasing two Design Application (DA) manuals that focus on fire, smoke, and (smoke exhaust) air dampers within the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. The DA manuals are titled DA05 Guide to Fire and Smoke Control in Buildings using AS 1668 Part 1, and DA06 Guide to Fire, Smoke and Air Dampers […]
Shape-memory alloy could replace HFCs
A small company in Ireland has developed a new type of air conditioning system that could negate the need for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Researchers at Exergyn, based in Dublin, worked in secret collaboration with another company – believed to be Carrier – for two years on the project. The system uses a shape-memory alloy (SMA) called […]
When refrigeration meets quantum physics
An international team of researchers has created a new cooling concept by combining thermodynamics with quantum theory. The team – consisting of researchers from TU Wien, in collaboration with FU Berlin, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and the University of Lisbon – have discovered quantum effects can be used to cool a cloud of ultra-cold […]
New guide offers insight on moisture management
Pro Clima has released a book that explores a variety of construction systems, to help inform and guide simulations of the combined heat and moisture transport of residential and commercial façades. It also takes into account natural environmental impacts on the building envelope. The Blue Book is authored by Pro Clima’s building science manager Jesse […]
Commercial building design in the post-pandemic world
The Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA) is hosting a free webinar on Thursday, August 19, where four experts will discuss commercial building design in the post-pandemic world. More than a year into the pandemic, new themes and trends are emerging in the design of commercial work spaces. The presenters include: Julia McPhersonMcPherson is a strategist and […]
Clear breakthrough for radiative cooling technology
A research team in Korea has created a transparent radiative cooler that can transmit, reflect and emit different types of light. The team was led by Professor Junsuk Rho, Minkyung Kim, and Dr Dasol Lee from POSTECH‘s departments of mechanical engineering and chemical engineering, alongside Professor Heon Lee and Soomin of the Department of Materials […]
Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2021
Entries are open for the Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2021 until July 30, 2021. Sustainability Victoria runs the awards on behalf of the Victorian government to recognise and reward Victorians implementing sustainability initiatives across the state. The organisation says it hopes the awards will “inspire industry, businesses, communities, local governments, schools and individuals across Victoria to take action towards a […]
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