Mark Vender

August 6, 2019

Disruption waiting to happen for BMS industry

Events and conferencesNews

According to IBM researcher Arun Vishwanath, disruption is coming to the building controls industry in the form of artificial intelligence and machine learning that could eventually enable self-driving buildings. Vishwanath was the keynote speaker at AIRAH’s inaugural Big Data and Analytics Forum in Sydney last week. The event saw 120 attendees – including analytics consultants, […]

August 1, 2019

Five low-hanging fruit of HVAC&R

Features

The time has come to herald the sustainability solutions offered by HVAC&R, rather than focus on its challenges. That’s the message from Andrea Voigt, Director General of the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE). As Europe swelters through one of its hottest summers on record, cooling in the form of air conditioning is […]

July 31, 2019

Southern stars: SA Apprentice Awards

Events and conferences

Last week AIRAH held its annual SA Apprentice Awards to recognise up-and-coming professionals in South Australia’s HVAC&R sector. Ben Winter of Airmaster took out the top award. A fourth-year apprentice, Winter joined Airmaster in 2016 and assists in the maintenance operations at the Myer Centre in Adelaide’s Rundle Mall precinct. ActronAir was the major sponsor of […]

July 30, 2019

Lifting HVAC&R standards in PNG

Events and conferencesNews

The Papua New Guinea Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Association (PNGRACA) has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) to promote good practices in the country’s HVAC&R sector. Under the 25-year agreement, PNGRACA will assist with regulations, laws and licensing of the industry standards, and increasing and improving the training […]

July 25, 2019

Demand rises for solar heating and cooling

News

A new report from the International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA SHC) indicates that demand for solar heating and cooling is on the rise worldwide for the first time since 2015. The report, Solar Heat Worldwide, notes that 10 of the 20 largest national markets reported growing sales in 2018. […]

July 23, 2019

Raising the efficiency bar for homes

Events and conferencesRegulations

Expect new Australian homes to become more sustainable after an agreement at last week’s Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) to enhance energy efficiency provisions for residential buildings in the National Construction Code (NCC). The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has warmly welcomed the agreement. “The homes built today will still be operating in 2050 – […]

July 22, 2019

ABCB to play key role in industry reform

News

The Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) met last Thursday to discuss a range of issues facing the building and construction sector – many of which were flagged in the Shergold Weir Building Confidence report. All jurisdictions agreed to a national approach to implementing the recommendations. And the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) will play a key […]

July 18, 2019

How flammable is ‘mildly flammable’?

News

A multi-million-dollar research project led by AHRI, with support from ASHRAE, the US Department of Energy and the California Air Resources Board, has comprehensively tested refrigerants to answer questions around their flammability. In Australia, the topic continues to provoke debate, and understandably so. Because of the HFC phase-down, previously common non-flammable A1 refrigerants are giving way […]

July 17, 2019

Best of the West: 2019 WA award winners

Events and conferences

The 2019 winners of the West Australian Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Awards have been announced. A record crowd of more than 350 attendees came together at the new Westin Hotel Grand Ballroom in Perth. Adding a touch of history to proceedings, the venue stands on the same site where sponsor Baker Air Conditioning opened its […]

July 17, 2019

Last chance to review training package

Regulations

Australian Industry Standards (AIS) is coordinating an update of the national electrotechnology training package and has made the draft materials available for final comments. The electrotechnology training package includes the materials used to teach refrigeration and air conditioning throughout Australia. It has undergone some important changes. Three units have been restructured so that students get […]