Mark Vender

October 29, 2020

New GBCA tool aims to eliminate natural gas in buildings

News

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is pushing to eliminate natural gas in buildings with the biggest overhaul of its Green Star rating system in 18 years. Launched today, as the first of the new suite of Green Star Future Focus tools, Green Star Buildings sets a clear new requirement that buildings must be […]

October 27, 2020

South Australia to pilot dual-trade apprenticeship

News

Apprentices in South Australia will soon be able to complete both electrical and RAC qualifications concurrently, thanks to a new program. The Electrical, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician apprenticeship will run for five years. At the end of the program, graduates will have a Certificate III qualification in both electrical and RAC. “The dual-trade qualification […]

October 27, 2020

EU riding a renovation wave to recovery

News

The European Commission has announced a Renovation Wave strategy to improve the energy performance of buildings and in the process cut emissions, boost recovery, and reduce energy poverty. Money for this work will be made available under the EU’s €750 billion COVID-19 recovery fund. The Commission aims to at least double renovation rates in the […]

October 21, 2020

Winners announced in ARBS 2020 Industry Awards

Events and conferences

ARBS has announced the winners of the ARBS 2020 Industry Awards in a gala online ceremony held on Wednesday, October 21. The awards celebrate and reward the exceptional work of the innovators in Australia’s HVAC&R industry, seeking out those individuals and organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and ingenuity in an ever-challenging climate.  […]

October 21, 2020

Germany pledges €500m for COVID-safe HVAC systems

News

The German government has announced a funding program worth up to €500 million (Au$836 million) to support the “Corona-compatible conversion” and upgrading of HVAC systems in public buildings. Lately, much attention has focused on how HVAC systems can mitigate the risk of COVID-19 spreading in indoor spaces. This includes measures such as increasing fresh air […]

October 21, 2020

State-of-the-art refrigeration training pods on the way

News

GOTAFE is partnering with Bendigo Kangan Institute (BKI) and HVAC&R industry bodies in an innovative new training project for RAC trades. Last year the Hon. Gayle Tierney, Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education granted $2,000,000 toward the project that will be provided by the Workplace Training and Innovation Fund (WTIF). One of the […]

October 19, 2020

No changes to hydrocarbon rules says government

News

Queensland Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Dr Anthony Lynham, has responded to the parliamentary petition to “approve the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants and appliances in Queensland” tabled by One Nation member for Mirani, Stephen Andrew. The petition decried the “heavy-handed and completely unnecessary” rules surrounding hydrocarbon refrigerants in Queensland, and asked the government […]

October 16, 2020

NCC 2022 to be delayed

Regulations

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has confirmed that the adoption of the next version of the National Construction Code – NCC 2022 – has been pushed back by four months. “Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has presented a variety of significant challenges for the building industry, regulators and consumers, Building Ministers […]

October 13, 2020

Australians getting ‘ripped off’ due to poor NCC enforcement

News

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) is calling on state and territory governments to protect consumers by making urgent changes to the way building compliance is enforced. According to ASBEC, it is an open secret that Australians are being ripped off by poor enforcement of the National Construction Code (NCC). The code, which governs […]

October 13, 2020

Doubling down on the Kigali Amendment

News

A new study led by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) shows that transitioning to high-efficiency cooling can double the climate mitigation effects of the HFC phase-down under the Kigali Amendment. The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which entered into force in 2019, aims to phase down the consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), […]