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Category: News
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Illegal HFC trade ‘flourishing’ in Europe
A new report from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has revealed the startling extent of Europe’s illegal HFC activity. The report, Doors Wide Open, is the result of surveys conducted in late 2018 with EU member states and key industry stakeholders. “Reports from industry indicate that large-scale illegal HFC trade and use is occurring in […]
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Energy consumption and emissions hit record levels
Global energy consumption and CO2 emissions rose to record levels in 2018, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). And one of the major contributors to the increase was HVAC&R. According to the IEA, energy consumption worldwide grew by 2.3 per cent in 2018, nearly twice the average rate of growth […]
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The future of AC and heating?
A research team at Germany’s Saarland University has developed a prototype device that can transfer heat using “muscles” made from nickel-titanium. Nickel-titanium is a shape-memory material that releases heat to its surroundings when it is mechanically loaded in its superelastic state. It absorbs heat from its surroundings when it is unloaded. The team, led by […]
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K-CEP establishes Million Cool Roofs Challenge
The Kigali Cooling Efficiency program (K-CEP) has announced the Million Cool Roofs Challenge. A US$2 million global competition, the initiative is designed to rapidly scale up the deployment of highly solar-reflective “cool” roofs in developing countries. The Challenge will award US$100,000 grants to up to 10 teams this year to deploy solar reflective coating and/or […]
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HVAC contractors needed for $500m schools initiative
The NSW government has advertised an Expression of Interest (EOI) to establish panels of HVAC contractors to undertake works at schools across the state. The work is part of the $500 million Cooler Classrooms initiative announced last year. The program will provide air conditioning in permanent learning spaces and libraries at schools that experience a mean […]
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So how do you define refrigeration?!
A group of experts from the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) have been working together to establish common definitions of five words that characterise the refrigeration sector. After more than a year of discussions, the organisations came to the agreement on the following […]
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Exploding the 22°C comfort myth
A new Australian study is taking on the long-held debate: is your office’s 22°C thermostat really set at the correct temperature? Around the world, 22°C has become standard practice. For workers, it’s believed to be the optimal temperature for productivity – a claim backed by ASHRAE and REHVA. Not so, says a team from South […]
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Daikin achieves Australian Made certifications
Four Daikin products now officially bear the Australian Made certification. “These Australian Made certifications are the first we’ve attained at Daikin, and it’s a very proud moment for us,” says Shaun Uehara, managing director of Daikin Australia. The company began manufacturing products in Australia in 1982. Australian Made is a registered certification trademark that is Australia’s […]
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Opinion: Reducing emissions through innovation
By Iain Campbell, Senior Fellow at Rocky Mountain Institute and Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH, CEO of AIRAH. With the hottest summer on record just behind us, climate change is top of mind for many of us here in Australia. Since 1910, our country has warmed over 1°C on average, leading to more extreme heat events, including […]
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BMF prioritises professional registration for engineers
Following an independent assessment of problems in the building and construction industry, the Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) has developed a roadmap for reform. And one of the key changes it has signalled is the need for a nationally harmonised registration scheme for building practitioners, including engineers. The implementation plan is a product of the Building […]
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Passive house triumphs in Ice Box Challenge
As part of the Sustainable Living Festival in Melbourne, the Australian Passive House Association (APHA) ran the Ice Box Challenge to test the performance of a passive house – and the results are in! The challenge showcased two small cabins, one built to the local building code and one to the passive house standard, each […]
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Davina Rooney named GBCA chief executive
Davina Rooney will join the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) as the organisation’s new chief executive officer. Rooney replaces Romilly Madew. Boasting a civil engineering background, Rooney was most recently in a senior sustainability position at property group Stockland. “Davina is a well-known and highly respected leader in our sector, and we are delighted […]
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Podcast: The low-down on the HFC phase-down
The fifth episode of AIRAH on Air, AIRAH’s regular podcast series, explores the HFC phase-down. The phase-down is a worldwide initiative designed to mitigate climate change by reducing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – synthetic gases used in air conditioning and refrigeration that can be thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide in terms of global warming. […]
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SMART researchers aim to optimise building HVAC
Researchers from the University of Wollongong (UOW) are exploring ways to keep building temperatures consistent within a set comfort zone. A collaboration between the university’s SMART Infrastructure Facility, industry and government, the research team is focusing on optimising building HVAC. “The project’s focus is to increase the efficiency of building environments,” says team leader and senior […]
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New HVAC&R industry directory from AIRAH
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has released its 2019 HVAC&R Search Compendium – a new hard-copy directory publicising Australia’s industry. The Compendium follows on from AIRAH’s long-running Industry Directory. Its new iteration features a larger A4 format and a more graphical layout. “This year’s deluxe Compendium format is a response […]
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Cooling as a service pegged as ‘top idea’ of 2019
The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance has selected cooling as a service (CaaS) as one of the top six green investment ideas for 2019. CaaS involves end-users paying for the cooling they receive, rather than the physical product or infrastructure that delivers it. A technology provider installs and maintains the cooling equipment and recovers […]
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Free guide specification for air tightness testing
The Air Infiltration and Ventilation Association of Australia (AIVAA) has published a free guide specification for air tightness testing. It is intended to be used by projects with a defined target for air tightness and testing, to verify it has been met. The guide specification is appropriate for residential or simple buildings. SUHO ESD Consultant […]
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CEO steps down from Standards Australia
Standards Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Bronwyn Evans has announced that she is leaving Standards Australia on Friday, March 8. Dr Evans has been the CEO of Standards Australia since October 2013. Standards Australia chairman Richard Brooks thanked Dr Evans for her significant contributions during her time as chief executive. “Bronwyn has been CEO through […]
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ASBEC applauds focus on energy efficiency
The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has welcomed the federal government’s recent announcement of its additional investment in energy efficiency. ASBEC is particularly impressed with the clear focus on improving the energy and emissions performance of buildings. ASBEC’s modelling has shown that with appropriate support, Australia’s building sector could deliver over a quarter of […]
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From Kogarah to Caringbah
Heatcraft has relocated its Kogarah store in Sydney to 33 Cawarra Road, Caringbah. The new premises has a bigger warehouse and showroom, and more parking for customers. Gerard Cudmore and account manager Adam Jones will manage the branch and service the Sutherland and South West Sydney regions. The new store is open from 7am–5pm on […]