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Category: News
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ARC promotes fully licensed fridgies
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has released a video designed to educate consumers. The video explains the different licence types, and encourages consumers to find and use fully licensed air conditioning technicians. Running as part of the ARC’s summer campaign, the video seeks to raise awareness that fully licensed (or Certificate III) technicians are qualified […]
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AIRAH and IOR strengthen ties
Two of the world’s leading HVAC&R member organisations have put pen to paper on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) and the UK-based Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) formalised the agreement on January 14 at the ASHRAE Winter Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The MoU is aimed at […]
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Regulators look to the stars for air conditioners
New labelling for air conditioners and highers standards of energy efficiency are on the way after the COAG Energy Council ministers met on December 19 and agreed to the Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS). The RIS proposed tightening regulations on the energy efficiency of air conditioners. Approximately 40 per cent of energy usage in Australian […]
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Madew moves to Infrastructure Australia
After 13 years at the helm of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), Romilly Madew will be stepping down and moving to a new role as CEO of Infrastructure Australia – an independent statutory body that conducts research on significant infrastructure projects to provide advice to government, investors and owners. “Romilly has driven a […]
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Fire risk causes recall on AC unit
Due to a fire risk, a national recall has been put in place for two models of outdoor air conditioning units. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released the recall on Seeley International’s Braemar SCHF21C3S and Braemar SCHF25C3S outdoor air conditioner units on January 8. The ACCC says the power factor correction capacitors fitted in the […]
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Branson blasts slow-moving AC industry
Renowned entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has lashed out at the global air conditioning industry for its lack of innovation, and has reiterated his backing of the Global Cooling Prize as a much-needed incentive to disrupt the status quo. Branson has noted the expected growth of domestic air conditioning – from the already massive $100bn current […]
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NSW offers discounts for energy efficient AC
Households and small businesses in New South Wales could receive discounts of up to $1,000 when they install an energy efficient air conditioning unit. The program is part of the Climate Change Fund initiative, and is designed to encourage people to buy high-efficiency units. It was announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian in September 2017 as part […]
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Fridgies wanted … in Antarctica
The Australian Antarctic Program is currently recruiting refrigeration mechanics. The program is led by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), a division of the Department of Environment and Energy, which operates from its headquarters in Kingston, Tasmania. The position is part of the team which maintains and develops the Australian stations on the Antarctic continent and at […]
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Inside Sydney’s new Passivhaus apartments
A new breed of sustainable housing has landed in Sydney’s inner-city with the opening of The Fern. The 11-unit development from Steele Associates is Australia’s first certified Passive House high-rise project. It endeavours to “set a new standard in sustainable urban living where luxury, lifestyle and comfort co-exist.” “This is a significant milestone for construction […]
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Regulation update for RAC industry
Changes have been made to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act that will affect the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. The act – Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Amendment (Methyl Bromide, Fire Protection and Other Measures) Regulations 2018 – commenced on December 12. The new regulations update references to Australian Standards relevant to the […]
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Industry demands energy efficient homes
More than 30 consumer, social sector, industry, environment and local government organisations have signed a joint statement urging COAG Energy Council to commit to action to raise the energy performance of all Australian homes at its December meeting. At the meeting, COAG EC will consider the recommendations of the Department of Environment & Energy’s Trajectory […]
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Fujitsu General acquires Precise Air Group
Fujitsu General Australia has announced the acquisition by parent company Fujitsu General Limited of Precise Air Group (Holding) Pty Limited (PAG), a leading Australian provider of HVAC, fire and bundled maintenance services. The move signals Fujitsu’s intention to expand its business from home air conditioning – where it is currently a market leader in Australia […]
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Louise Adams appointed MD at Aurecon ANZ
Global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon has appointed Louise Adams as Managing Director Australia and New Zealand from February 2019. Adams was previously the Regional Director responsible for Aurecon’s South Australian and Victorian practice and the first female member to join the company’s global board. According to Aurecon, Adams has a passion for organisational […]
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Michael Bennett becomes new ARC chair
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has appointed Michael Bennett as its new chairman. He replaces outgoing chairman Kevin O’Shea, who stepped down from the role after reaching the term limit under the ARC’s constitution. Bennett is moving from his long-held role as General Manager at Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA). Since RRA’s commencement in 1993, he […]
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Boost for bush apprentices
The federal government will invest $60m to trial a wage subsidy as an incentive for employers in regional and rural communities to engage more apprentices. The Apprentice Wage Subsidy will see up to 1,630 new Australian apprentices in areas of skills needs – including refrigeration and air conditioning. The scheme is open to employers who […]
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Focus on flammable refrigerants
The HFC phase-down has seen increasing use of refrigerants with lower GWP but higher flammability such as R290 (propane) and R32. In turn, this has raised major concerns about the safe use of these gases. According to the Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA), recent workplace fire incidents involving flammable refrigerant gases have “directly contributed […]
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Alinta Energy goes geothermal
Alinta Energy has revealed a major commitment to geothermal heating and cooling with the creation of Alinta Energy Geothermal. The new company division was officially launched at the Fairwater housing estate in Sydney, where more than 800 homes will be served by geothermal heating and cooling in NSW’s first 6 star Green Star community. The development […]
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International green construction code for communities released
The 2018 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) has been released by a consortium of sustainability-minded organisations. The consortium comprises the US Green Building Council (USGBC), the International Code Council, the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and ASHRAE. The International Green Construction Code is designed to have wide applicability for incorporating resilient, high-performance green building strategies into […]
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BBP calls to expand the band
The Better Building Partnership (BBP) has launched the Expand the Band campaign to revise outdated set-points and deadband temperatures in Australian office buildings. The campaign offers building owners a simple and extremely low-cost way of reducing energy costs and emissions. Currently, most commercial leases specify a set-point temperature of 22°C. This is based on 1950s […]
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Aussies score silver in Solar Decathlon
Team Desert Rose from the University of Wollongong has finished second in the Solar Decathlon Middle East. The competition saw 15 teams and 600 students from around the world battling for top honours at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, said to be the largest single-site solar project in the world. The challenge […]