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Category: News
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SACA’s high-tech HVAC
A new three-storey sports hub to support grassroots and women’s cricket has been built as part of a multi-million-dollar redevelopment of the South Australian Cricket Association’s (SACA) Park 25 in Adelaide. Designed by Cox Architects and constructed by Kennett Builders, the officially named Karen Rolton Oval has dramatically reduced the footprint of previous buildings while […]
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Daikin acquires major refrigeration business
Daikin has confirmed plans to purchase AHT Cooling Systems – a European manufacturer of plug-in refrigerator and freezer systems – for €881m (Au$1.38bn). AHT has its headquarters in Austria, as well as major facilities in China, the US and Brazil. It sells its products to 115 countries worldwide, and boasts a client list that includes […]
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Sydney Fish Market casts $250m green line
The Sydney Fish Market has announced plans for a $250m development with ambitions to achieve a 5 Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). Located in close proximity to the CBD at the head of Blackwattle Bay, the renowned market and tourist attraction hopes to revitalise the area while prioritising […]
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Mandatory disclosure for tenants
A new report produced by Energy Action and EnergyConsult for the City of Sydney has highlighted the benefits of expanding the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) program to include tenancies. The CBD program is a national initiative that requires energy efficiency information to be provided when commercial office spaces of 1,000m2 or more are sold or […]
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AIRAH launches HVAC&R podcast
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has released the first episode of a new podcast that will explore key issues in HVAC&R and the built environment, and their impact on the wider world. AIRAH on Air is a monthly podcast hosted by regular Climactic podcaster Mark Spencer with commentary from industry […]
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NABERS calls for Independent Design Review panel members
NABERS has released an Expression of Interest for qualified professionals to become members of the NABERS Independent Design Review (IDR) panel for an initial period of three years. IDR panel members review design documentation and energy models created for NABERS Commitment Agreements. NABERS Commitment Agreements allow buildings that do not yet have existing energy use […]
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Desert Rose: Open for inspection!
After a frantic 15-day build stage, the Solar Decathlon Middle East 2018 competition has moved into its final stage, with competing teams opening their houses for public tours. The Solar Decathlon is the world’s largest international engineering and architectural competition for collegiate institutions, held once every two years. It challenges teams to design, construct and […]
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Passive House to hit mass market?
Frasers Property Australia is building a Certified Passive House home in Point Cook, Melbourne, as part of an innovative project to assess the long-term benefits of Passive House to the mass market. They will test the economic and comfort benefits against the outcomes of a standard family home. Frasers is the first major developer to get […]
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Branson backs Global Cooling Prize
Famous entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has called on fellow innovators around the world to enter a new competition to develop more sustainable cooling technology. The Global Cooling Prize is a worldwide initiative created by the Rocky Mountain Institute to spur the development of radically more energy-efficient cooling technology. And today in New Delhi, India, applications […]
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Raising the standard for commissioning
The government, the Green Building Council of Australia, builders, asset owners and thought leaders have joined forces to address a widely recognised sore point in the Australian building industry: commissioning. The goal is to produce an Australian Standard for building commissioning. As a first step, a working group is producing a guideline – which only […]
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Air conditioning efficiencies could double by 2040
Average air conditioning efficiencies could double by 2040, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The catch is that for this to be achieved, worldwide adoption of all best available technologies would need to take place. The report, Energy Efficiency 2018, suggests there is considerable potential for the energy consumption attributed […]
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ARENA releases PUSCH report
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has released a report called Promoting the Use of Solar Cooling and Heating in Australian buildings (PUSCH). The report analyses the status of the solar heating and cooling (SHC) industry in Australia and its suitability for built environment applications. It identifies existing market barriers and opportunities for improving the market […]
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Australia awaits gender equality scorecard
The federal government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) is set to release its 2017–18 gender reporting data on November 13 at the National Press Club in Canberra. “Australia’s role in encouraging gender diversity is based on our distinctive gender equality reporting system,” says a WGEA spokesperson. “We now have a comprehensive, world-leading dataset which enables […]
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Cold Hard Facts 3 released
It’s the most comprehensive inventory available of the Australian HVAC&R sector, and a new version has just been published. Cold Hard Facts 3, produced by The Expert Group for the Department of the Environment and Energy, presents nationwide figures for equipment, refrigerant, energy consumption and emissions. The study aims to provide policy makers, industry, and […]
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Mould inquiry calls for tighter building standards
The federal government has released findings from its inquiry into mould-related illnesses and moisture in buildings. The parliamentary inquiry met in August and September to hear evidence from experts in health, biology and building physics. The committee received information about Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) and the wide range of associated symptoms that are often […]
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Chillventa 2019 – What we learnt
Germany’s Chillventa show was held in Nuremburg from October 16–18. The biennial event, now into its 10th year, is touted as “the meeting place for the international refrigeration, AC, ventilation and heat pump community”. In many ways it is a European equivalent to ARBS. Numbers this year were up. For the first time there were […]
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Charge limit increase imminent
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has taken the next step towards increasing the charge limit of A3 refrigerants in commercial refrigeration equipment. As reported earlier this year, the change would increase the limit on A3 (flammable) refrigerants such as propane in commercial refrigeration equipment from 150g to 500g. This would enable hydrocarbons to be used […]
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ARC re-awarded contract for licensing scheme
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has been re-awarded the contract for administration of the national refrigeration and air conditioning licence scheme, for up to nine years. The ARC has administered the scheme since its inception in 2005. It is the body responsible for granting refrigerant handling licences (RHL) and refrigerant trading authorisations (RTA). These are […]
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Leadership changes at NDY
Following a successful five-year period running Norman Disney & Young’s Perth office, Alan Edler has been appointed to lead NDY’s national civic and defence portfolios. Replacing him as director in charge of the NDY Perth office is Darrel Williams, who will officially start on January 1, 2019. Since joining the company, Williams has worked in […]
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New comparisons in commercial HVAC systems
The ARBS Education and Research Foundation has released the results of a comparative study conducted on HVAC systems in commercial buildings. The research and the resulting report – touted as a world first on air distribution systems – was conducted in Sydney by Team Catalyst. “There are few surprises for experienced HVAC engineers who understand […]