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Lab upgrade wins retrofit accolade
During the holiday period, HVAC&R News is featuring the winners of the AIRAH Awards 2022. The AIRAH Awards category for Best Retrofit or Upgrade is open to all individuals, companies, corporate bodies, institutions and government authorities, recognising work carried out during 2020/2021. This award recognises excellence in the retrofit or upgrade of a HVAC system, […]
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US EPA proposes tighter HFC restrictions
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has moved to restrict the use of many “super-pollutant” hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in new air conditioner and refrigeration systems, as well as in foams and aerosols. The proposal targets the use of HFCs above a certain global warming potential (GWP) and will require most new equipment to transition to lower-GWP […]
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NABERS seeks input on embodied emissions framework
NABERS is seeking industry input on a new system for measuring and reporting on embodied emissions in buildings. Embodied emissions have become an increasing focus in the built environment as a wide range of stakeholders develop detailed plans for reaching net zero. Although the pathways to reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions – those emissions […]
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Government seeks input on improving energy performance
Consultation is now open on the National Energy Performance Strategy, which the federal government says will focus on easing pressure on energy bills, improving energy reliability and reducing emissions. The government has acknowledged there is much work to be done in this area – an assessment confirmed by international reviews. Australia was declared a “loser” […]
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Government releases inaugural climate change statement
Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, has delivered the Australian Government’s first Annual Climate Change Statement, sharing progress and plans as the country works toward 2030 and 2050 emissions targets. The statement is a requirement of the Climate Change Act 2022, which Government says will provide “accountability and transparency” and the opportunity to engage […]
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Electrification the clear pathway to net zero
A new report from the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) confirms 100 per cent electrification is the lowest cost, fastest emissions reduction pathway for Australia’s built environment. Unlocking the pathway: Why electrification is the key to net zero buildings finds electrification would save $49 billion between 2024 and 2050 over the “business as usual” […]
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Reason prevails in mech services licence saga
After signs that air conditioning and refrigeration technicians in New South Wales could be excluded from key work when the new mechanical services licence goes live in March 2023, the government has confirmed that the scope of work for air conditioning and refrigeration technicians will not change with the introduction of the new licence. It […]
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CSIRO predicts more climate extremes
CSIRO has released its seventh biennial State of the Climate report, projecting that in coming decades Australians are likely to experience more heat and fewer cold extremes, as well as more time in drought, more dangerous fire days, and a longer fire season for large areas. The report draws on Australian and international climate research […]
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Survey shows rising salaries in Australian HVAC&R
AIRAH has released the results of its 2022 salary survey, and they show that salaries are on the rise across the Australian HVAC&R industry. The survey provides a snapshot of employment, salaries and expectations across the sector. The 2022 survey also offers a comparison to the original AIRAH salary survey conducted in 2019 – before […]
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Winners announced at the 2022 AIRAH Awards
AIRAH has announced the winners of the AIRAH Awards 2022 at a gala dinner on November 24 at Luna Park in Sydney. Almost 200 industry leaders gathered on the night to celebrate the top people, projects and products of Australia’s HVAC&R sector. AIRAH says it has been working for many years to raise the profile […]
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Occupational licensing due for an overhaul?
Overhauling occupational licensing in Australia and letting homeowners, renters and social-housing tenants move more easily for work could deliver tens of billions of dollars in productivity gains. That is the claim of a submission to the federal government’s employment white paper, developed by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA). In the submission, CEDA […]
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Designers tackle challenge of ‘true zero’ homes
Omnia House, by Elizabeth Wheeler of Future Focus Buildings and Tamar Boyd of Blue Lotus Energy Rating, has taken out the National Award for the Design Matters National (DMN) True Zero Carbon Challenge 2022. The DMN True Zero Carbon Challenge is an annual home design competition focused on net zero goals. A building designer and […]
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Results of major RAC testing project revealed
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has published the complete results of its refrigeration and air conditioning bench-testing project. It clearly demonstrates that preventative maintenance minimises technology failure, reduces refrigerant leaks, and increases the energy efficiency of properly installed equipment. The project is the next stage of a much larger […]
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Buildings and construction failing net zero challenge
The 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction has been released at COP27, containing alarming news for the sector. Overall, it indicates that after a temporary drop in emissions during the pandemic, emissions have hit an all-time high. This has been driven by increases in construction that have wiped out improvements in energy efficiency. […]
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Women in cooling survey reveals global challenges
The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) has published a new report surveying 810 women worldwide working in the HVAC&R sector, to better understand their careers, challenges, motivation, and opportunities. According to the report, more than 15 million people are employed worldwide in the HVAC&R industry, with the under-representation of women evidenced by the fact that […]
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HVAC exhaust can boost rooftop crops
Researchers have found that planting vegetables crops near vents exhausting carbon dioxide-rich air can produce up to four times more growth. The farming system, known as BIG GRO, takes a sustainable waste resource that exists in excess in cities – human respiration – and applies it to farming. Conducted on the roof of the […]
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Worldwide celebration of ventilation
November 8 is being celebrated as the first official World Ventilation Day – or, as it has been dubbed, World Ventil8 Day. Launched by a coalition of scientists, academics, engineering bodies and environmental activists, the international awareness campaign promotes the critical role of better building ventilation in supporting health, wellbeing, and productivity. It is being […]
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World grapples with refrigerant transition
A special international publication has collected perspectives from around the globe on the transition to low-GWP refrigerants under the Kigali Amendment. With the help of local experts, it reveals how the HFC phase-down is tracking, the major challenges so far, and the potential solutions. The Kigali Amendment aims to phase down HFC production worldwide by […]
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Unequal economic impact of extreme heat
A new research article linking economic growth and extreme heat has highlighted that the worst impacted communities will likely be the least culpable when it comes to man-made climate impacts. According to researchers Christopher W. Callahan and Justin S. Mankin, “global inequality is both a cause and consequence of the unequal burden of climate change”. […]
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Budget offers steady start, says AIRAH
AIRAH has welcomed the Federal Budget as a “steady first step” towards Australia’s longer-term goals. Among the investments announced were many aimed at addressing the housing crisis in Australia. Under the new National Housing Accord, the government expects one million new homes to be built over five years from 2024. The Accord also includes funding […]