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Welcome to the hydrogen-heated home
The UK government has confirmed the country’s first test homes completely relying on hydrogen for heating will be opened to the public, researchers and educators in April. The two semi-detached homes will showcase working hydrogen appliances in a domestic setting. They will demonstrate the potential of hydrogen as a direct lower carbon alternative to existing […]
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Has China halted illegal production of CFC-11?
New studies indicate that China may have successfully curbed production of CFC-11, an ozone-depleting refrigerant also used for foam insulation. The chemical was banned, along with other CFCs such as R12 and R502, under the Montreal Protocol to stop the production and import of ozone depleting substances and reduce their concentration in the atmosphere. In […]
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Breakthrough in radiative cooling
New research led by University at Buffalo (UB) engineers has made significant progress in the area of passive cooling. The study, published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, has found a way to turbo-charge an existing passive cooling technique, known as radiative or sky cooling. This eco-friendly technique involves the use of sun-blocking nanomaterials that […]
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Supermarket refrigerant leaks caught on camera
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has released the details of an investigation into refrigerant leakage in US supermarkets. The project, aimed at raising mainstream awareness of refrigerant management issues, is titled “Leaking Havoc” – and the results are indeed alarming. EIA investigated dozens of supermarkets in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland using portable […]
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South Australia opens new ‘medi-hotel’ for COVID cases
International travellers in South Australia who test positive for COVID-19 infection are now being transferred to a hotel quarantine facility with upgraded ventilation systems and processes. The 72-bed Tom’s Court hotel in Adelaide’s CBD will mainly house new international arrivals, but rooms will also be available should there be any further cases of community transmission […]
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Hotel quarantine outbreaks prompt ventilation review
The Victorian government is conducting a review of hotel ventilation and air conditioning systems amid an increase in COVID-19 cases linked to quarantine. The situation has raised further concerns about the suitability of hotels as quarantine facilities, and the role of airborne transmission in spreading the virus. The Australian hotel quarantine system has registered outbreaks […]
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Draft training units on VRF and fire and smoke control
New training units have been drafted for the electrotechnology training package and are open for comment. The two new units cover variable refrigerant flow (VRF) AC systems, and emergency lighting and alarm systems/fire and smoke control systems. Both will be included as an elective in Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration. The new unit of […]
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Important advance in harnessing waste heat
Scientists at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Tōhoku University in Japan have successfully increased the electrical power per footprint of thermomagnetic generators. Scientists have long been trying to find ways to harness waste heat. Recently, there was increased interest in finding new thermoelectric materials. Many technical processes unintentionally release unused heat into the environment, […]
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REHVA launches online COVID-19 course
The Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA) has launched an online course for the safe operation of buildings and HVAC systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The online course takes around 8 hours to complete and covers key topics on how to resume activities, safely operate buildings, and use densely occupied indoor […]
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National search for engineering and technology champions
The International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) has established two annual communications prizes to find compelling technological and engineering innovations. The Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) is a founding member of CAETS, and is searching for technological scientists and engineers who are involved in ground-breaking work and are also […]
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Biden signs orders to ratify Kigali – and more
US President Joe Biden has set the wheels in motion for his country to finally ratify the Kigali Amendment for the phasing down of HFCs. It was announced among a raft of measures aimed at addressing climate change. Via an executive order, Biden directed his administration to prepare to send the Kigali Amendment to the […]
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Global Cooling Prize reveals field testing results
The Global Cooling Prize team has completed the field test portion of the prize, and has now started lab testing at CEPT University. The Global Cooling Prize is an innovation competition that seeks to incentivise development of a residential cooling solution that will have at least five times less climate impact than standard room air […]
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ASHRAE Virtual Winter Conference
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is holding the winter conference online from February 9–11 (EST). The conference will feature eight tracks (streams), with 40 live presentations and over 80 on-demand sessions; which will be available for 18 months. There will also be virtual technical tours, social events, meet-ups, networking opportunities […]
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Using cryogenic energy storage in cold stores
A demonstrator project in Belgium has been set up to show how cryogenic energy storage could work at refrigerated warehouses. Three years in the making, the project was recently installed at Frigologix in the city of Lomell, and a free international webinar will be held on March 17 to share findings and results. The work […]
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Female fridgies succeeding in TAFE NSW program
Two Indigenous Australian women are filling a growing need for more females in HVAC&R thanks to an industry-sponsored training program at TAFE NSW. The Career Start in Air-conditioning & Refrigeration program allows students to develop their skills and knowledge in the trade by completing an entry-level qualification. Upon successful completion of the program, industry sponsor, […]
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Cross-border licensing scheme open for comment
The federal government has taken the next step towards automatic mutual recognition of occupational licences across states and territories by releasing draft legislation for public comment. Automatic mutual recognition (AMR) will allow a person who is licenced or registered for an occupation in one jurisdiction to perform the same activities in another, without having to […]
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Driver injured in explosion from AC system
The driver of a mining truck in Queensland has suffered serious burns in an explosion believed to be caused by an air conditioning system incorrectly charged with hydrocarbon refrigerant. According to the Queensland Mines Inspectorate, the explosion occurred in the truck cabin while the vehicle was being driven in an underground mine. It caused serious […]
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AIRAH’s 2021 Industry Nights announced
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has announced it will be holding 19 Industry Nights across Australia in 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, AIRAH was only able to hold two face-to-face Industry Nights in 2020. AIRAH also transitioned the traditional Industry Nights into the Virtual Industry Showcase, and held two exhibitor […]
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Last chance to comment on professional registration
The consultation on NSW’s draft Design and Building Practitioners Regulation – which introduces professional registration of engineers – closes on January 11. The regulation includes the details of registration schemes for design and building practitioners and engineers who work on multistorey, multi-unit residential apartment buildings. Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson has described […]
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Ireland establishes first direct heating scheme
Tallaght in Dublin is set to become the site of Ireland’s first large-scale district heating scheme. Common in many large European cities, district heating is a system for redistributing waste heat from local industry, power stations or incinerators to meet heating requirements for other premises. In this instance, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has designed a data […]