ASHRAE has published its first children’s picture book, developed by the ASHRAE Student Activities Committee to promote careers in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) and in engineering. Titled Lucy’s Engineering Adventure, the book introduces children to the concepts behind HVAC&R and the built environment. It follows Lucy on her journey through an unfinished […]
Australian Industry Standards (AIS) is holding a survey to identify the skills needs for various industries. AIS collects data annually from the Industry Outlook Survey to determine industry workforce planning and skill development demands. The data is especially relevant in 2022, with the dual factors of the pandemic and digital transformation impacting the labour market. The […]
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, USA, have developed a new type of cooling ice cube that doesn’t melt. The researchers believe the “jelly ice cubes” could revolutionise how food is kept cold and shipped without relying on ice or traditional cooling packs. The cubes are compostable and anti-microbial, and prevent cross-contamination. Professor in […]
As the pandemic heads into its third year, the Asia-Pacific region has increasingly adopted WELL programs. The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) recently highlighted the exponential growth as it crossed the 300 million square metre mark of spaces enrolled in WELL programs. IWBI reports that nearly 80 million square metres of real estate are applying […]
The Australian Council of Engineering Deans (ACED) has released the results of a recent study as part of the Engineering 2035 Project, a national review of engineering education. The Engineering 2035 Project explores the practices and methods used for educating professional engineering students, and makes recommendations on how educators and universities can move forward. Approximately […]
A study by Engineers Australia, titled Barriers to Employment for Skilled Migrant Engineers, has found migrants may be the key to filling the skills shortage in the industry. The study reveals that while migrants account for almost two thirds of qualified engineers in Australia, 47 per cent of are unemployed and struggling to find a […]
A study conducted at the University of Plymouth, UK, has revealed retrofitting existing building walls with a living wall could reduce heat loss by more than 30 per cent. The researchers retrofitted a green wall at the university on a pre-1970s building, and monitored the differences in heat lost between the retrofitted wall and a normal […]
Australian Industry Standards (AIS) is hosting a webinar on Thursday, December 9 about energy and electrotechnology industry skills. New skills and technologies are having an impact on sectors such as electricity generation, transmission, distribution and rail, and electrotechnology – including HVAC&R. They are also affecting the growth of renewable systems. The relevant industry reference committees […]
Standards Australia has revised the standard AS/NZS 5033:2021 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays to support the growing solar panel industry. According to Standards Australia, almost four million solar photo-voltaic (PV) panel systems have been installed across Australia in the past 20 years, which has seen a dramatic reduction in overall costs. Solar […]
Along with celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is hosting the fourth iteration of its TRANSFORM conference from March 23–24, 2022. TRANSFORM 2022 will address how the built environment must change in order to keep up with climate change. Key influencers from the industry – including CEOs, thought leaders and […]