ARBS has named Amanda Searle as its new CEO, effective from October 30. Boasting more than 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, and events, Searle is poised to lead ARBS into its next phase. “Taking the lead at ARBS is both an honour and responsibility,” Searle says. “I’m looking forward to contributing to ARBS’ […]
Professor Tony Arnel has been appointed to chair the ARBS Exhibitions board, replacing Ian Hopkins. A professor at Deakin University, Arnel is a former president of the Energy Efficiency Council, Green Building Council of Australia and World Green Building Council. He was also the Victorian Building and Plumbing Industry Commissioner for 12 years. “I feel […]
July 1, 2021, marks a major step in the national professional registration era, with the NSW and Victorian governments beginning to phase in registration schemes for engineers working in these states. New South Wales has introduced the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation. Although this applies only to multi-storey (and mixed use) residential buildings initially, the […]
In an Australian-first plan, the City of Sydney is considering mandatory energy target requirements for building development applications. Should the council proceed, development applications would have to comply with minimum energy performance standards. Summarised in a report, Performance standards to net zero energy buildings, the proposal requires applications to comply with minimum energy ratings from […]
The Property Council of Australia has a new president: Charter Hall Managing Director and Group CEO, David Harrison. Harrison takes the reins of the industry association from JLL CEO Australia and New Zealand Stephen Conry AM, who has concluded his two-year term. GPT Group CEO Bob Johnston and Brookfield’s Sophie Fallman have both been elected […]
ARBS has been postponed, shifting to 2022. Originally planned for May 19–21, 2020, the exhibition was previously rescheduled to February, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ARBS 2022 will now be held from April 27–29, 2022, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. With Melbourne currently in stage-four lockdown, the COVID-19 situation remains largely unclear. […]
ARBS has been rescheduled to be held from February 15–17, 2021. The event was originally planned for May 19-21, 2020, but had been postponed due to the coronavirus. The exhibition will remain in the same venue at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. According to ARBS Exhibition Organiser Sue Falcke, it will occupy the same […]
Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) are notoriously energy-intensive, consuming a considerable percentage of Australia’s electricity and producing substantial emissions. The new Innovation Hub for Affordable Heating and Cooling (i-Hub) initiative, led by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) – in conjunction with CSIRO, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), the […]
The path to higher charge limits for flammable refrigerants looks to be open again, after the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) revised last month’s surprise no vote. At this stage it is not clear why or how the vote was reversed, although as the original count only failed by 0.7 per cent, it’s possible that a […]
Although the 2019–20 Federal Budget has made no direct mention of HVAC&R, the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has called out some positives in the government’s recent announcement. This includes the focus on infrastructure; encouragement of women in engineering; funding to modernise the vocational education and training (VET) sector; and expansion of […]