During the holiday period, HVAC&R News is featuring the winners of the AIRAH Awards 2022.
The AIRAH Awards category for Excellence in Innovation is open to all individuals, companies, corporate bodies, institutions and government authorities, recognising work carried out during 2020/2021.
This award recognises significant Australian improvements in the areas of HVAC&R achieved through innovation, including new or significantly improved systems or plant and equipment or processes. Products are not eligible in this category.
The project must have been commissioned in the past two years.
This year’s winner was AMP Capital, with its Quay Quarter Tower project that involved a number of innovations with respect to the HVAC systems.
AMP Capital says energy efficiency was achieved through the installation of high-efficiency mechanical plant (including HFO chillers) and the purchase of green energy. A high-performance building envelope and façade design also improved indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency.
Water strategies such as highly efficient water fixtures, rainwater harvesting, and stormwater management were used to minimise potable water consumption. Reused or recycled materials were incorporated to reduce embodied energy, and effective transport strategies were developed to reduce vehicular emissions. Low-carbon technology allowed for carbon offsetting and peak load demand reduction. There was also adaptive reuse of the existing building, including the main ductwork and electrical services risers.
The project achieved a Green Star Office Design v3 rating of 6 stars and a minimum NABERS energy rating of 5.5 stars.
Other finalists in the Excellence in Innovation category included:
- CSIRO – i-Hub Data Clearing House (DCH)
- Airius Asia Pacific – Ken Rosewall Tennis Arena
More information on the AIRAH Awards is available here.