what are you looking for?
You can search through the online database of resources below. Use the filter option to refine your search.
Streamlining electrification in support of decarbonisation
Our industry has increasingly focused on the electrification of building utilities coupled with low-carbon electricity to support the global decarbonization effort. Examples include the University of California’s system-wide ban on the use of on-site fossil fuel combustion in new construction and major renovations, and the City of Seattle’s recently passed measure to prohibit the use of natural gas for space heating in new construction and major replacements of heating systems in commercial buildings, as well as for water heating in new hotels and
large apartment buildings. This column presents an approach to integrating the production of domestic hot water with an electric heat-recovery chiller plant as a streamlined solution.
Feasibility study of wastewater energy transfer for an existing campus building cluster
The HVAC-related energy usage of a group of three existing buildings on a Canadian university campus (the “Cluster”) was simulated. Two scenarios were compared: (1) an ambient loop paired with conventional HVAC equipment (boiler plant and cooling tower), and (2) an ambient loop using wastewater energy transfer (“WET”). The study aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing WET as a heating and cooling method for cold-climate institutional buildings, as well as to measure the effects of WET implementation on energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy costs
Pushing the Boundaries of Net Zero in the Australian Outback
Using a hybrid of dynamic thermal simulation and detailed hourly spreadsheet calculations, the analysis identified design and operation strategies to size PV and batteries for various degrees of grid independence.
Optimisation of Economy Cycle Operation and Supply Air Temperature Control for VAV systems
In the future, many Australian HVAC systems may be required to deal with harsher environmental conditions due to more extreme climatic conditions and a push to increase population centres in more northern and central regions of the country.
Minimizing Transmission In High Occupant Density Settings, Part 1
By David Rothamer, Ph.D.; Scott Sanders, Ph.D.; Douglas Reindl, Ph.D., P.E., Fellow ASHRAE; Timothy Bertram, Ph.D.ABSTRACT In this first article in a two-part series, we review the current base of knowledge regarding transmission of COVID-19. After briefly introducing...
Exploring the potential of personal radiant cooling systems
In the future, many Australian HVAC systems may be required to deal with harsher environmental conditions due to more extreme climatic conditions and a push to increase population centres in more northern and central regions of the country.
Lessons for the future of Australian HVAC from Pilbara mining
In the future, many Australian HVAC systems may be required to deal with harsher environmental conditions due to more extreme climatic conditions and a push to increase population centres in more northern and central regions of the country.
From device to the cloud: approaches and challenges in getting HVAC&R data from remote devices
There is strong demand for HVAC&R monitoring and metering solutions that incorporate cloud data collection and real-time or near-real-time cloud-based control. This is enabled by reductions in the cost of sensors and meters, advances in communication technologies, the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) as a lower-cost alternative to traditionally vertically integrated systems, and the move to more frequent data collection.
Planning for carbon neutral in existing buildings
This paper explores the role of optimisation of existing infrastructure, onsite renewable and non-renewable generation, hardware changes and energy-procurement activities in achieving carbon neutral status for a mixed-use building in Melbourne, with consideration to moving electricity and gas grid factors (cost and emissions) across 15 years.
Next-generation fault detection for commercial building HVAC systems
Modern commercial buildings are becoming more complicated as the number of sensors, actuators and control loops increases. The building management system (BMS) used to control these components will often generate equipment faults and anomalous behaviour, which causes energy waste, thermal discomfort, and drives up maintenance costs. Such system failures may last for a long time before a facility manager or technician notices them. This necessitates the use of automated fault detection and diagnostics (AFDD) tools to detect operational faults and identify their root causes to ensure fault-free operation.
Big shoes to fill
If you’ve been an avid reader of Ecolibrium over the past decade and a half, you’ll notice that, for the first time in 160-odd issues, there’s a new photo on this page. It’s with a mixture of excitement and nervousness that I take the reins from the inimitable Matt Dillon.
The time is now
AIRAH’s IAQ 2024 conference underscored the once-in-a-century opportunity to improve indoor air quality – and what we need to do to seize it.
Shine bright
AIRAH has announced the finalists for the 2024 AIRAH Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements from across Australia’s HVAC&R building services industry.
ACT professional registration
The ACT has opened applications for mechanical engineers under its Professional Engineers Registration Scheme. The scheme, which opened in March 2024, is being phased in across different branches of engineering: Phase 1, which started in March 2024, covered civil...
Purpose and place
AIRAH Victorian division president Rula Karali, M.AIRAH, shares her international HVAC&R journey.
Paying tribute to James Harrison
On Thursday, June 27 the National Trust and James Harrison’s descendants held an event at Eastern Cemetery in Geelong to commemorate the restoration of Harrison’s grave.
Advertisement