AIRAH undertook this project on behalf of the whole of industry to provide a forum or mechanism whereby the transition to low -­‐ emission HVAC&R practices and technologies could be discussed openly and transparently. The topic is broad and the views are varied and often conflicting. The content of this paper is based on submissions rece \ived from industry stakeholders.

This paper provides a snapshot of future HVAC in a net-zero world, and outlines some of the mainthemes from the workshop discussions such as:

This Guide to Implementing Low Carbon Retrofits for Social Housing is intended as a simple to use reference for social housing asset managers and others involved in social housing upgrades. The guide presents a concise summary of effective energy efficiency optionsfor social housing properties, including: 

• Advice on priority upgrades
• Important things to consider when
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A significant portion of the carbon and greenhouse gas emissions of residential buildings in Australia is associated with energy consumption for comfort and health.

Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) save energy by recovering heat that would otherwise be exhausted as part of energy code-mandated mechanical ventilation systems. Residential HRVs can be life cycle cost effective depending on equipment/installation costs and the severity of the climate.

This project investigates hybrid solutions using enhanced ventilation in order to achieve indoor comfort conditions, reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, and finally test it in a selected school building located in Sydney, which co-funded this project. In order to achieve this objective, the following activities were carried out: 

Cool roof technology is known to reduce the cooling energy consumption of conditioned buildings during hot periods, and widespread implementation of such roofs in a neighbourhood or precinct can mitigate the urban heat island effect.

Buildings and the atmosphere are intrinsically connected via cooling and heating systems. Global climate is projected to grow warmer, while an increasing fraction of the population living in urban centers. This introduces the challenge for new approaches to project future energy demand changes in cities.

Radiant cooling and heating has the potential for improved energy efficiency, demand response, comfort, indoor environmental quality, and architectural design. Many radiant buildings have demonstrated outstanding performance in these regards, and application of the technology in commercial buildings is expanding.

This paper demonstrates that the integration of passive features during the design/construction of sustainable buildings requires thorough modelling at the design stage as some features may have unintended consequences resulting in occupant dissatisfaction, and resulting in the building using more energy to maintain comfort.

Provides a brief introduction to evidence-based design of classrooms.

In Australia, heatwaves are the deadliest natural hazard and a major driver of peak electricity demand. The disproportionately high peak demand increases electricity prices, causes occasional blackouts and exacerbates energy poverty, all of which limit one’s ability to use air conditioning. Meanwhile, increased energy efficiency of dwellings may decrease their heat stress resistance.