"A fresh outlook"
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"A fresh outlook"
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COVID cameraThe day started with a keynote presentation on undoubtedly the biggest topic of the year: the coronavirus.
World-leading researcher Professor Lidia Morawska from the Queensland University of Technology showed how good ventilation, airflow management and humidity control can reduce the spread of COVID-19 indoors. But she also pointed out that other conditions – such as the bushfires earlier this year – require completely different strategies. “We need a change in action mitigating all air risks indoors,” Professor Morawska says. And she stresses that we must change the perception that this work is too expensive. “The economic costs of the impacts of indoor air pollution by far exceed all other costs,” she says. |
Nathan Groenhout, F.AIRAH, chairing the keynote – all business up top, all subtropical climate down below. |
Innovation nationAnother highlight was the keynote case study presented by Chris Nunn and Brian Donnelly from AMP Capital, and Robert Saidman, Affil.AIRAH, from Arup, about Sydney’s Quay Quarter Tower.
The trio offered insights into the technical HVAC and design challenges of this exemplar of sustainability. Quay Quarter Tower is a world-first, with about two-thirds of the building’s original core retained through the construction process, saving 6.1 million kilograms – roughly equivalent to 35,000 Sydney-to-Melbourne flights. Sustainability was a constant focus at Outlook 2020. One panel session discussed the potential of Project Drawdown, while another featured leaders from the Green Building Council of Australia, NABERS and the International WELL Building Institute, who shared their latest initiatives. And as always there were insights into the latest technology and innovations in the world of HVAC&R. "It is fitting that in celebrating its 100th anniversary, AIRAH has not only looked back," says Jeff Robinson, Affil.AIRAH, "but through this conference has looked forward to the critical role AIRAH and its members will play in rapidly decarbonising Australia to avoid a climate disaster." |
#AIRAH100 |