Articles
Swire Cold Storage optimises voltage to improve efficiency
Swire Cold Storage’s Western Australian facility handles a variety of frozen foods including vegetables and seafood. It has 15,000 pallet positions, includes blast freezers with up to 144-tonne capacity and has a capacity of 263,346 m3. [ + ]
Access control creates opportunities for contractors
The physical security and access control market is undergoing a major transition to IP-based solutions. Access control intelligence is moving to the door and the phone, presenting opportunities for electrical contractors to grow their business and help clients choose the right security solution. [ + ]
Crowne Plaza Melbourne improves energy efficiency
Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne is a 4½-star hotel located on the banks of the Yarra River on the fringe of the CBD. Over the past eight years, Crowne Plaza Melbourne has been working steadily to increase its energy efficiency under the guidance of Victorian Area Engineering Manager Robin Power. [ + ]
Achieving efficiency with lighting controls
The increasing uptake of LED lighting is also driving the demand for lighting controls. As building owners, operators and facility managers become more aware of the benefits of the lighting control technology, it’s time for contractors to embrace and master the technology to grow their business. [ + ]
The importance of inspecting small electrical devices
The advantages of using thermal imaging as a predictive maintenance (PdM) tool are well known, but for every large distribution apparatus scanned with regularity, any number of 208Y/120 panels, control panels and other small electrical devices are often overlooked. This article explains why it's important to inspect small equipment with thermal imaging. [ + ]
RSL saves $20K per year with trigen
Castle Hill RSL Club's new trigeneration system will deliver the club $20,000 in savings each year. Installed by Simons Green Energy, the system will produce enough electricity to power the club, plus provide heating and cooling. [ + ]
Anti-FTTN petition attracts 200,000 signatures
An online petition calling on the Coalition to reconsider its plan for a fibre to the node (FTTN) solution for the National Broadband Network has received more than 200,000 signatures since its creation shortly after Saturday's election. [ + ]
Even under a conservative government, coal-fired electricity has no future
Coal-fired electricity may have little or no economic future in Australia, a new analysis has found. While the new government seems determined to turn its back on renewable energy, our study shows that even without a carbon price, and even with the assumption that carbon capture and storage will eventually become commercially available, coal may not be able to compete with renewable electricity. [ + ]
FTTN system for NBN may prove impossible to operate
Worldwide, capital-starved private network operators often opt for FTTN networks as an interim step towards all fibre-optic networks. This allows them to make use of their existing copper lines, which may not even be fully paid for. In general, operators have been disappointed by FTTN's lower-than-expected performance, higher operating costs and lost revenue opportunities. [ + ]
Cogen system cuts carbon emissions in half
A new state-of-the-art cogeneration system is set to save Wagga Wagga’s Oasis Regional Aquatic Centre approximately $276,000 in energy costs and cut carbon emissions by up to 55% in the first year of operation. [ + ]
Maitland City Club kicks off trigeneration system
The state-of-the-art trigeneration system at Maitland City Club was officially ‘turned on’ by Joel Fitzgibbon MP on 15 August. Simons Green Energy was engaged to design, supply, install and maintain the 150 kW trigeneration system. [ + ]
Faulty electrical cables recalled
The NSW Fair Trading Commission has recalled three batches of ‘Infinity’ brand insulated electrical cables. The cables are thermoplastic-sheathed electric cable - commonly known as ‘TPS’. The batch numbers being recalled are INFH 190311, INFH 210912 and INFMEL 081112. [ + ]
BICSI releases new standard for electronic safety and security system design
BICSI, the international association supporting the information technology systems (ITS) industry, has released its latest standard, ANSI/BICSI 005-2013, Electronic Safety and Security (ESS) System Design and Implementation Best Practices. [ + ]
NBN training kit for businesses delivering professional services
Legal professionals, ICT consultants, architects, engineers and financial advisers will soon be able to access tailored advice on how to improve and build their businesses by using the National Broadband Network (NBN) and adapting to the digital economy. [ + ]
The great de-electrification
One of the certainties in the energy business used to be the regular year-in, year-out rise in demand for electricity [1]. Up until about 6 years ago, demand growth could be counted on with metronomic precision. Across our National Electricity Market - the NEM - electricity demand grew at about 2% annually. [ + ]