AIRAH has launched a new accredited course to build industry expertise in sustainable HVAC systems

AIRAH has launched a new accredited course to build industry expertise in sustainable HVAC systems: the Professional Diploma in Sustainable HVAC Design and Operation.

Created with the support of the ARBS Foundation, the Professional Diploma in Sustainable HVAC Design and Operation is a modular online program that offers an advanced level of professional development for HVAC&R and building services industry professionals.

“The program is the first of its kind,” says AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH. “It will provide an unparalleled insight into sustainable HVAC systems and operations, which is wholly relevant to our industry.

“With Australia’s states and territories beginning to implement mandatory engineering registration schemes, targeted continuing professional development opportunities for building services professionals are becoming increasingly important. The Professional Diploma in Sustainable HVAC Design and Operation meets this need, and links to our overarching goal of creating a more sustainable and environmentally effective HVAC&R sector.”

Developed over the past 12 months with technical input from AIRAH members, the course addresses issues around environmentally effective HVAC systems. This includes sustainability considerations, responsibilities and compliance, design principles, design considerations, design processes and documentation, operational evaluation, and sustainable operations management.

One of the AIRAH members behind the course, Vince Aherne, F.AIRAH, says the Professional Diploma offers insights on how to align building sustainability with HVAC sustainability.

“We know the sustainability of a building is significantly impacted by the sustainability of the HVAC arrangements,” he says. “But what drives the sustainability of HVAC?

“This course identifies that it is the design and operation of the building and the HVAC system itself that drives the sustainability impact. Not all buildings and not all HVAC systems are equal, and different HVAC systems are better suited to different applications and circumstances.”

The Professional Diploma consists of four modules. Students can enrol in the entire course or individual modules. The modules guide students through:

•  The design and selection of sustainable HVAC systems

•  Current compliance and industry best-practice requirements

•  The design process and documentation of sustainable HVAC systems

•  Where and how energy is used in HVAC systems, and assessment tools and techniques.

The Professional Diploma offers building and HVAC designers, and a range of aligned industry professionals, the appropriate knowledge and tools to effectively address questions such as HVAC resource consumption (energy, water, materials), low-emissions HVAC systems and low-carbon HVAC operation practices.

For more information about the course, go to www.airah.org.au/pdsdo