Rising energy prices are foremost in people’s thoughts these days and although most are aware that investing in energy efficiency ‘pays back’, split incentives can be a barrier to investment. Environmental upgrade agreements (EUAs) are a new finance mechanism that promises to overcome this barrier. [ + ]

Autonomous Energy has designed, installed and commissioned a 60 kW Solar PV system at Pymble Ladies’ College. The system was installed in two phases, the first phase (16 kW) was commissioned in July 2011 and the second phase (60 kW) went live in February 2012. [ + ]

Some Australian electric utilities operate a substantial number of diesel-fuelled power stations for remote communities that are too distant to connect to the main electricity grids. These communities can include hundreds of residents, along with local commercial activities and civil infrastructure to support the region. The wet season can make it difficult to access some communities by road for up to 1-2 months. Photovoltaic (PV) power generation has been identified as the most consistent source of renewable power to cover the daily power consumption profile of these communities. [ + ]

Sydney Adventist Hospital (SAH) has upgraded its network to support growth and deliver around-the-clock connectivity to doctors and other staff. The hospital deployed Avaya Ethernet Routing switches across the hospital and is also upgrading to Virtual Services Platform 9000 core switches, to provide the backbone of the network for the next decade. [ + ]

The National Broadband Network (NBN) and fibre to the home (FttH) provide competitive options for service delivery. As cablers and installers, we too need to provide installations that meet the needs of the modern resident. [ + ]

New Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) regulatory requirements for cabling providers announced this past July will require cablers who perform specialised cabling work - namely optical fibre, structured or coaxial - to hold the necessary competencies relevant to that cabling work. [ + ]

When Lanec Services was asked to “tidy up” a five-year-old comms room install for a Victorian Government department, the decision to use self-tracing leads was a fairly obvious one. As with many IT installations, the project had grown unchecked over time and would likely require that cables be added, moved or removed altogether in the future. [ + ]

When it comes to choosing between a traditional cabled closed-camera-TV (CCTV) installation and an IP-networked surveillance system, many factors suggest that the latter will provide long- and short-term benefits for both the electrical contractor and the end user, but the up-front cost of the cameras can be a turn-off. CCTV cameras have been around for many years, offer reliable surveillance and can be purchased relatively inexpensively. So why bother changing over to an IP solution that can cost up to three times more?  [ + ]

In its first partnership with a major budget hotel chain in Asia, GE Lighting is collaborating with Tune Hotels to jointly explore and implement green solutions across its portfolio of hotels. To date, 2876 light points have been replaced with GE’s energy-efficient and eco-friendly LED lights across Tune Hotels in Malaysia. With the new lighting solutions for both exterior and interior environments, the hotels stand out with high-quality illumination while enjoying energy savings and lower maintenance costs. [ + ]

The Abode Apartments complex is located in the commercial hub of St Leonards on Sydney’s North Shore. The development was completed in 2004 and is home to around 600 residents. With accommodation spanning two towers - the 18-storey West Tower and 10-storey East tower - the premium development includes190 apartments, secure underground parking, a gym, a swimming pool and a spa/wellness centre. [ + ]

The jargon surrounding Australian apprenticeships is enough to confound even the savviest operator. Fortunately there’s plenty of assistance available to help employers navigate the complicated world of apprenticeships. [ + ]

In today’s climate of growing environmental awareness and rising energy prices, saving energy is more important than ever, and one of the most effective ways to do so in a commercial environment is by controlling the lighting, which not only saves energy, it also saves money. [ + ]

To support its entry in to the Australian housing sector, Ichijo Technological Homes selected a Passivhaus-certified unit supplied by Stiebel Eltron Australia as the foundation for its heat recovery ventilation system, enabling it to build an energy-efficient house that achieved over 8 stars in NatHERS rating. [ + ]

It is widely acknowledged within the electrical industry that apprentices are the backbone of our success and the future for ongoing prosperity. Master Electricians Australia (MEA) has always aimed toward the highest quality of training and education for those interested in entering the electrical industry, specifically our younger generation. [ + ]

Welcome to your new ECD Solutions website. ECD (Electrical+Comms+Data) is the next generation of Electrical Solutions and offers our readers and members an expanded content focus, bringing in a large amount of the content previously carried on the Voice+Data website. [ + ]