A draft of the standard for recessed luminaire barriers has recently been issued for public comment.

NECA has issued a warning to the community to avoid DIY installation of insulation batts, citing the need for qualified electricians to determine the electrical safety of the roof space.

A recent report on photovoltaic technologies points to a new opportunity to accelerate the deployment of solar panels.

A focus on improved power quality, green energy and lowering energy consumption, the Walkers Arms Hotel at Walkerville, South Australia, is a benchmark for the use of innovative new technologies.

A Nobel Prize winner has proposed that the world is potentially on the brink of a new era in human history where most energy will be sourced from solar and wind electricity generation.

Media Monitors, an Asia-Pacific media intelligence company, provides more than 4000 clients with the media intelligence to enable effective communications. Its suite of products provides the tools and insight for PR and communications professionals to monitor their interests across all media, analyse the brand or message and more effectively connect with relevant journalists and editors.

The Crowne Plaza hotel in Melbourne’s central business district has recently implemented the latest part of its wider sustainability strategy through the installation of a number of mySmart enGauge screens. These screens provide employees and customers alike with visibility into real-time and historical energy usage data from across the hotel. enGauge, a ‘sustainability indicator’ which allows the hotel to visually share its sustainability strategy, is provided by mySmart, a supplier of energy- and resource-efficient solutions for building environments.

A recent survey of data centre managers in Australia identifies a focus on investing in ‘green’ infrastructure.

Master Builders Association of Victoria announced a new category of membership for properly qualified trades associated with the construction industry.

Peak electrical industry body NECA is urging residents to undertake four simple steps to help make their homes safe after a recent spate of house fires.

New developments in metallic and nonmetallic conduits provide cost-effective alternatives for installing electrical and communications cabling in hazardous areas.

While we all have our opinions on what’s driving or holding back the uptake of home automation, I’ve personally reached the conclusion that the real ‘gatekeepers’ of the rate of adoption of home automation are electrical contractors. That statement might ‘ruffle a few feathers’, but I’ve drawn that conclusion from lots of market analysis, speaking with home owners, builders, developers, real estate agents, integrators and equipment suppliers. If you’re an electrical contractor, I believe the future of home automation is in your hands. So what’s holding you back?

Numerous reports from around the world indicate that around 40% of the world’s energy is used in buildings, so taking the lead in energy efficiency in buildings is a key area to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This therefore, represents tremendous opportunities for the electrical industry to assist in reducing emissions, as well as operating costs, for their clients.

All electronics in an organisation - from desktops to data centres - require continuous, clean power. Anything less puts businesses at risk of data corruption, equipment damage and unplanned downtime. Most organisations meet this requirement by having a central UPS that serves an entire building/data centre, or distributed UPSs placed closer to the equipment being protected, or both.

Not long after I first arrived here in Australia, I met an architect who told me that he didn’t want light switches to be visible in homes. When I asked him why, he simply said: “Because they’re ugly.” I suspect such an attitude is not uncommon amongst many architects, and even some home owners, given the universal use of basic white switch plates and GPOs in this country.