By Andrew Starc

The Airconditiong, Refrigeration & Building Services, or ARBS Industry Awards have recognised some of the industry’s top climate change innovators, including WSP Lincolne Scott and Air Change Australia, at an award ceremony held at the ARBS 2010 Trade Exhibition.

Taking place at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre on the13 April, the award ceremony was the first truly national industry inclusive awards program to be held since 1998, according to an ARBS statement on the awards. Attracting applications from all corners of the ARBS industry, the awards aimed to recognise companies and individuals who have demonstrated a commendable level of achievement and commitment to the future development of the industry.

Environment-specific categories recognised project leadership and product initiative in environmentally sustainable design, while other categories recognised achievement in refrigeration, heating, ventilating and airconditioning as well as training – with all nominees assessed against criteria that included environmental merits and achievements.

HVAC company Air Change Australia was awarded the ESD Product Initiative Award for its Green Building Air Handling Unit. Air Change was previously awarded the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Airconditioning and Heating “Award of Excellence in HVAC” in 2007.

The ESD Project Leadership Award went to WSP Lincolne Scott and Built Ecology, which entered jointly for their efforts constructing the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. WSP Lincolne Scott and Built Ecology were recognised for a list of integrated services rendered to the exhibition centre, including all building services, ESD and architectural lighting.

The award, recognises the firm’s innovation and technical advancements on the project that significantly reduce its environmental impacts, including a cutting edge HVAC design that cuts energy consumption by 30 per cent when compared to similar convention and exhibition centres.

The Centre’s integrated water cycle design, which includes a blackwater treatment plant and rainwater tanks, cuts the use of potable drinking)water by more than 55 per cent, believed to be a new benchmark for Australia.

Below is the complete list of all the award winners and their award winning products or initiatives:

Environmentally Sustainable Design Product Initiative Award

Air Change Manufacturing Australia – The Green Building Air Handling Unit

Environmentally Sustainable Design Project Leadership Award

Built Ecology /WSP Lincolne Scott – Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre

ARBS Young Achiever Award

Nirosha Munasinghe

Outstanding Service and Maintenance Provider

A. G. Coombs

HVAC Product Excellence Award

Seeley International – Climate Wizard

HVAC Project Excellence Award

Daikin Australia in partnership with MMA and Crest Air Conditioning – Daikin HQ Sydney

Refrigeration Product Excellence Award

Muller Industries – H09 Series Air Cooled Condensers

Refrigeration Project Excellence Award

Channon Refrigeration in partnership with Justin Hemmes, Merivale Group – The Ivy, Sydney

Outstanding Industry Education/Training Award

Noel Munkman – TAFE NSW