Spring has finally arrived across southeastern Australia with most regions receiving their warmest weather since the middle of autumn.

After a cold start to September, temperatures on Friday climbed more than eight degrees above average through parts of Victoria, NSW and SA, nudging 35 degrees over the interior.

Melbourne reached a pleasant 25 degrees, their warmest day since April. Most of Sydney also enjoyed their warmest day since April with highs climbing to 26 degrees in some suburbs.

It will become even hotter on Saturday as strengthening northerly winds spread warm tropical air to the country's southern coastline. Temperatures are forecast to reach 27 in Sydney, 25 in Melbourne, 24 in Adelaide and 23 in Canberra.

A pair of fronts will lower temperatures back to typical September levels by Monday but another spell of summery weather is likely towards the end of next week.

- Weatherzone

http://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/southeastern-australia-welcomes-warmest-day-in-months/9862

© Weatherzone 2008

Emma Young
Sydney Morning Herald - August 1, 2008

Lee Kuan Yew hailed it as one of man's greatest inventions, Boris Yeltsin claimed it gave him a cold and used it as an excuse to get out of work. Public Enemy sang about it, at least metaphorically, Jimmy Carter donned a cardigan and had words with the nation about turning it down and Bill Clinton increased its energy-efficiency standards months before leaving office.

The common theme here is air-conditioning. Air-conditioning is not an inalienable right, but in a culture of constant comfort with an everyday disregard for the "energy crisis" if it is going to interfere with a personal crisis, it is sometimes treated as such. Climate control is not, after all, what the English political philosopher John Locke was pointing a finger at when he made a philosophical fuss about our natural rights.

In New York a bill was rejected in June targeting this specific air-related extravagance. The Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, copped a fair amount of heat from disgruntled locals for his resistance to the proposal of a bill that shops such as Gap be fined $US200 ($212) for each door or window they leave open as a marketing technique. The commercial idea behind the "door open" policy is that people find it more inviting. The environmental idea behind the fines is that open doors increase the need for air-conditioning to balance out the disrupting heat or cold that billows in with people and their economy-bolstering credit cards. There is also the requisite burning of fossil fuels and emission of greenhouse gases that goes with it.

In Sydney this winter any manipulation of the temperature is clearly of a warming variety, but the philosophy remains the same. Many retailers, small and large, keep their doors open to welcome consumers and bracing winds alike, necessitating blasts of hot air to accommodate one and beat back the other. The same thing happens in supermarkets where arctic conditions reign in aisles dominated by open, door-free fridges: a blatantly wasteful design possibly motivated by the idea that a glass barrier might prove to be an insurmountable impediment to the purchase of packaged ham. As long as what is bad for the environment is good for sales it all works out.

Back in 1979 in New York, when a summer heatwave threatened to collapse the power grid against the backdrop of a global energy crisis and an unemployed shah, shops including the big-name department stores weren't allowed to cool their stores below a certain temperature. This was just before the decadent '80s hit its stride and you might think it would be impossible for 2008 to surpass the excess associated with that era but apparently not when it comes to air-conditioning. Regardless of any energy crisis, people seem to expect the best, much like John West always told them to. Convenience and energy profligacy is a daily mantra that we won't easily be separated from.

These new expectations are attested to by a recent phenomenon in "energy tourism" accounting for what is estimated to be a 50 per cent surge in petrol sales in Mexico. The jump comes in the guise of Texans who don their theme park-related T-shirts and cross the border to take advantage of the nationally subsidised oil prices offered by the Mexican Government.

The subsidy is supposed to make fuel affordable to poor Mexicans, but has attracted some hangers-on.

Border crossing in the name of petrol is a rather extreme expression of the popular and political insistence on sticking to what is cheap, convenient or "our right", rather than submitting to measures designed to curb wasteful energy practices in a way that is reasonable, practically achievable and flat-out right.

Of course it doesn't help anyone learning to break bad habits when members of the Bush Administration spent some of their two terms recommending air-conditioning to combat those pesky effects of climate change. And they weren't joking. In 2002 it was a tack derided in an open letter signed by 11 state's attorneys-general.

They compared it to a former interior secretary's inane suggestion that the hole in the ozone layer meant that all Americans needed to do was "make better use of sunglasses, suntan lotion and broad-brimmed hats". He wasn't joking either.

Perhaps then it's not surprising that the Vice-President, Dick Cheney, once described energy conservation as "a sign of personal virtue", not a political priority.

Practical measures to make buildings and cities more energy efficient need to be taken up by more individuals, small businesses and corporations.

"Low-E" windows that reflect and reduce radiant heat, and building materials that have high thermal mass to help buildings maintain a more constant temperature are possible solutions, but if they are not options we can start small.

Energy profligacy need not be a way of life and common sense dictates we open our minds to the possibility of shutting our doors.

Emma Young is a freelance writer.

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/07/31/1217097424368.html 

Carrier Corporation, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, is providing internet-accessible thermostats to a pilot program for Connecticut Light and Power Company customers this summer. The program ? which begins later this month among 50 selected households in CL&P's Farmington Valley and Stamford service areas and runs through October 1 ? will allow CL&P customers to help reduce power demands during peak emergencies, while also helping them lower their monthly electric bills.

"Carrier thermostats were selected for this cutting-edge program because they have a proven track record for helping homeowners reduce energy costs through easy-to-use programming," said Jon W. Ayers, president, Carrier Corporation.

"Connecticut Light & Power's program also represents an important step in connecting homeowners with their homes through the Internet, while serving as a critical link for energy management between energy suppliers and their customers. By reducing demand during peak hours, utilities can realize substantial savings and homeowners can enjoy lower electricity bills. Reduced power consumption leads to a more reliable power supply and mitigates the need for increased production capacity, which reduces investment, preserves natural resources and lowers harmful air emissions."

Carrier and Silicon Energy, the leader in e-business energy enterprise solutions, have teamed up this summer to offer utilities the ComfortChoice program. The ComfortChoice program is an Internet-based, residential demand-side management solution that enables utilities to recognize peak demand savings without compromising homeowners' comfort and control. The program helps utilities reduce demand, save energy and the environment, and enhance customer value.

CL&P's test includes the installation of a new, high technology Carrier Energy Management Interface (EMi) an Internet-communicating 7-day programmable thermostat, in homes with central air conditioners or heat pumps. Using Web-based software developed by Silicon Energy, CL&P will communicate with the thermostats remotely over the Internet to increase the current temperature setting during peak demand periods.

The air conditioner may still run during this period, but it should operate less frequently because of the higher indoor temperature setting. The homeowner will have the ability to override the temperature setting via the Internet or thermostat if the home becomes too warm.

Using a Web browser interface, the CL&P operator accesses Silicon Energy's energy curtailment program to initiate a thermostat setback, specifying how many degrees and for what duration. At any time, the homeowner can choose to override the setpoint change directly through the EMi, and a message will be transmitted via the Internet back to the utility.

The customer also can remotely access the EMI from a Web browser to obtain status, adjust setpoints and perform overrides. Carrier's EMi uses emWare's device networking software to remotely monitor and control the thermostat. EmWare's software enables the communication and data transmission to and from the homeowner's EMi, the internet and CL&P. AT&T Global Network Services provide the network connectivity.

"This imaginative use of cutting-edge technology may yield another method to reduce demand when there is a power crisis," said Michael W. Townsley, CL&P's manager of Market Planning and Conservation Programs. "The initial research project will help us understand how customers use this technology so that an effective program can be designed that fits into their modern lifestyles without compromising comfort, health and the environment."

For more information visit http://www.carrier.com/

BEIJING, Aug. 13, 2008

Carrier Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), achieved another milestone in its connection to the 2008 Beijing Games, securing nearly 70 percent of all heating, ventilating and air-conditioning contracts for the venues. Carrier supplied a full line of integrated systems to the Summer Games facilities, ranging from AquaSnap® air-cooled chillers with Puron® refrigerant to large centrifugal chillers to air-handling units, fan coil units and the Carrier Comfort Network (CCN) controls system.

The "Water Cube" National Aquatics Center, one of the major venues for the Beijing Games, utilizes four Carrier centrifugal chillers, a control network and air-side products. Carrier's innovative technology recovers more than 50 percent of the exhaust heat in the aquatics center and then uses it to warm the swimming pool. "This technology reduces heat emission in the environment as well as the energy consumed for heating," stated Ross Shuster, president, Carrier Building Systems and Services, Asia.  "Additionally, our high tier air-handling units have gone through a strict anticorrosive process to ensure long-term operation under a damp and high-chlorine indoor environment."

Another application featuring Carrier's customized solutions is the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics. Carrier's uniquely designed air-conditioning system uses a water-source heat pump to employ ground water to prepare cold and hot water for air conditioning.

The "Bird's Nest" National Stadium features the first Chinese-produced HVAC product certified by EN 1886, the highest international HVAC standards. Carrier's air-handling units have air leakage rate of less then 1 percent and each unit is equipped with Carrier's new high-voltage electrostatic air cleaner to remove airborne particles which improves indoor air quality.

To ensure that the air-conditioning systems in all venues operate smoothly and efficiently, Carrier established a Remote Monitoring Center for the Beijing Games. The high-tech center can trace and analyze the data of air-conditioning system operations and release warnings. "This service helps ensure that Carrier's air-conditioning systems are operating under optimized conditions with maximum energy efficiency," added Shuster.

One important venue in Beijing is a multi-building community that will house athletes during the games. The Beijing Olympic Village achieved LEED® ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development) certification with design consultation support from Environmental Market Solutions, Inc. (EMSI).  EMSI is an environmental and green building company owned by Carrier Corp. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) awards the venue LEED ND certification at the Gold level.

With a long tradition of environmental leadership, Carrier's forward-looking view drives the company to address the environmental effect of products well in advance of regulatory timetables. Carrier was the pioneer in the global phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in 1994 and introduced Puron® refrigerant, a non-ozone depleting refrigerant, into air-conditioning systems in 1996. Carrier is leading the transition away from hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as well to further promoting ozone preservation. Carrier's environmental stewardship extends beyond its products. Since 1997, Carrier has doubled sales but kept energy use flat.

Carrier's Environmental Leadership
For its environmental leadership around the world, Carrier Corp. was awarded the 2007 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chinese Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In addition, Carrier was the first HVAC manufacturer to be permitted entry into the U.S. EPA's Climate Leader program and a corporate founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council.

"Worldwide, Carrier invests in innovative products and solutions that meet the varied needs of customers in an environmentally sound manner," said Kelly Romano, president, Building Systems and Services, Carrier. "The ‘green' values that are apparent in Carrier's work for the 2008 Beijing Games are the same principles that have built both the success of Carrier Corp. and our reputation for visionary environmental leadership."

For more information on these and other Carrier and EMSI projects and services visit http://www.carrier.com/.

About Carrier Corp.
Carrier Corp., headquartered in Farmington, Conn., is the world's largest provider of heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions. With 2007 revenues of $14.6 billion, Carrier has approximately 43,000 employees worldwide and operations in more than 170 countries. Carrier is part of United Technologies Corp., a Hartford, Connecticut-based provider of products and services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. Visit http://www.carrier.com/ for more information.

Contact:
Christine Hiney
315-432-7176
mailto:Cchristine.hiney@carrier.utc.com

What's Up, Down Under

http://www.corp.carrier.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=28ce1d6b31c08010VgnVCM100000cb890b80RCRD&cpsextcurrchannel=1

September 16, 2002

Syracuse, N.Y. -- One of the Southern Hemisphere's most impressive attractions to both residents and visitors is its tallest building, Sydney Tower, Australia. The tower serves as a focal point for Centrepoint, an 11-story shopping and office complex and the retail center of Sydney. The Sydney Tower, along with the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, serves as a unique symbol of Australia's largest city.

This landmark building wouldn't be complete without Carrier air conditioning. Both the Centrepoint shopping and office complex and the unique turret on the tower are air conditioned by Carrier through its Australian company, Carrier Air Conditioning Pty Ltd.

Four hermetic centrifugal chillers which air condition the building are found in a large plant room in the basement of Centrepoint. Air conditioning for the turret is provided by a Carrier dual reciprocating compressor, direct expansion chiller. Each compressor has a separate refrigeration circuit so that 50 percent capacity is always available. Five operation floors can be found above the public floors. They include plant levels containing essential equipment.

Architect Donald Crone conceived Sydney Tower in 1968. Construction began in 1975 and was completed in 1981. However, building this tall tower was no small feat. Engineers had to overcome the potential problem of Sydney's winds on the structure. The tower was designed to withstand a "once-in a-thousand" year storm, bending in winds in excess of 162 mph, as well as an earthquake of a force never anticipated to occur in Australia.

Sydney Tower's turret has nine levels. Four of them are open to the public and can hold up to 960 people. They are home to a restaurant and two observation decks. From the observation deck, visitors can see sites up to 62 miles away, truly a "bird's eye" view. Sydney Tower also offers a view similar to that from an airplane-it is the only building high enough to penetrate the clouds. The two revolving restaurants exert forces that require pinpoint precision to ensure equilibrium. One restaurant revolves clockwise and the other counterclockwise, but at exactly the same speed.

Carrier Air Conditioning has been awarded nearly 70% of the total HVAC contracts for 2008 Beijing Olympic venues and related facilities, including airconditioing some of the most important venues such as the ‘Bird's Nest' National Stadium, ‘Water Cube' National Swimming Centre, Wu Ke Song Basketball Hall and the Beijing Olympic Village.

Carrier Air Conditioning - 'World's first, World's finest'