Queesland to become HVAC&R innovation hotspot

Queensland is set to become Australia’s next-generation HVAC&R (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration) innovation hotspot, according to a white paper released by ARBS Chair Professor Tony Arnel.

The Sunshine State accounts for the nation’s highest cooling needs yet uses less residential energy than the Australian average, according to the white paper. It also highlights a looming skills shortfall of 40,300 public infrastructure workers by 2026, alongside challenges in supply chain resilience, refrigerant policy and the adoption of smarter, more climate-resilient systems.

Titled ‘The Heat is On: Why Queensland is Ground Zero for HVAC&R Innovation’, the white paper unpacks what is reshaping the state’s building and construction future, from a $77 billion construction pipeline to a net zero transformation and the opportunities available at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Arnel said, “This paper offers a big-picture snapshot of just some of the issues we’ll be exploring at ARBSQLD and asks a few hard questions. The answers won’t come from one individual, but from all of us.”

ARBSQLD, to be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on 27–28 August 2025, will be of interest to those working in Queensland’s HVAC&R industry. Over 100 exhibitors will showcase the latest products, connect with industry leaders, and discover new and innovative solutions in HVAC&R.

The Brisbane event coincides with the international IBPSA Building Simulation Conference hosted by AIRAH, attracting global experts in energy-efficient and sustainable building design.

Image credit: iStock.com/SaintM Photos