76er memories

For most editions, I’m sure you’d agree, Ecolibrium’s focus is resolutely on the present and the future rather than the past.

No point dwelling for too long on what we can’t change, after all.

But for a moment, I’m asking you to turn your gaze back – all the way back to 1976, in fact.

In 1976 – 47 years ago – the Prime Minister of Australia was Malcolm Fraser, who assumed the role after the controversial dismissal of Gough Whitlam by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr. Jim Callaghan was Prime Minister of Britain, and Jimmy Carter won the US Presidential election.

The Olympics were held in Montreal in Canada, with poor old Australia performing dismally, winning one silver and four bronze medals. This subsequently led to the creation of the Australian Institute of Sport.

The Best Picture Oscar went to Rocky, the Apple Computer Company was formed, and the biggest selling song – on vinyl, of course – was “Silly Love Songs”, by Paul McCartney and Wings.

Another event of note occurred in 1976, but it hasn’t been given a lot of mainstream media attention.

According to NASA, 1976 was the last time the Earth experienced a year of below-average temperature, based on the 20th century average.

On its own, it’s a startling fact. Considered among the other things we keep hearing about climate change, it tells an alarming story.

So far in Ecolibrium this year you would have read how April was the southern hemisphere’s warmest on record, and how June and July both set global temperature records.

Add August and September to the list. The former was the warmest such month on record, ditto for the latter.

All of this paints a picture of the urgent need to rapidly decarbonise our economy.

As the world begins to understand the effort required to rein in our greenhouse gas emissions, there is a quest for sectors that can make a difference. Building and construction, and particularly HVAC&R, is one of those.

Look, I understand that as editor of a venerable 75-year-old technical journal dedicated to HVAC&R, that the need to act on climate change is not the only story. Yet it is the most important narrative, the most urgent, and one we will continue to track.

And that’s why in the Spring edition of Ecolibrium you can read about the projects, approaches and technologies that one way or another are about doing things better, whether that’s developing zero carbon transport facilities, advocating for an improved version of the National Construction Code, or using machine learning and AI to electrify the building stock.

It’s a meaty edition of the journal that covers considerable ground around the best way forward, with nary a glance in the rearview mirror.

To read highlights form the Spring edition of Ecolibrium, click here.

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