This year, A.G. Coombs and Exergenics have been recognised in categories of “Excellence in Innovation” and “Excellence in Sustainability” at the 2024 AIRAH Awards for Excellence.

The Chilled Water Plant Optimisation Project involved using the latest machine learning and simulation techniques to improve the control logic of the Terminal 1 chiller plant and secondary pumping system.

The project achieved a 33.4% increase in efficiency, reducing energy consumption by 890,094 kWh and cutting GHG emissions by 704 tCO2 over nine months, through improved efficiency. The overall annual project reduction in energy consumption was 1,742,000 kWh, equivalent to 1,377 tCO2.

The project was undertaken in a close partnership between A.G. Coombs Advisory and Exergenics, working with the Sydney Airport team to achieve their ambitious sustainability targets.

In accepting the awards, Bryon Price, A.G. Coombs Strategic Development Director said, “We would like to particularly recognise our Sydney Airport client. Investing in the tuning of building systems is often an article of faith for building owners and operators – you cannot see the work. It’s not like installing a new high COP chiller, or other capital works to reduce energy use.

As we transform buildings for Net Zero making energy consuming and emissions producing systems in buildings work properly and tuning and optimising is the first best investment you can make.

It is not always easy, but it is by far the lowest cost $/kWh saving and $/kW demand reduction initiative that you can put in place. And it also almost invariably increases the life cycle of building plant and equipment.

Our collaboration with Exergenics not only helped assure the client that this project was very worthwhile it lowered the overall cost of the work improving the commercial ROI. It is great that this system optimisation project has been recognised for its innovation and its contribution to sustainability.”

The project has also been selected as a finalist in the CIBSE Building Performance Awards 2025 in the category of Best Digital Innovation – Project Delivery. These awards will be announced in London in February 2025.

The AIRAH Excellence in Innovation Award recognises significant Australian improvements in the areas of HVAC&R achieved through innovation, including new or significantly improved systems or plant and equipment or processes.

The AIRAH Excellence in Sustainability Award recognises Australian initiatives that have made clear improvements in the sustainability of the HVAC&R industry. The initiatives may be improvements to existing air conditioning or refrigeration systems or the development of new improvements, or in the industry’s delivery of services.

For more information on the 2024 AIRAH Awards, visit the AIRAH Awards website www.airah.org.au/awards

For more information on the CIBSE Building Performance Awards 2025, visit the CIBSE website https://www.cibse.org/what-s-on/cibse-building-performance-awards-2025/bpa-shortlist-2025