An industrial air-conditioning technology that stands to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption by up to 85 per cent has won the Australian Clean Technologies Ideas Competition.

 

The producer, SMAC Technologies, was announced as the competition winner at an awards gala night in Sydney.

 

Federal Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said praised the group, saying the technology was being used in the Federal Government’s Green Building Fund.

 

"This type of technology not only builds strong new Australian-based manufacturing industries, but also helps existing industries to be more globally competitive and resilient to price rises,” Senator Carr said.

 

The winning SMAC technology is equally suited to retrofitting as well as to new energy efficient buildings.

 

SMAC will represent Australia at the international Cleantech Open Global Ideas Competition in the United States. The company will compete against entrants from 90 countries for over $100,000 in services to help launch their idea. They will also have a week of mentoring, meetings with investors, business services and other entrepreneurs at the International Awards Gala in November 2011.

 

The competition is supported by Enterprise Connect, Commercialisation Australia, the CSIRO and Austrade. For more information and to view videos of the finalists, go to:www.cleantechopen.com.au