Make the switch: implementing of Green Cooling solutions ahead of inaugural World Refrigeration Day
The first annual World Refrigeration Day takes place today, 26 June 2019, which aims to raise the profile of the important contribution that refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps make globally.
Just last week the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, in partnership with Free State of Bavaria, hosted a technical workshop on transitioning from Fluorinated gases to green cooling solutions.
The industrial refrigeration and air conditioning sector contributes to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the use of fluorinated gases (F-gases) as refrigerants. “F-gases” have high global warming potentials that are up to several thousand times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). These F-gases can leak into the atmosphere during operation, servicing or when an appliance is recycled or scrapped.
Advocating for a more resilient and sustainable environment, the Department is encouraging the switch to energy efficient and climate-friendly cooling technologies.
The partnership with Bavaria saw the establishment of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) project to reduce emissions of harmful refrigeration chemicals to the atmosphere, which is in line with the 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol: Hydrofluorocarbons Phase-down.
The two governments and other partners have since launched a training series (COOL TRAINING) for international refrigeration and air conditioning specialists. The course will assist RAC experts, trainers and technicians to gain a competitive edge by staying up-to-date on and working in accordance with current regulations and standards while at the same time leap-frogging unsustainable technologies and refrigerants, such as HFCs (e.g. R134a). The deadline for applications and nominations has been extended until 30 June.
For more information on the RAC workshop and COOL TRAINING series contact DEA&DP via the contact us page: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/eadp/contact-us
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CAPTION: Christopher Drinkrow from Mainstream Refrigeration explaining the new climate friendly refrigeration systems that they have been installing in some retail stores to Dr Joy Leaner (DEA&DP) and Nivedita Mahida-Königsdörfer
(Bavarian Environment Agency).