Nairobi, 5 October 2010
- Air-conditioning units that use renewable
energy, such as solar power or cold seawater,
are approaching the commercial production
stage - a milestone
that could reduce climate change and help
phase-out greenhouses gases known as HCFCs
(Hydrochlorofluorocarbons).
This was one of the
key outcomes of a conference held in Cairo,
Egypt last week to review global technology
trends in the air conditioning sector and
their impact on the environment.
The two-day meeting
was co-organised by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the American Society
of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning
Engineers (ASHRAE) and was attended by more
than 150 international experts from Europe,
Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
Representatives of bilateral and UN agencies
that operate within the Montreal Protocol
On Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer,
which is the international treaty to designed
to protect the ozone layer, also took part.
There are around 1.5
billion refrigerators and half a billion
air conditioners on the planet. Together
with industrial 'chillers', they represent
the major use of HCFCs worldwide.
In 2007, Parties to
the Montreal Protocol agreed to accelerate
the phase-out of HCFCs - chemicals that
were used to replace the more ozone-damaging
CFCs - by 2030. Phasing-out HCFCs by 2030
will not only assist in the restoration
of the ozone layer but could play an important
role in addressing climate change.
Achieving this target
would provide a global emission reduction
of up to 40 Gigatonnes of Equivalent Carbon
Dioxide, the measure for describing the
concentration of CO2 that impacts global
warming. As well as the environmental benefits,
promoting energy efficient alternatives
to traditional chillers would also set in
motion Green Business models, through the
creation of new jobs.
"In order to get
low carbon technologies to market, we need
not only air-conditioning engineers but
also the financial engineers to undertake
innovative financing to meet the higher
capital costs of new technology", said
Rajendra Shende, Head of UNEP's OzonAction
Programme.
Participants at the
Cairo conference discussed the importance
of facilitating technology transfer and
encouraging the research which would be
the backbone for promoting the shift to
environmentally-friendly chillers which,
in turn, would help meet the environmental
sustainability target of the UN Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs).
The conference was organised
as part of a UNEP project funded by the
Multilateral Fund of Montreal Protocol for
Global Technical Assistance Programme which
provides technical and financial assistance
to developing countries to help phase-out
ozone-depleting substances such as HCFCs.
The meeting also allowed all bilateral and
UN agencies to present the outcomes of their
demonstration projects in the chiller sector
and share experience as well as technical
and financial data with experts.
"The role of ASHRAE
in sponsoring research and educational programs
for its members can help in speeding the
phasing-out process of CFCs and HCFCs,"
said Lynn G. Bellenger, President of ASHRAE.
"ASHRAE can also help in overcoming
the barrier in the phasing out of non-climate-friendly
chillers through better energy efficiency
standards", she added.
The latest developments
on air conditioners and the case studies
were presented in Cairo through 22 peer-reviewed
papers by researchers and experts from 14
countries that addressed topics such as
Heat Driven Water Chillers Technology, Vapour-Compression
Chillers Technology, Absorption Chillers
Technology, Solar-Assisted Cooling Systems,
Industrial Chillers Technology, and Alternative
Refrigerants.
Notes to Editors
About UNEP/OzonAction
The UNEP DTIE OzonAction
Branch assists developing countries and
countries with economies in transition (CEITs)
to enable them to achieve and sustain compliance
with the Montreal Protocol. With our programme's
assistance, countries are able to make informed
decisions about alternative technologies
and ozone-friendly policies.
The Branch has the distinction
of implementing more than 1,000 projects
and services that benefit of more than 100
developing countries and 17 CEITs, plus
other services that assist another 40 developing
countries.
For more information, please visit: http://www.uneptie.org/ozonaction
About ASHRAE
The American Society
of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers advances technology to serve humanity
and promote a sustainable world. Membership
is open to any person associated with the
field. ASHRAE vision is to be the global
leader, the foremost source of technical
and educational information, and the primary
provider of opportunity for professional
growth in the arts and sciences of heating,
ventilating, air conditioning and refrigerating.
ASHRAE, founded in 1894 is an international
organization of more than 50,000 persons.
For more information, please visit www.ashrae.org
