Natural Refrigeration – IIR Ammonia Conference

UNEP considered this as perfect sustainable development proposition. Over a last   couple of years these corporations have developed the solutions that use natural refrigerants and are embarking on the corporate decision to convert all their operations away from CFCs and HFCs. This partnership initiative called ‘ Refrigerants, Naturally’ is now enlarging to include other multinationals. It goes on to illustrate the far-reaching changes being implemented through sustainable refrigeration practices. It is about energy efficient, HFC-free refrigeration.  “Energy efficient and HFC-free” means finding one solution to two global environmental problems, i.e. ozone layer depletion and climate change.  But it is not only the refrigerant and the energy efficiency that needs to be looked into. The better maintenance and operation can contribute to 30% reduction in power use just by simple good practices of door seals, loading the cooler items in the refrigerator and by maintenance. Just to illustrate where it could go, by improving the energy efficiency  of refrigeration systems by 30%-and it is actionable- the world would save equivalent of 400 millions of barrels per year.
Nexus between Ozone Layer depletion and climate change: In fact 188 countries that are Parties to the Montreal Protocol and 122 countries that are Parties to the Kyoto Protocol have recently taken the historical decision to work together to find integrated solutions to climate and ozone problems. They have recognized that a solution to one environmental problem should not pose a threat to another. The experts, agencies, industries and Governments have been requested to develop and share the information on policies, technologies and good practices that protect the ozone layer and at the same time mitigate climate change.

Intergovernmental   Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel are working together on a special report on safeguarding the ozone layer and the global climate system. The Summary for the Policy Makers is released in mid April 2005 and the full report will soon be available. The report assesses options to reduce emissions of these greenhouse gases, explores their technical feasibility and cost, and addresses environmental, safety and health considerations.

UNEP would like to encourage a partnership with the industries and NGOs to undertake the projects and good practices that demonstrate integrated solutions to more than one multilateral environmental agreement. Ammonia, hydrocarbons, Carbon dioxide, air and even water are the natural refrigerants that would ensure elimination of GHG emissions. UNEP will continue to encourage through such partnership use of Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP) and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) as decision-making tools for integrated environmental solutions.