From: HVAC&R Industry, April 26, 2018

BEIJING—ASHRAE president Bjarne W. Olesen, Ph.D., and ASHRAE members participated in the recent two-day “Twinning Workshop on Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.” Organized by UN Environment’s OzonAction and United for Efficiency initiatives in cooperation with ASHRAE, and hosted by China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the workshop was aimed at strengthening cooperation between national ozone and energy officers.

The meeting provided a platform for the national energy officers to learn more about the Montreal Protocol’s Kigali Amendment and for national ozone officers to better understand how energy efficiency considerations could be included in their regular work. Representatives from 31 governments in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Asia attended.

During the workshop, participants learned about policies for transforming refrigeration and air conditioning markets, and resources and funding options to do so.

Olesen introduced a session briefing national ozone officials about using energy efficiently in air conditioning and describing to national energy policy officials the environmental impact of refrigerant choices. “Air conditioning and refrigeration create inside environments. ASHRAE guidance can assist ozone and energy officers to minimize technology’s impact on the external environment,” Olesen said.

ASHRAE gave three presentations during the workshop:  On Refrigerant Basics, AC Energy Efficiency Basics, and Fundamentals of Air Conditioning.  Don Brandt, Life Member ASHRAE, and Wayne Reedy, Life Member ASHRAE, were the presenters with regional air conditioning and refrigeration technology insights added by ASHRAE members Harshal Surange and M. Idrus Alhamid.

HuMin Hu, China adviser and program head for access to cooling for the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP), speaks during the two-day workshop.

The International Energy Agency, as well as regional energy organizations and Chinese training institutes presented a variety of information on technology and policy solutions related to energy-efficient cooling. The workshop series is supported by the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP), a new philanthropic initiative that is committing $52 million to help developing countries transition to energy-efficient, climate-friendly, affordable cooling solutions.

Read a full report on the workshop from UN Environment’s OzonAction here.