University Course

Lower GWP Award | eLearning | Workplan | Resources | Refrigerants Fact Sheet

| World Refrigeration Day | University Course | News & Events

INSTRUCTOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION TO RECEIVE COURSE MATERIALS

FREE Course Pack for Instructors

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES & NEW COOLING
TECHNOLOGIES SOLUTIONS

University Course for Undergraduate Students as Part of Their Engineering Curriculum

This course introduces undergraduate engineering students to global environmental challenges related to cooling technologies, with a particular focus on ozone depletion, global warming, and international environmental treaties. Students will explore current and emerging cooling technologies—including vapor compression, absorption/adsorption refrigeration, and evaporative cooling—and examine strategies for transitioning to environmentally sustainable refrigerants and energy-efficient systems. Developed by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and updated in 2025 by ASHRAE, the course explains how new technologies can be applied to meet obligations and targets mandated by the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The course is made available for use in whole or in part at no cost to universities, colleges, engineering institutes, and training centers through the UNEP OzonAction ASHRAE partnership. While designed for third-year engineering students, the course can be adapted to suit the educational requirements of the institutions where the course is presented or for students in other years of their engineering or technical education.

Course Outline Topic 1: Environmental Challenges, Refrigerants/Ozone-Depleting Substances and the Changing Environment (2 Weeks) Topic 2: International Treaties, Compliance Strategies, and Transition Resources (2 Weeks) Topic 3: Environmental Performance and Best Practices for Refrigerants (3 Weeks) Topic 4: Vapor Compression Cycle and Alternative Technologies (6.5 Weeks)

Register to Download the Syllabus and Course Pack with Lectures and Other Course Materials

Register Now

• Objectives and Learning Outcomes

  
  Objective 1: Analyze key environmental challenges related to refrigerants and cooling systems.

  • The student will be able to identify and explain major environmental impacts of refrigerants, including ozone depletion and global warming.
  • The student shall analyze historical and current trends in refrigerant usage and correlate them with observed environmental impacts.

  Objective 2: Evaluate global multilateral environmental agreements, particularly the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment.

  • The student shall differentiate among key international environmental agreements and articulate their roles in shaping refrigerant policy.
  • Apply the principles of the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment to technical decision-making processes.

  Objective 3: Assess the environmental performance of refrigerants and their use in equipment using metrics such as GWP and TEWI.

  • Compute and interpret the Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Total Equivalent Warming Impact (TEWI) for various refrigerants based on system parameters.
  • Compare refrigerants and select environmentally preferable options using life-cycle assessment (LCA) approaches.

  Objective 4: Apply good practices in refrigerant safety, handling, containment, and recovery.

  • Explain best practices and safety standards (e.g., ASHRAE, ISO) for refrigerant handling.
  • Apply recovery, containment, and leak-detection procedures in scenario-based or laboratory simulations.

  Objective 5: Compare conventional and emerging cooling technologies based on sustainability and performance.

  • Describe and compare the thermodynamic principles of conventional and alternative cooling systems.
  • Evaluate the energy efficiency and environmental impact of cooling systems such as absorption, adsorption, evaporative cooling, radiative, and cascade cycles.

  Objective 6: Develop and present technical solutions for future low-impact cooling applications.

  • Integrate engineering, environmental, and policy knowledge to design low-emission cooling systems.
  • Communicate technical solutions effectively through written reports and oral presentations for both technical and policy audiences.
• Project Based Learning

  
  With increased use of online teaching and student access to artificial intelligence, the course has been designed to emphasize project-based learning through class discussions, group projects, and case studies in addition to lectures and exams.

• Course Components

  
  

  The course pack includes syllabus, lecture notes, pre-defined assignments, group projects and exams. Each topic also includes an extensive list of additional resources.

  Two ASHRAE UNEP eLearning courses – Refrigerants Literacy and Energy Efficiency Literacy – are built into the course structure to give students the opportunity for extra credit.  These web-based and self-paced courses provide students with a basic understanding of refrigeration and air-conditioning technology.

  The syllabus, included with course materials as a downloadable files, includes: 

  • Course description
  • Pre-requisites
  •  Course objectives
  • Learning outcomes
  • Course policies
  • Schedule
  • Course classification form showing Student Outcomes and Relevant Activity
  • Grade assessment guidelines

Questions and Comments

Contact ashraeunep@ashrae.org for questions or comments about the course pack or if you are having problems downloading the course materials.

Register to Download the Syllabus and Course Pack with Lectures and Other Course Materials

Register Now