Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) industry group ASHRAE has joined organizations, government agencies, and companies worldwide to support World Refrigeration Day.
Celebrated on June 26th each year, the annual event is dedicated to raising awareness about the significant role of refrigeration and air conditioning to modern life. This year’s theme, “Next Generation Cooling,” highlights the need for innovative and sustainable cooling solutions that can meet the increasing demands of our rapidly changing world.
“The theme, ‘Next Generation Cooling,’ aligns perfectly with ASHRAE’s commitment to advancing cooling system technology and our prioritization of environmental stewardship,” said 2022-23 ASHRAE President Farooq Mehboob, Fellow Life Member. “ASHRAE is committed to promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. An important way to accomplish this is by fostering innovation in the cooling industry.”
According to the International Energy Agency, air conditioners account for nearly 20% of the total electricity used in buildings around the world today. Their use is set to soar over the next three decades, becoming one of the top drivers of global electricity demand. This year’s World Refrigeration Day campaign aims to raise awareness of how the modern cooling industry is adapting and evolving to meet the challenges and opportunities of increasing demand for low-carbon cooling and heating solutions in warming climates.
“As an industry, we need to recruit, train, and retain people equipped with the knowledge and skills that a modern, forward-thinking industry requires,” explained Stephen Gill, founder of World Refrigeration Day.
“Just as no one will expect the cooling solutions we supply in the future to be the same as those from the past, no one should expect the workforce to be the same either,” continued Gill. “This year’s campaign is an opportunity to showcase what we are doing now to ensure we have the diverse, highly skilled workforce that our future industry needs.”
ASHRAE is supporting World Refrigeration Day by encouraging its chapters and members globally to speak to the public, including students making career choices, about how cooling provides climate and food security.
More information on World Refrigeration Day is available here.