International. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) released its latest guidance document supporting domestic and commercial refrigeration manufacturers seeking to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This project is funded by the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Programme (K-CEP) and supported by the International Copper Association (ICA).
This new study establishes a methodology and tools for manufacturers to understand the net cost and benefits of different energy-efficient cooling design options and required manufacturing line upgrades.
The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted cold value chains, which are critical to food and vaccine distribution. The refrigeration and air conditioning sector is currently responsible for about 17 per cent of global electricity consumption and, in some developing countries, even exceeds 40 per cent of national electricity demand. To reduce the impact on health and the environment, it is vital to improve the energy efficiency of refrigeration systems and adopt refrigerants that have zero or little climate impact.
As the implementing agency for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, UNIDO was supporting its Member States to phase out the use of ozone-depleting substances and global warming in the refrigeration sector. The amendment to the Montreal Protocol in 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda, has led to the creation of the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program which aims to help increase cooling energy efficiency (EE) in developing countries. This exclusive K-CEP-funded project "Assessment of Incremental Capital and Operating Costs to Improve EE in Domestic, Commercial and Retail Refrigeration" examined manufacturers in 5 countries and characterized them using a Manufacturer Development Index (MDI) that takes into account: Manufacturer Development Capacity, Manufacturer Production Volume, Manufacturer Proximity and Relationship with Original Equipment Component Manufacturers (OEMs), market maturity, country energy efficiency score.
Manufacturers can now determine what changes to their offerings can be taken cost-effectively. The simulation software, called Commercial Refrigeration Analysis (CERA) [1], provides visual modelling of component changes, the benefit in energy efficiency and the cost involved in promoting eco-design and thus keeping the product competitive in the long term. A record of changes made allows scenarios and costs to be formed into a "boardroom-ready" style presentation, see www.unido.org/cera.
"Many companies in Article 5 countries lack adequate guidance and opportunities for knowledge transfer when trying to meet global climate goals. This guidance document presents practical ways to calculate the costs necessary for your product and factory footprint to comply with international agreements and national legislation," said Mr. IINO Fukuya Ph.D. of UNIDO's Department of Environment, Vienna, Austria.
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