Page 33 - Climate Control News Magazine April 2019

Chiller Feature
“THE REDUCTION OF INDIRECT EMISSIONS, WHICH HAS A STRONGER IMPACT ON THE CLIMATE THAN DIRECT EMISSIONS, IS ESSENTIAL.”
– IIR DIRECTOR GENERAL, DIDIER COULOMB.
workings pressures, or higher cost. Such disad- vantages and risks should be considered, from the design of refrigeration facilities, to the train- ing and certification of operators.
To reduce indirect emissions, we must low- er the energy consumption of refrigeration systems.
4. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO THE INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS?
The potential to improve energy efficiency in re- frigeration technologies is ultimately limited by the laws of thermodynamics as well as cost-re- lated constraints. However solutions to limit en- ergy losses can still be implemented, such as en- ergy recovery systems or better insulation.
Another significant potential is in the rational use of air conditioning and smart control strate- gies, e.g. selecting comfortable temperatures that are not too low in summer, while avoiding unnecessarily cooling empty rooms.
5. THE PARIS AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED IN 2015 AND THE KIGALI AMENDMENT ENTERED INTO FORCE LAST MONTH. WHAT CAN THE REFRIGERATION SECTOR EXPECT?
The implementation of the Kigali Amendment – whose aim is to progressively reduce the produc- tion and consumption of HFCs – could result in the total of direct emissions falling to 0.7 GtCO- 2eq by 2050.This drop would represent a 44% to 51% decline in cumulative HFC emissions over the 2015-2050 period.
The objective of the Paris Agreement is to “keep the increase of global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels”. In
this context, it is important to underline the fact that the Kigali Amendment would prevent a po- tential increase of average temperatures be- tween 0.1°C and 0.3°C by 2100 (not the frequently referenced figure of 0.5°C).
6. DOES THE IIR HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS?
With a view to reducing direct emissions, the IIR encourages governments and the different actors in the sector to cooperate to make the Ki- gali Agreement a success. The IIR also recom- mends that HCFC and HFC refrigerants, which have a high impact on global warming, are re- placed with refrigerants that have a low impact on global warming as soon as possible. Efforts are also needed in containment and recovery, particularly for refrigerants with a significant impact on global warming or presenting safety risks (flammability, toxicity).
The reduction of indirect emissions, whose impact on the climate is stronger than that of di- rect emissions, is essential. Governments must encourage the use of renewable energy and pro- mote energy efficiency at all levels of the econo- my, as well as educational programs on the ra- tional use of energy. It remains essential to continue research and development of alterna- tive refrigerants. ✺
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CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS
APRIL 2019
33