#WRD2023
World Refrigeration Day is celebrated annually every June 26th, to raise global awareness about the importance of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump technologies for the comfort of life.
The event is mostly recognized and supported globally by industry, professional groups, scientific and engineering associations, as well as by governments and individuals.
Theme for this year’s celebration is “Next Generation for cooling” encapsulates the urgency and opportunity to explore innovative, sustainable solutions that will shape the future of the cooling system. The campaign focuses on fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and advancement in cooling technologies that can mitigate environmental impact to meet the global growing demand of cooling systems. It also aimed to raise awareness of how the modern cooling industry is adapting and evolving to meet the challenges and opportunities the sector faces, providing the increasing demand for low carbon cooling and heating solutions in a warming climate.
As the day passes by, the demand for cooling keeps increasing due to factors such as population growth, urbanization, and increased energy consumption. However, traditional cooling methods have often relied on technologies that contribute to environmental degradation, including the release of greenhouse gasses and energy efficiency. For instance, cool devices such as air conditioners, refrigerants and electric fans to stay cool account for nearly 20% of the total electricity used in buildings around the world today, which is an enormous strain on electricity systems in many countries, as well as driving up emissions.
As the world seeks to address climate change and sustainable development goals, it becomes imperative to transition towards the next generation of cooling systems that can deliver efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly solutions.
Sustainable Cooling Innovations: The day provides a platform to showcase and discuss breakthrough technologies in cooling technologies. The focus on reviewing sustainable alternatives, analyzing and promoting research and development that will accelerate the transition to next generation cooling solutions that have reduced environmental impact, minimize resource depletion, and enhance overall energy efficiency.
Circular Economy and Recycling: Emphasizing the importance of a circular economy. This year’s theme encourages stakeholders and innovators to explore ways to enhance the recyclability and reusability of cooling equipment. Adopting circular practices, it can reduce waste, minimize the extraction of raw materials, and optimize the lifecycle of cooling systems. This includes promoting responsible manufacturing, efficient use of materials, and designing products with end of life considerations in mind.
Digitalization and Smart Cooling: the theme reveals the need to integrate digital technologies and smart systems to revolutionize the cooling industry. It highlights the importance of embracing data analytics, artificial intelligence and the internet of Things (IoT) to optimize and advance the functionality of cooling systems to suit the climate change and natural environment. Applying these innovations can enable predictive maintenance, remote monitoring, so as to enhance efficiency, reduce energy consumption and promote clean energy and improve performance.
Collaboration and capacity building: Addressing the challenges associated with cooling systems requires collaboration across various sectors including academia, industry, policymakers, and consumers. The event fosters a moment for partnerships and knowledge sharing that will encourage policy development and support capacity building to drive the adoption of next generation cooling solutions worldwide.