The theme of this year’s World Refrigeration Day on 26 June is ‘Temperature Matters’.
To celebrate, we’ve made a video that highlights the vital role air con and refrigeration technicians play in the fight against climate change.
Video transcript
When the world united in the 1980s to rid the atmosphere of chlorofluorocarbons, it helped to restore the ozone layer and prevented some significant climate warming.
The same thing is happening again as we phase down hydrofluorocarbons, the refrigerants that replaced CFCs. HFCs don’t harm the ozone layer, but they are potent greenhouse gases.
The phase down aims to reduce their use by 85% by 2036. With current international action, the ozone layer is expected to recover by 2065.
Unfortunately, refrigerants still aren’t always dealt with properly, contributing to refrigerant emissions worth 2 million cars on the road in Australia each year.
With the energy they consume, the 60 million systems across the country that use HFCs are responsible for 12% of Australia’s total emissions. And they can be expensive to run if not properly installed or maintained.
It’s illegal to release regulated refrigerants into the air. This is because some refrigerants can stay in the atmosphere for decades or more and can be thousands of times worse for climate change than carbon dioxide.
Only licensed technicians can handle refrigerants. They also have the expertise to ensure systems are correctly sized, sited, installed, charged and maintained to prevent leaks and minimise energy costs.
There are over 100,000 licensed technicians and businesses in Australia.
As technology evolves, this industry is becoming increasingly important for everything from cooling batteries and refrigerating produce, to building sustainability. And keeping everyday Australians cool is only going to become more important.
So thank you to our air con and refrigeration technicians for keeping our systems running and playing their part in the fight against climate change.
Many gases used in air conditioning and refrigeration are harmful to the environment if released. Most of them contain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which contribute to global warming.
This is why we regulate their import, and why only ARCtick licensed technicians can handle them. They have the skills to install, maintain and remove air con and refrigeration systems. They can also make sure your system is performing efficiently, prevent leaks, and save you money in the long run.
Emerging industries
The air con and refrigeration industry covers everything from cooling car batteries to building sustainability. Many sectors are starting to use more environmentally-friendly refrigerants to reduce their emissions.
Thank you to all our licensed technicians for playing their part in reducing emissions and keeping us cool.
Head to Lookforthetick.com.au to find a licensed technician near you.
