Grenada's National Ozone Unit (NOU) in collaboration with the global project Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change II (C4 II) is actively advocating for the use of natural refrigerants in refrigeration and air conditioning appliances by launching a new version of the Green Cooling label.
Consumers and local retailers alike are often not aware of which refrigerators or air conditioners are environmentally friendly. With this new label, it is now easy to identify Green Cooling appliances, which exhibit negligible global warming potential due to their use of natural refrigerants such as propane (R-290) in ACs, and isobutane (R600a) in refrigerators. Notably, these refrigerants are not only more environmentally friendly but offer additional advantages such as higher energy efficiency and lower refrigerant charge.
In its initial phase, the label was first piloted with two companies Courts Grenada Limited (UNICOMER) and L. A. Purcell. Now, the label goes in its second round and is expanded to all cooling appliances in the commercial and private sector. As a result, both distributors and customers alike are provided with a practical tool for the promotion and distribution of natural refrigerants.
As part of the re-launch event for the natural refrigerant label, National Ozone Officer Leslie Smith and the C4 II project team conducted a training on various labels found on cooling appliances. The training successfully imparted knowledge for sales representatives, enabling them to calculate and interpret critical metrics such as energy efficiency, energy costs, energy savings, and global warming impact.
For a practical exercise, participants metered a refrigerator using the natural refrigerant isobutane (R600a) and subsequently used the gathered data to perform calculations related to energy efficiency, costs, and savings. Sales representatives also learned about energy and refrigerant labels, along with how to read and explain them. Furthermore, the training incorporated a presentation by Mr. Robert Medford, Director of the Grenada Bureau of Standards, who emphasized the relevance of labeling standards for refrigeration and air conditioning appliances. He also explained how standards play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with environmental commitments while delivering optimal appliances to consumers.
Now that sales representatives are equipped with the skills to perform the necessary calculations and explain what the different labels mean, they will be able to better show end users their savings and environmental impact before they purchase appliances. This, in turn, is anticipated to stimulate the sales numbers of Green Cooling appliances, aligning with Grenada’s overarching vision of becoming the first HFC-free island.
Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change II (C4 II) is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).