Celebrating World Refrigeration Day
24th June 2020
The global coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly curtailed plans for this Friday’s World Refrigeration Day but there’s still plenty to do and see.
The brainchild of UK refrigeration consultant Steve Gill, World Refrigeration Day is, in essence, an international awareness campaign to raise the profile of the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector and to focus attention on the significant role that the industry and its technology play in modern life and society.
Ironically, while the Covid-19 crisis has again underlined the vital role of refrigeration in society, this appears to have, again, gone largely unrecognised by the general public.
It is inevitable that many of this year’s events will take place online. There’s a large number of webinars planned and we know of a number of special videos being produced to celebrate the event. As with last year’s inaugural event, a number of companies also have plans to mark the day amongst staff and customers.
We will be posting details of events on this page and keeping you up to date as June 26 unfolds. If you have news and information you wish to share send it to [email protected].
WORLD: Official World Refrigeration Day webinar
Cold Chain 4 Life
June 26, 15.00 CET
The “official” World Refrigeration Day webinar this year takes the theme of the Cold Chain 4 Life.
The 90-minute webinar at 15.00 CET on June 26 is organised by the World Refrigeration Day secretariat, ASHRAE, European Partnership for Energy and Environment (EPEE), International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), UNEP OzonAction, and in cooperation with Global Food Cold Chain Council (GFCCC).
This international webinar aims to bring technology, food waste/loss, health, environment and energy considerations associated with the cold chain to the attention of public, policy-makers and end-users.
SWEDEN: Cold chain video
Beijer Ref has produced a two-part video in support of World Refrigeration Day by raising the awareness of the importance of the cold chain sector, its vital role for food safety and security as well as human health.
UK: Refrigeration control webinar
Control & Monitoring in the Cold Chain
June 26, 16.00 BST
UK refrigeration controls manufacturer RDM is organising a one-hour webinar to support World Refrigeration Day’s cold chain theme.
RDM’s Chris Tyche will look at how control and monitoring can optimise temperature due diligence and energy management processes. With extensive experience in the cold chain field, Tyche will provide useful and practical suggestions and solutions, including integration with existing infrastructure and third-party systems.
AUSTRALIA: Virtual industry showcase
Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH)
June 26, 09.00 – 17.00 AEST
The AIRAH Virtual Industry Showcase will bring together HVAC&R companies, professionals and practitioners for a whole day of online events.
Attendees will be able to explore the latest products and technologies from the industry; receive exclusive offers; participate in live Q&A sessions; and network with peers across Australia in this special one-day event.
EUROPE: Cooling sustains life video
As a key part part of its mission is to promote a better understanding of the HVACR sector, it should be no surprise that EPEE has come up with one of the best explanatory videos to celebrate World Refrigeration Day.
Describing cooling as “the backbone of our society”, Andrea Voigt, EPEE director general, said: “As more and more Europeans live in cities, we count on cooling to ensure healthy, productive and comfortable living and working environments, fresh and safe food and best in class healthcare. Our sector is essential for our health, for our productivity, for our wellbeing. And it does not stop there. Cooling can play a major role to support the decarbonisation of our economy.”
UK: Beyond refrigeration webinar
Institute of Refrigeration
Beyond Refrigeration – the challenge to achieve net zero heating and cooling for the UK
June 26, 12.00 – 16.45 BST
The Institute of Refrigeration will be hosting a series of live debates based around its recent launch Beyond Refrigeration – the challenge to achieve net zero heating and cooling for the UK.
Session1: 12.00 – 12.45 Beyond Refrigeration
How can we work together to tackle the challenge of achieving net-zero heating and cooling in the UK, with host Kevin Glass, President, with Dermot Cotter Chair of IoR papers committee and Roger Ryan.
Session 2: 13.00 – 13.45 Developing the Best People and Skills
What should a long term industry-led strategy for recruiting, upskilling and investing in the future of heating and cooling look like? Discussion host John Austin Davies, chair of EngTech Trailblazer group and John Ellis of Ellis Training Centre, and IoR past president.
Session 3: 16.00 – 16.45 Achieving Best System Performance
What are the right tools, systems and incentives to measure, monitor and maintain system efficiency? with discussion host Rob Lamb, IoR trustee and Graeme Maidment past president and London South Bank University.
World Refrigeration Day Mosaic
Don’t forget to add your face to the special mosaic to celebrate this year’s special day.
Industry members from all over the world are invited to step out from behind the image of a hidden industry by adding their face to a mosaic which is being created to mark World Refrigeration Day.
More information here.
AUSTRALIA: Refrigeration at Woolworths
Australian retailer Woolworths has produced a short five-minute video explaining the involvement of refrigeration in its business and those of its partners and stakeholders.
The second largest company in Australia, with over 1,000 retail outlets throughout Australia and New Zealand, Woolworths originally planned to offer a tour of its transcritical CO2 systems, as it did last year. With the enforced restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic making that impossible, they called on its industry stakeholders to help make a video instead.
“We had over 80 clips submitted by enthusiastic stakeholders both from within the Woolworths community but also from our suppliers and technology partners,” said Woolworths sustainable innovations engineer Dario Ferlin.
IRELAND: Special celebratory give-away
UK: What foods would you miss?
UK distributor Hawco asked the kids what foods they would miss if there was no refrigeration.
NIGERIA: What are you grateful for?
Bringing refrigeration to areas with no electricity or an unreliable supply, ColdHubs with its 24/7 solar-powered cold rooms saved 20,400 tons of food in 2019.
UK: Messages from J&E Hall
One of the oldest surviving names in refrigeration, J&E Hall MD Andrew Bowden and colleagues explain what refrigeration means to them.
ITALY: Refrigeration through the eyes of children
Italian refrigeration and air conditioning components manufacturer asked its employees’ children to create a drawing of what refrigeration represented to them. This is what they produced:
GERMANY: Daddy cool
PAKISTAN: A special message
The Pakistan HVACR society in collaboration with Pakistan Ministry of Climate have produced a special message for World Refrigeration Day.
