Cool is both a mission and the status for engineering innovators on World Refrigeration Day. The annual event, marked on June 26, recognizes the contribution that refrigeration and air conditioning make to global productivity, health and safety.

This year’s theme is Next Generation Cooling, with a twofold focus on low-carbon and energy-efficient technologies and the workforce that will design, develop, install and maintain them. The International Energy Agency estimates air-conditioning already accounts for nearly 20 per cent of the electricity that buildings consume worldwide. Innovation will be critical to balance projected further growth in demand against the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“The theme, Next Generation Cooling, aligns perfectly with ASHRAE’s commitment to advancing cooling system technology and our prioritization of environmental stewardship,” observes Farooq Mehboob, 2022-23 president of ASHRAE, one of the 27 industry and professional associations worldwide that are allied supporters of World Refrigeration Day. “We are dedicated to supporting research, education and collaboration to drive innovation to ensure a sustainable and efficient cooling infrastructure around the world.”

World Refrigeration Day also coincides with ASHRAE’s annual conference, which will feature several seminars on related topics in its educational program. As well, the Institute of Refrigeration, based in the United Kingdom, is offering a slate of webinars on June 26 covering everything from cooling system maintenance to career options.

“This year’s campaign is an opportunity to showcase what we are doing now to ensure we have the diverse, highly skilled workforce that our future industry needs,” says Stephen Gill, founder of World Refrigeration Day and former president of the Institute of Refrigeration.