Internnational. Ashrae teamed up with the United Nations Environment Programme to develop and publish a Guide to the Sustainability of Refrigeration Systems and Facilities. The jointly funded $400,000 program is scheduled to launch in early 2014.
The guide will cover the full range of facility and equipment designs and alternatives for the refrigeration, storage and distribution process (of the cold chain) in both developing and developed countries.
The objective of the guide is to support the selection of alternatives to HCFC refrigerants, maintaining or improving energy efficiency through the cold chain and reducing the environmental footprint. That, in turn, supports countries' compliance with the Montreal Protocol and improves global sustainability, Ashrae said.
For Ashrae, as global urbanization continues, refrigerated storage and transportation from farm to storage room is critical. Food spoilage is a sustainability issue, particularly in less developed countries. The storage of medicine and transport is also in a critical area.
