ASHRAE wins UN Environment Award

By Elise Herron, Dec 01, 2017, 22:23 2 minute reading

The organization won the Partnership Award for its role in the development and implementation of the Kigali Amendment.

ASHRAE President Bjarne W. Olesen accepts the Partnership Award.

At a November 23 Ozone Awards ceremony in Montreal, Canada, the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) presented the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) with the Partnership Award.

The award presentation was part of the 29th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP 29), and ASHRAE was recognized for its contribution to the progress of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

“I congratulate ASHRAE for this well-deserved award honoring its exceptional efforts to support the advancement of technologies which help protect the ozone layer,” said Tina Birmpili, head of the Ozone Secretariat. “We appreciate the organization’s dedication to the Montreal Protocol and its contribution to the success of the treaty.”

Along with being a key player in the implementation of the 30-year-old Montreal Protocol, ASHRAE has played a critical role in the development of the Kigali Amendment – which aims to phase-down HFC consumption worldwide and will enter into force January 1, 2019.

“Receiving the Partnership Award is a great honor and acknowledgment of the tireless work ASHRAE and our members are doing to support the phase-out activities of ozone-depleting substances around the world,” said 2017-2018 ASHRAE President Bjarne W. Olesen. “We are proud to be a part of this initiative and look forward to continuing our partnership with UN Environment as we work toward a more sustainably built environment.”

 ASHRAE’s influence on the HVAC&R sector extends to more than 56,000 members in over 100 countries. The group has partnered with UN Environment since its inception, notably linking up with the UN Environment’s OzonAction Program in 2007.

“Receiving the Partnership Award is a great honor and acknowledgment of the tireless work ASHRAE and our members are doing to support the phase-out activities of ozone-depleting substances around the world.” 
– ASHRAE President Bjarne W. Olesen

That partnership has led to various phase-out programs worldwide. It’s also fostered international research and outreach programs that link ASHRAE members with their governmental counterparts in over 77 developing countries.  

“The joint biennial work plans are developed to address emerging needs and fill in gaps in different areas such as lower-GWP refrigerants, safety standards, training and education, international guidelines, joint programs and more,” said Dr. Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, head of OzonAction.

ASHRAE has also entered a $5.2 million joint investment with the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to fund research projects and accelerate a more robust fact base about the properties and use of flammable refrigerants – which will help update international standards.

By Elise Herron

Dec 01, 2017, 22:23




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