Count on Cooling: A five-step approach to deliver sustainable cooling

The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE), the voice of the heating and cooling industry in Europe, publishes its white paper “Count on Cooling: A five-step approach to deliver sustainable cooling” during the UN’s 31st Meeting of the Parties taking place this week in Rome. This white paper on sustainable cooling is being presented for the first time during a session hosted by EPEE together with UNEP OzonAction. EPEE and its members are committed to provide and promote sustainable solutions that are fit for the future, demonstrating the industry’s value by contributing to carbon neutrality, and helping the EU to achieve its Paris Agreement goal.

The use of cooling is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades triggered by a warming climate and global trends such as increasing urbanisation. Cooling delivers substantial benefits in many respects, contributing to health, fresh and safe food, productivity and thermal comfort. It is therefore a crucial factor to achieve several sustainable development goals such as good health (SDG3), zero hunger (SDG2), economic growth (SDG8), sustainable cities (SDG11), etc.

On this occasion, Andrea Voigt, EPEE’s Director General, stated: “Growth in the use of cooling could lead to increased energy consumption with associated greenhouse gas emissions and place significant burden on the electricity grid. But there are numerous solutions available to address these impacts, maximizing the benefits of cooling whilst minimising greenhouse gas emissions and electrical peak demand.” 

EPEE’s White Paper, introduces a 5-step approach to deliver sustainable cooling; these are to (1) optimise the need for cooling, (2) improve the energy and resource efficiency of cooling, (3) mitigate the climate impact of refrigerants, (4) address the investment cost for higher efficiency solutions, (5) shift to renewable energy sources with an integrated approach to cooling and heating of individual buildings or whole cities. It describes risks and opportunities, including examples of how the EU policy framework has already taken steps forward and an analysis of the remaining challenges. 

Voigt concluded: “It’s not a lack of innovation or a question of available technology. It’s a question of raising awareness on what needs to be done to deliver sustainable cooling. This means for example fully implementing and enforcing the EU’s Clean Energy Package as well as explicitly including cooling in national energy and climate plans and long-term strategies. Cooling provides a true opportunity to contribute to a carbon neutral Europe, but its potential has not been fully recognised yet. It’s time to change this perception and industry stands ready to deliver!” 

A new website dedicated to #CountOnCooling has been created and will be further completed with practical case studies and more information on the sector’s crucial role to contribute to carbon neutrality in Europe and to help avoid a global climate crisis.