Cold Link Africa September 2019 | Page 31

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN PILOT PROGRAMME The event concluded with a brainstorming session as to a pilot project that will assess the best alternatives to HFCs for RAC systems in the South African environment. Multiple proposals were tabled. At the time of publishing, a decision hadn’t yet been made about which project will be put in place and what training would be done to further the skills of those working with natural refrigerants. CLA countries. Delegates were of the opinion that a greater change to environmentally-friendly plants could be achieved by offering more incentives. Adopting a ‘carrot approach’ could achieve more than additional legislation. Consultants could add by being more informative. Education was needed at the highest level and not only at ground level. The panel discussion certainly created much food for thought and sowed the seeds for a renewed approach towards energy efficient green cooling. the plant – was the view of Marius la Grange. He stressed the importance of proper commissioning of plant to minimise energy usage. Barney Richardson of the South African Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (SARACCA) was of the view that plant maintenance was of utmost importance to limit the impact on the environment. He foresaw a skills gap in handling R290 systems and especially when the minimum charge was increased to 500g. Dawie Kriel of ASHRAE advocated a better co-operation between contractors COLD LINK AFRICA • SEPTEMBER 2019 and clients. Such co-operation would place more emphasis on life-cycle costs when investing in new plants. The training of the skills level of technicians was Kriel’s biggest concern. On plant performances, he concluded that if performance is not measured, one will never know if it is operating efficiently. Dr Volkmar Hasse felt that looking in as an outsider, the Western Cape should share their experiences with those in other countries. What seems impossible, can become possible by learning from those that have made it real in other Dick Manning (Isele Consulting, Cape Town) in the middle with Edgar Timm (left) and Dr Volkmar Hasse (right). Delegates from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries: Gift Molokwane (left) and Lutendo Ndhlovu. www.coldlinkafrica.co.za 31