CATEGORY:TECHNOLOGY
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ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada - September 16, was commemorated worldwide as the International Day for the protection of the Ozone Layer. The National Ozone Unit (NOU) in the Ministry of Agriculture, the focal point for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, organized a number of activities to commemorate that day.

Among these activities were:
1. Radio and television interviews
2. Presentations to primary and secondary school students on the Montreal Protocol in conjunction with the Leo Club of St. George’s
3. Presentations to students at the St. George’s University (SGU) on the Montreal Protocol
4. Distribution of Public Awareness materials – t-shirts, notebooks, brochures, bookmarks
5. Training of local technicians in alternative Ozone friendly alternatives
6. Launch of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Association.

The highlight of the 2006 celebrations was the one-day training for technicians and suppliers in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning industry in Alternative Ozone friendly refrigerants for the industry – Hydrocarbons. This workshop was conducted by Mr. Horace Nelson of the University of Technology, School of Engineering, Jamaica.

Thirty four (34) local technicians across the industry as well as representatives from refrigerant suppliers, Jonas Browne & Hubbard’s, SNJ Electrical and SP’s International Trading received training in the use of Hydrocarbons as an ozone friendly alternative to replace the use of CFC – 12, and HFC – 22. This training was timely since Grenada and other developing countries are required to phase out the use of CFCs by 2009.

Some of the areas covered in the training were:
1. hydrocarbon properties
2. working safely with hydrocarbons
3. specialty tools
4. recovery and recycling of refrigerants
5. retrofitting equipment for hydrocarbon
6. practical demonstration

During the exercise participants tested their skills and knowledge by retrofitting domestic refrigerators and mobile air conditioning (vehicle) units from the ozone depleting R-12 to the Ozone friendly hydrocarbon (HC 134) refrigerant.

Traditionally, refrigeration and air conditioning equipment relied heavily on CFC based refrigerants which when released in the atmosphere damages the ozone layer. The National Ozone Unit has the responsibility fro phasing out these CFCs and training of technicians in alternative technology is an important component of the process.

Some of the advantages of the alternative hydrocarbon refrigerant are:
1. reduction in energy consumption of the equipment (lower energy and gas bills)
2. longer lifetime of the equipment
3. the equipment operates much more quiet
4. less refrigerant is used
5. greater efficiency of the equipment (cools faster)
6. safe for the environment
7. refrigerant is cheaper than CFCs

Homeowners, vehicle owners and business persons interested in having their refrigeration and air condition equipment retrofitted for hydrocarbon refrigerants should contact the National Ozone Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture (440 2708) or any of the technicians that have received the training.