Trailblazer Alert: Congratulations to Ms. Haivel-Ann Boodram - The First Female Appointed to the Board of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association of Trinidad and Tobago

The National Ozone Unit extends heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Haivel-Ann Boodram RSES CM, Director and Professionally Certified Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Technician at Heroes Air Conditioning Services Limited on her momentous appointment as the first female member of the Board of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association (ARIA) in Trinidad and Tobago.

This milestone marks a significant moment not only for Ms. Boodram but also for the wider industry, as it reflects progress toward greater inclusivity and diversity in leadership within the rRAC sector. With her extensive expertise, commitment to excellence, and passion for innovation, Ms. Boodram’s appointment signals a bright future for the Association as it continues to strengthen standards, sustainability, and professional development across the RAC field.

Her achievement serves as an inspiration to women and young professionals nationwide proving that dedication, skill, and vision can break barriers and reshape industries. We look forward to seeing the transformative impact Ms. Boodram will bring to the Board and to the continued advancement of Trinidad and Tobago’s refrigeration and air conditioning industry.

Congratulations once again, Ms. Boodram! Your success paves the way for many others to follow. 

Launch of the GEF 6 Energy Efficient Chiller at the Office of the Prime Minister

The Honourable Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has launched an energy efficiency low global warming potential chiller installed at the Office of the Prime Minister as part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant funded project entitled “Energy Efficiency through the Development of Low‑Carbon Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Technologies in Trinidad and Tobago.” The project is facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme and is overseen by a Project Steering Committee which is led by the Environmental Policy and Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development.

This project which began in 2020 and is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, aims to ensure compliance with Trinidad and Tobago’s obligations under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and its Montreal, as well as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The cooling industry alone accounts for a substantial portion of electricity consumption in commercial and Government buildings, making it a critical area for intervention in this country’s climate mitigation efforts. Some cooling technologies also use refrigerant that are harmful to the earth’s natural ultraviolet (UV) shield known as the ozone layer, and as such these chemicals are being phased out.

Aside from supporting the reduction of ozone depleting and global warming refrigerant use, the project also aims to improve national technical capacity in RAC through training and technology transfer. Additionally, the project has been supporting market transformation towards low carbon, energy efficient RAC technologies through various demonstration initiatives, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

The demonstration site at the Office of the Prime Minister under the project replaced an obsolete chiller system using refrigerant R134a which is known to contribute to climate change, with a state-of-the-art cooling solution using an ozone and climate friendly refrigerant, R-1234ze. The initiative represents a strategic investment in sustainable infrastructure that will deliver substantial environmental benefits, generate significant cost savings, and position Trinidad and Tobago as a regional leader in utilizing low carbon cooling alternatives. With projected annual emission reductions exceeding an estimated 700 tons of CO2-equivalent over the equipment's lifetime, this demonstration project creates a compelling model for nation-wide adoption of low-carbon cooling technologies.

The new chiller system also features advanced monitoring and diagnostic capabilities, which will significantly reduce maintenance costs and enhance system reliability compared to the existing equipment. Predictive maintenance features, remote monitoring capabilities, and improved component accessibility are expected to also reduce annual maintenance costs by an estimated 20-30% while extending equipment life and improving performance consistency.

Ozone Education at Lakshmi Girls High School

The National Ozone Unit was honoured to be part of the education fair at Lakshmi Girls' High School. Information was shared on ozone protection, sun safety, energy efficiency and sustainable cooling.

Awareness through the Big Sister Programme

The National Ozone Unit was delighted to host young upper school students through the St. Augustine Girls High School Alumnae Big Sister Programme for those interested in the field of environment. These industrious young ladies were exposed to the Montreal Protocol and the projects and programmes implemented by the National Ozone Unit, including the Kigali Implementation Plan, the Energy Efficiency in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Project funded by the Global Environment Facility and the HCFC Phasedown Management Plan among others.