World Refrigeration Day Webinar on HVAC technologies in the fight against COVID-19

The National Ozone Unit Environmental Policy and Planning Division held a Webinar on HVAC technologies in the fight against COVID-19 on Friday June 26 , 2020 at 2 pm (AST) in commemoration of World Refrigeration Day 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought global industry and commerce to a standstill, where building owners and operators are looking for guidance on real solutions for reopening and re-population. With infectious diseases transmitted through aerosols, air conditioning (HVAC) systems can have a major effect on virus transmission. Decreasing the risk of exposure is an important step in reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Based on the science behind the airborne transmission of COVID-19, this presentation will discuss the mitigation technologies available with HVAC systems.

https://undp.zoom.us/rec/share/wpNTAb6q8G1JE5XV0kPUV4IEQ6LZX6a81yAe_vZbmkqps6-1PqzELILxdL6r_-v4

Password: 4E$$6G$B

World Refrigeration Day June 26

Today we recognize the “coolest day” of the year, World Refrigeration Day. Trinidad and Tobago joins other individuals, organizations and companies worldwide in raising awareness and understanding of the critical aspect of refrigeration, air-conditioning industry and its technology in sustaining our society. 

The theme chosen for this year’s World Refrigeration Day celebrates the importance of the food cold chain in sustaining life. 

The science, engineering, and application of cooling touches all our lives in many ways. It makes our tropical climate habitable, provides for thermal storage and delivery of consumables, enables us a productive work environment and learning spaces, and supports the manufacture of products and the operation of data centers in controlled environments.The cold chain links producers and growers across Trinidad and Tobago as well as the globe to the domestic refrigerator in our kitchens. 

Another key sector is the medical sector where vaccines for example must remain chilled until they are used by medical professionals around the world, and the cold chain is essential for blood transfusions and organ donor transport and storage. This is particularly crucial given the current global COVID 19 pandemic.

Ozone and Biodiversity - Celebrating World Environment Day 2020

Healthy ecosystems comprise of interdependent webs of living organisms and their physical environment, are all vital to the biodiversity of the Earth. Throughout Earth’s history, healthy ecosystems have usually been resilient enough to adapt to gradual environmental changes. Biodiversity, the variation of life on Earth, is a major factor in its resilience. It is often the most overlooked species that are the most important to sustaining the biodiversity of Earth. A damaged or depleted ozone layer allows more Ultra Violet Radiation (UV Rays) to reach the surface of the earth. This affects many fundamentally important ecological processes that underpin biodiversity.

References

https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/ozone/UNEP/chap4.html#cons

https://populationmatters.org/the-facts/biodiversity?gclid=CjwKCAjwt-L2BRA_EiwAacX32TXJnPwtQp0URF4Hdr2uRYqovXuBISLMsPC6IHqLk4TT347_AQom-hoCqdkQAvD_BwE

https://serc.si.edu/research/laboratories/photobiology-and-solar-radiation/uv-effects-ecosystems