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.