As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Trinidad and Tobago faces unique challenges in energy management and climate change mitigation. Rising temperatures and increased energy demands pose significant challenges to our sustainable development. Introducing district cooling systems with the concept of Cooling as a Service (CaaS) marks a transformative step toward improving energy efficiency and lowering the carbon footprint within the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector.
District cooling, an advanced energy solution, offers a viable
alternative to traditional cooling methods by using a centralized system to
cool multiple buildings. This approach addresses growing energy demands and
significantly reduces energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and
operating costs while decreasing reliance on ozone-depleting substances.
A training manual has been produced by the GEF-funded project, being
implemented by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago: “Energy
Efficiency through the Development of Low-Carbon RAC Technologies in Trinidad
and Tobago,'’ facilitated by Carbon Trust. This manual is a crucial resource for trainers and technicians. Its primary
aim is to bolster local capacity in the design, installation, and maintenance
of district cooling systems, equipping the readers with the requisite skills to
implement and sustain these systems effectively.
The initiative aligns with our national goals to improve energy
efficiency, reduce hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions, and meet international
climate commitments under the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol. The skills and knowledge gained
through this manual will play a key role in Trinidad and Tobago's efforts to
meet its international obligations to climate change mitigation and ozone layer
protection.
The virtual train the trainers session brought together several RAC training schools to improve their capacity to roll out the district cooling skills and knowledge throughout the RAC sector.
