Seminar prepares Belize for new CFC rules
When it comes to polluting the atmosphere, Belize is one of least guilty nations of the world. But that doesn’t mean we can rest on our reputation. One area in which we are falling behind is the use of refrigerants. Freon and other chloroflurocarbons from air conditioners and refrigerators contribute to the depletion of the earth’s ozone layer when the gas is allowed to escape into the air. This morning a week long seminar opened at the Belize City Centre for Employment Training to teach our technicians how to better manage the damaging substance.
Ann-Marie Williams
“If we look at some of the ways to eliminate ODS’, how do we do that? A very popular one is the freon we use in our cars, it’s particularly hot and in our refrigerators. What are some of the ways you’ll be advising these participants?”
Dr. Ronald Verch, Dir., Air Conditioning Institute, Canada
“What we’re going to do, is instead of releasing it to the atmosphere, which is common practice in the past, they now have equipment to recover these CFCs, for example R12, from refrigerators and automobiles. So if they have to re-service them, they can re-service with the refrigerant that they recover from it. And eventually, to retro fit away from CFCs to long term replacement such as 134A, which is being used in developing countries now for about ten years.”
Martin Alegria, Nat’l Ozone Officer, Dept. of Environment
“At the end we’ll be asking them to get together as much info as possible from this workshop, both in text and in knowledge, and impart this to their technicians. In terms of what Belize’s commitments are to the global community, in terms of phasing out of ozone depleting substances, time frames, new technology is available, and inform them also of the policies and legislation that will be develop with their input.”
Dr. Ronald Verch
“I think the highlight is to convince your industry why they have to recover refrigerants. It’s not because of legislation or laws enforcing them to do it, it’s because of the environmental issues. If they realise why they have to do it and it’s the environmentally conscious thing, then they will comply with it voluntarily. If they’re not willing to comply voluntarily, then it’s not going to happen.”
At the end of the refrigeration workshop, participant’s recommendations will be forwarded to government for action. The depletion of the earth’s ozone layer increases the strength of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation and is a factor in global warming.
