The National Ozone Unit in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has developed a National Action Plan (NAP) aimed at enabling Kenyans access cooling services, while minimizing climate and environmental impacts.
The Action Plan will also enable Kenyans and players in the Energy Efficiency in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning (RAC) sector transition the cooling sector to refrigerants with low global warming potential to natural refrigerants in the cooling chains.
The National Ozone Unit which is supported by the GIZ Prokolima Green Cooling Initiative today held a stakeholder consultative meeting to validate the Action Plan.
Speaking when he officially opened the workshop on behalf of Environment PS Dr. Chris Kiptoo, Director Multilateral Environmental Agreements Mr. Cyrus Mageria said the NAP is important for the sector because cooling equipment contributes in emission of greenhouse gases both directly and indirectly.
Mr. Mageria said proposed actions are designed to enable and promote energy efficiency and raise ambition of existing policy measures and increase the awareness of consumers and industry on the benefits of energy efficiency and climate friendly cooling technologies available.
National Ozone Unit Coordinator Mr. Kirui Mariandany, said emissions from the refrigerants used in most cooling appliances emit hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which are potent greenhouse gases and they can be released while the equipment is in use as well as at the end of life.
Among the proposals is the revision of building codes initiated to mainstream passive cooling and to avoid the lock-in of poorly insulated new buildings that exhibit a high cooling load.
The NAP was developed through the help of German International Development Agency (GIZ), Green Cooling Initiative and local NGO Clasp.
Present were representatives from the Ministry of Environment, GIZ ,RAC sector, training institutions among.
