Transcript:
In supermarkets, refrigerators, freezers and coolers are connected by miles of pipes to help keep food fresh. Skilled technicians ensure the smooth functioning of these systems.
These workers can play a key role in helping supermarkets reduce their impact on the climate.
Vanzo: “Cooling has been recognized as one of the major global opportunities to combat climate change and reduce emissions.”
Most refrigerators and freezers use refrigerants called hydrofluorocarbons, said Morgan Vanzo of the North American Council for Sustainable Freezing. They are potent global warming gases.
There are alternatives to HFCs that are better for the climate. But she said to make the change, the store would have to replace its entire system.
Vanzo: “It requires a strong workforce that is not only ready to install these systems, but also to maintain them.”
She said cryonics technicians are already in high demand, but few are trained in these more sustainable techniques.
So her team works with community colleges and trade schools to help recruit more people into the field and provides workshops and training to help prepare technicians to use less polluting systems.
They can therefore help supermarkets transition to a climate-friendly future.
Report source: Sarah Kennedy/ChavoBart Digital Media
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