AIRAH on Air

What is the Global Cooling Prize? How could you win a million dollars?

Listen on

Episode notes

In this special episode of AIRAH on Air, we're talking with Iain Campbell of the Rocky Mountain Institute - a US-based not-for-profit working to find practical, market-based solutions that will shift dependency from fossil fuels to renewables. Part of the Institute's work involves administrating the Global Cooling Prize (GCP). Launched in November 2018, this international competition calls upon inventors and innovators to develop the next generation of cooling technology. To succeed, the design must have least five times less climate impact than a standard room air conditioning (RAC) unit. For the winners, there's the incentive of US$3 million in prize money, as well as some pre-established channels to market. The GCP's goal is to find a combined solution to growing demand and global warming. Residential cooling is set to boom three times globally by 2050 - particularly in developing nations. That means approximately 4.5 billion RAC units will be in use globally, compared to 1.2 billion today. Without any changes, it will result in a massive increase in power demand and emissions. "This technology could prevent up to 100 gigatonnes (GT) of CO2-equivalent emissions by 2050, and put the world on a pathway to mitigate up to 0.5˚C of global warming by 2100, all while enhancing living standards for people in developing countries around the globe," says the GCP. HVAC&R Nation editor Mark Vender met with Campbell following his keynote address at AIRAH's Refrigeration 2019 conference. Campbell speaks engagingly about the Global Cooling Prize, why it's so important and what potential applicants need to know. For more on the Global Cooling Prize, including details on the application process, visit globalcoolingprize.org You can also read more about the Global Cooling Prize's objectives via HVAC&R News: www.hvacrnews.com.au/news/the-global-cooling-prize A number of organisations and individuals have signed on to support and promote the prize, including AIRAH, the Government of India, Mission Innovation, Richard Branson's Virgin Unite, ASHRAE, the World Wildlife Foundation and the United Nations Environment Programme, among others: globalcoolingprize.org/about-the-glo...rize/partners Watch Richard Branson explain Why the Cooling Challenge Matters here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_NEavNUQlM AIRAH on Air is a podcast exploring topics related to building services/design and a hidden industry in a constant state of innovation: the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) industry. To find out more about the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating, and to get details on our advocacy, our objectives and opportunities to get involved in the HVAC&R industry, visit www.airah.org.au