India is one of the world's first countries to develop a comprehensive Cooling Action Plan that has a long-term vision to address the need for cooling across sectors and lists actions that can help reduce cooling demand. The need for cooling is cross-sectoral and an essential part of economic growth and is required across various sectors of the economy, such as residential and commercial buildings, cold chains, refrigeration, transport and industry.
The objectives that emerge from the suggested ICAP interventions are:
Reduction in industry-wide cooling demand by 20% to 25% by 2037-38.
Reduction of the requirements for cooling energy by 25% to 40% by 2037-38.
In synergy with the Skill India Mission, training and certification of 100,000 service sector technicians by 2022-23.
Recognize "cooling and related areas" as a research thrust within the national S&T program.
The broad objectives of the India Cooling Action Plan include:
Assessment of sector-wide cooling requirements in the next 20 years and associated demand for refrigerant and energy use.
Map available technologies, including passive interventions, refrigerant-based technologies and alternative technologies such as non-in-kind technologies, to meet the cooling requirement.
Suggest interventions to ensure sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for everyone in each sector.
Focus on RAC service technicians ' skills.
Develop an ecosystem for R&D innovation for indigenous alternative technologies development.
The following benefits would accrue to society over and above the environmental benefits:
Thermal comfort for all – EWS and LIG housing cooling supply.
Doubling Farmers Income – better infrastructure for the cold chain – better value for farmers of products, less waste of production.
Skilled workforce for better living and protection of the environment.
Make in India – domestic air conditioning and related cooling equipment manufacturing.
Robust research and development on alternative cooling technologies – providing the push for innovation in a cooling industry.
Cooling also has to do with human health and productivity. Cooling linkages are well recognized with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A significant developmental necessity is provided by the cross-sectoral nature of cooling and its use in economic development. ICAP's development has been an inclusive multi-stakeholder process involving various government ministries / departments / organizations, associations of industry and industry, think tanks, academic and R&D institutions.
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