Message from the Director

Welcome to the Global Cooling Program (GCP)!

The need for cooling is estimated to grow over three-fold by 2050, driven mainly by growth in rapidly urbanizing emerging economies with hot weather conditions. Cooling is both a driver of growing emissions and a way to build resilience against heat waves that are increasingly frequently. This growing need and associated impacts are lending an urgency to our Program’s mission which is to ensure that cooling needs around the globe are met affordably, equitably, and sustainably.

I am proud to direct our GCP team at the Berkeley Lab, “bringing science solutions to the world” to address the many challenges which intersect with the growing need for cooling, such as supply chain disruption, air and water pollution, food loss, public health impacts and destruction of the ozone layer. 

At the GCP, we combine theory, computer modeling and experimental research with real life engineering to develop high efficiency cooling equipment and to reduce the environmental impact of the refrigerants used. Specifically, we focus on research areas that are critical to advancement of cooling systems such as: efficiency increase via equipment design improvements; changes in manufacturing lines to optimize costs of efficiency improvement; circular cooling and its impact on recovery and recycling of refrigerants and other valuable materials; and next generation cooling technologies. We aim to deliver cutting-edge and affordable cooling while ensuring essential cooling services, such as thermal comfort, food and vaccine distribution are within reach for all. We collaborate extensively with a wide range of local and global organizations and institutions and manufacturers to better understand the challenges facing industry and identify bottlenecks to the transition to high-efficiency and next generation refrigerant cooling equipment.

Please visit us here often to learn about our latest news and events, as we work to inform the debates about addressing cooling needs efficiently, affordably and in harmony with the planet.

Best Regards,

Nihar Shah, PhD., PE
Presidential Director, Global Cooling Program