The Cooling Industry Awards were launched in 2004 to recognise industrial and public excellence in environmentally aware cooling. According to organisers, the awards “provide a national focus to recognise, reward and celebrate the achievements of those pushing the boundaries of environmentally focused refrigeration and air conditioning????.

This year, the Co-Operative Group’s store at Norris Green in Liverpool grabbed the “Green End User of the Year: Small Projects???? award. Being the first in the UK to install a carbon neutral heating system powered by its refrigeration scheme, the store has eliminated the need for commercial heating equipment all together.

The “Green End User of the Year: Large Projects???? award went to Morrisons and its Stockton store, where a combination of alternative carbon dioxide refrigerant and heat recovery supplies all the hot water it needs. The large supermarket boasts the lowest possible carbon footprint for building of its type in this country.

The “Environmental Pioneer: Air Conditioning???? award was picked up by Marks & Spencer’s in collaboration with Oaksmere, Sustainable Design Solutions, Weatherite and Star Refrigeration. Their trans-critical carbon dioxide system is considered both financially feasible and environmentally friendly.

ASDA captured the “Installation of the Year: Retail???? award. Its decision to replace multi-deck chiller cabinets and half-glass door frozen units with full glass door versions at its Abbey Park store in Coventry has saved itself more than 20 percent of total energy expenses.

Finally, the prestigious “Environmental Product of the Year???? award was won by Emerson Climate Technologies for its Copeland Digital Scroll with Vapour Injection. The system was lauded as the most efficient on the market, capable of delivering not only high efficiency but also capacity control.