Final RETA Breeze_V2_MarchApril _2025

EDUCATION CORNER

While developing the presentation I dove deep into some of the history of refrigerants. Which leads to the fact that I think many of us know there isn’t really anything new in refrigerants, just new ways to use them and different combinations of chemicals, along with the tried-and-true naturals that have been used throughout our history. CO2 is being considered by many in the industry, but once again this is not a new refrigerant, as it has been used and recognized from the beginning. However, it wasn’t until this last series of changes (Ozone Depletion Potential and Global Warming Potential being the biggest driving forces), arose that have led us to develop the equipment needed and the level of understand ing, to make CO2 a truly viable option. This leads the industry to today, where education is as or more critical than any other time in our history. This situation is also not new, much like the refrigerant topic discussed here. However, we do live in different times, and as our systems have evolved to handle refrigerants like CO2 our way of training needs to also evolve. Most of our industry, and the world, finds making time for training difficult at best in today’s fast-moving environ

ment. Combine this with the fact that we don’t have enough trained people to do the work and we will see our industry continue to head toward more difficult times. Looking at the past may help us find some answers. In the past, individuals learned a trade through an apprenticeship, thus making training a year-round affair rather than a once-a-year check the box task item…or worse, just filling the need with a person who hasn’t been trained. Technicians and operators must be made, they don’t just appear! We need to look at ways to train people while they work rather than take the few people we have away from their daily tasks; apprenticeship type programs might hold some answers. This or other options not discussed in this short article won’t be easy to develop, but the alternative is to continue to complain about the fact we don’t have enough people, until it might be too late. Whatever new ideas we bring forward in development will take all of us working together for a better future- -owners, managers and workers.

Owners get their operational needs fulfilled, mangers get the technicians they need with proper training, while workers find a career path that leads to a successful future. Just like the presentation I just gave at AHR Expo, this article is not meant to give all the answers, but rather create thought to inspire dreams and drive action. This is our industry, and it is our responsibility to protect it much like a child. So let’s get busy finding the answers so we can stop fretting over the issues we face, such as the huge lack of trained individuals. RETA/RSES will continue to develop and improve its educational materials, such as what is already happening with the current review of IR-I and the rewrite of the Co2 book. But we all need to start working together to answer one of the most dire needs we have in our industry today--trained operators and service techs. Refrigerants will come and go, but they aren’t worth much without trained individuals to use them. Blessings! Scott Melton

scott@reta.com 1-509-833-5258

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