Although there are a few women’s faces visible here and there, the presence of women in the HVAC-R industry is still minimal. Just to quote UNDP (2022), “When we talk about the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry, we always think only men are working there, but now things have changed.” However, hopefully the scenario has started changing now.
In 2022, UNDP cited an encouraging example. Ganjina, a young lady from Tajikistan, got married at a younger age and had to stop her education after graduating from high school. But she dreamed of becoming an engineer and working in the household appliance manufacturing industry.
She managed to get a job as an office assistant at ARTEL, a home appliance delivery and assembly company, in 2019, but she aspired to work in the field of assembling or diagnosing equipment. Ganjina said, “I made a goal for myself to learn, and that desire brought me to Dushanbe’s Engineering and Pedagogical College.”
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), initiated a Certificate course for women like Ganjina to become a certified technician to work in refrigeration and air-conditioning industry in collaboration with the Engineering and Pedagogical College of Dushanbe. The partnership was made under “Complete HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) Phase-Out in Tajikistan through Promotion of zero Ozone-Depleting Potential (ODP), low Global Warming Potential (GWP), Energy-Efficient Technologies,” project of UNDP-GEF.
The overall objective of the project is to support the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan to meet Montreal Protocol commitments by phasing-out HCFCs and ensuring sustainability, and promote the introduction and demonstration of technologies using zero-ODS, and advocating energy efficiency in the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry sector.
After successful completion of the course in 2021, Ganjina soon started working for the ARTEL as a technician in their quality control department. “Now I am more confident and have better skills to work for ARTEL as a technician. I thank my professors and others who helped me fulfil my dream and contribute to protecting the climate,” Ganjina remarked.
Ganjina feels that more women should join the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. It will not only help women to be empowered – but also will help the industry to have sincere and skilled workers.
ASHRAE’s initiative to support women
We all know that as an industry leader in research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE and its members are dedicated to promoting a healthy and sustainable built environment for all, through strategic partnerships with organizations in the HVAC&R community and across related industries.
In the recent past ASHRAE, along with other key international organizations, has launched an initiative to advance career opportunities for women in the cooling sector.
The International Network for Women in Cooling (INWIC) has been created to advance engagement, promote career opportunities and increase overall participation of women in the cooling sector, which includes Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Heat Pumps (RACHP). The initiative is led by the World Refrigeration Day (WRD) Secretariat and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction, in cooperation with the following influential international organizations representing the building industry worldwide: AIRAH (Australia), AREA (Europe), ASHRAE (Global), CAR (China), FAIAR (Latin America), IIR (Global), IOR (UK), ISHRAE (India), JSRAE (Japan), U-3ARC (Africa), and Women in HVAC&R (North America).
Commenting on their initiative, 2021-22 ASHRAE President Mick Schwedler, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP, said, “ASHRAE is committed to providing a welcoming environment to all people and celebrates its diverse culture through an active global membership. The INWIC initiative aligns with our Society’s deeply valued diversity, equity and inclusion principles and we enthusiastically support efforts to expand the landscape for women to participate fully in the research and development of emerging cooling technologies.”
INWIC will connect women in the predominantly male cooling sector, empowering success through networking, mentoring, education and opportunities to shine as visible role models, fostering a lasting legacy to inspire the next generation of women innovators and problem solvers. It will also offer an avenue to individual women, especially from developing countries, to gain career experience and development that may otherwise prove inaccessible.
The INWIC initiative contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN’s blueprint for addressing global challenges to achieve a better and more sustainable future.
Echoing UNDP’s observation, Stephen Gill – Head of the WRD (World Refrigeration Day) Secretariat, said, “There are not enough visible ‘women in cooling’ role models. We want to change that. We will create a resource for girls and young women to see videos and read real-life stories from a diverse range of women in different roles within the cooling sector. This will also serve to connect and inspire women currently working in the cooling sector.”
Role of media in encouraging women’s participation in HVAC industry
In January this year, Best Practices Magazines & EXPO announced the launch of the Women in Compressed Air, Vacuum & Cooling networking group (WCVC). The group provides support to women who have chosen or are thinking of choosing a career in the compressed air, vacuum or cooling industries and welcomes individuals from every job function – engineering, marketing, sales, human resources, finance, production and every job in between.
Women in Compressed Air, Vacuum & Cooling offers quarterly virtual meetings and networking opportunities in the hopes of empowering women in the compressed air, vacuum & cooling sectors. The group will meet in-person annually at the Best Practices EXPO & Conference^. Ashley Gates, Marketing and Communications Manager, Quincy Compressor, was selected as WCVC Chair. She has over 17 years’ experience working in the compressed air industry. Gates said, “I am extremely excited to be part of this new organization and look forward to establishing meaningful connections with my peers and growing the network of Women in Compressed Air, Vacuum and Cooling.”
The Best Practices 2023 EXPO & Conference will be the leading North American event focused on Sustainable, Safe & Reliable On-Site Utilities Powering Automation. Co-Located with Process Expo, the event will take place between October 23-25, 2023 at McCormick Place in Chicago. If anyone is interested in a leadership role within the group and would like to become a member of the WCVC Executive Council, she can send an email to Kimberly Vickman, WCVC Secretary at kimberly@airbestpractices.com.
Voice of a woman from the industry
On the pretext of International Women in Engineering Day (June 23, 2023), when Carolyn Anderson, an electrification engineer at Thermo King, was asked about the favourite area of her job, she replied, “The moment when I’ve been working on designing or troubleshooting a complicated system and everything finally works.”
Carolyn Anderson
Electrification engineer at Thermo King
Subsequently, she informed that the most challenging part of her job isn’t the technical work; it’s communication. Thermo King is a global company, and trying to align requirements with people all around the world with different priorities can be difficult.
Replying to the questions: What is a typical day like in your role? What challenges are you solving for? – she said, “My days can vary a lot depending on what I’m working on, but I guess my typical day is a mix of testing or building components in the lab, talking to various people in meetings, and making design decisions systems or components. Challenges can vary from diagnosing an intermittent software bug to getting a group of stakeholders to agree on packaging requirements.”
Ashley Gates
Marketing and Communications Manager, Quincy Compressor, was selected as WCVC Chair
She considers – building prototype electrified trailer and evaluating all the data that they have gathered from the various customers using those in their operations – as her most rewarding experience as an engineer.
Her one piece of advice to young girls or other women who are aspiring to become an engineer is – “You’d be surprised how often you can get what you want if you just ask for it, whether it’s a raise, a training opportunity, a leadership position, or something else. The worst that will happen is someone says no, and you’re in the same position as before.”
Answering to the question, “In your opinion, why is it important that more women take up engineering?” She said, “If women aren’t part of designing the future, the future may be designed without them in mind.”
Anderson believes that it’s a really cool time to be working in the HVAC-R industry as an electrical engineer. Electrification and data connectivity are dramatically changing the product requirements, and she feels like the projects she has been working on really matter and can make a positive impact on climate change.
Conclusion
According to Wiley University Services, “During a time when the HVAC industry is struggling to find enough qualified service technicians and installers, women, without a doubt, represent the largest underutilized resource available to the industry. While women account for about 57% of the total U.S. workforce, the HVAC industry isn’t as fortunate, with women making up just 1.7% of the workforce.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, women made up 47% of the U.S. workforce in 2017, but less than 2% of the 448,000 installers and technicians employed in the HVAC industry. Although the figure has slightly improved today – still no much significant change has occurred. However, in this age of global warming, globally the HVAC-R industry has more jobs available than the number of people to fill them. The number of skilled technicians is declining globally as old technicians are reaching their retirement age.
Thus, young women participating in the movement of this industry can not only have a good prospect – but also they will witness a fair amount of job security.
By P. K. Chatterjee (PK)
