To highlight the theme of this year’s World Refrigeration Day, the secretariat behind the commemoration has established a “2026 Cool Intelligence Showcase” featuring photos sent in by refrigeration stakeholders from around the world along with their comments about the meaning of cool intelligence and how they use it.
Launched in 2019 by refrigeration consultant Stephen Gill, former president of the Institute of Refrigeration, World Refrigeration Day is an international awareness campaign centered around June 26 – the birthday of Lord Kelvin – to raise the profile and highlight the importance of the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump sector.
The day has drawn global support from associations, trade groups and other industry organizations (including ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com) and refrigeration companies. Natural refrigerant-related companies sponsoring the event include Alfa Laval, Panasonic, SCM Frigo, Castel, Copeland, Sanhua, Johnson Controls, Danfoss, Arneg, Henry Group, Dorin, Teklab, Eliwell by Schneider Electric, Epta, NDL Industries and Refra.
This year’s theme was selected because “at its heart, cool intelligence is about how we design, install, operate, and maintain cooling and sustainable heating systems intelligently,” wrote Gill on the World Refrigeration Day website.
“As the world focuses on artificial intelligence, World Refrigeration Day 2026 invites the global community to recognize the intelligence already embedded in cooling and sustainable heating – and the people who make it work,” he added.
To that end, the Cool Intelligence Showcase was formed. Stakeholders were asked to submit a photo of themselves set in a “cool intelligence pose” to which the World Refrigeration Day logo was superimposed.
“As the world focuses on artificial intelligence, World Refrigeration Day 2026 invites the global community to recognize the intelligence already embedded in cooling and sustainable heating – and the people who make it work.”
Stephen Gill, Creator of World Refrigeration Day
One participant is Leslie Smith, Director of Renewable Energy for the island nation of Grenada’s Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy. “To me, cooling intelligence means harnessing innovative technology and smart energy solutions to deliver sustainable cooling that is efficient, accessible, and equitable for all,” he wrote in his submission.
Smith, who spoke at the 2023 ATMOsphere (ATMO) America conference in Mexico City, has been actively promoting the use of natural refrigerant-based appliances on Grenada. ATMO LATAM was organized by ATMOsphere.
Another participant is Gildardo Yanez, Training Manager for Mexico-based manufacturer Frigus Bohn. Yanez was the keynote speaker at ATMO LATAM in 2023 and was a speaker at the conference in 2025.
“Under this year’s global theme, ‘Cool Intelligence,’ we enthusiastically embrace the integration of digital tools and artificial intelligence to optimize systems,” wrote Yanez (as translated from the original Spanish). “However, we recognize that technology does not replace the judgment, diagnostic skills and value of a qualified professional in the field; rather it enhances their ability to make precise decisions.”
“In our daily work within the cold chain, true intelligence is demonstrated by embracing the climate responsibility of our era,” he added. “Adopting and implementing natural refrigerants with zero global warming potential – such as propane (R290), isobutane (600a) and carbon dioxide (R744) – is no longer just the future; it is the high-efficiency, sustainable standard driving the transformation of the industrial and commercial sectors.”
AI in HVAC&R
AI and digital technologies are increasingly being applied in the HVAC&R sector, reflecting the cool intelligence theme of World Refrigeration Day. “This year’s World Refrigeration Day theme highlights how AI, digitalization and human expertise are working together to create smarter, more sustainable cooling solutions,” said Bill McQuade, the 2025–26 President of the ASHRAE trade group, in a statement. “ASHRAE is proud to support the professionals and technologies that are advancing the future of refrigeration around the world.”
One company that has designed AI-based software to predict equipment issues and enable early leak detection at grocery stores is Emeryville, California-based Axiom Cloud. In an Expert Opinion column published in January by NaturalRefrigerants.com, Amrit Robbins, CEO and Co-Founder of Axiom Cloud, wrote about how a new approach to recruiting and AI-powered technology can help accelerate the transition to natural refrigerants in the U.S.
