City co-organises the event with the Office for Product Safety and Standards, the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances and the London Fire Brigade.
By Mr John Stevenson (Senior Communications Officer), Published
City, University of London hosted 2050: Fridge of the Future on Thursday, 16th September 2021. The event was co-organised with the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) , The Association for the Manufacture of Domestic Appliances and the London Fire Brigade.
2050: Fridge of the Future was aimed at bringing likeminded parties together who share an interest in the future of large white goods and to respond to questions such as: What will white goods in the future look like? How will they be shaped by evolving demand, environment and new technologies? What impact will this have on product safety and future-ready regulation?
The event which carried the theme of ‘Innovation, Environment, Safety’, featured a Ministerial Address from the Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), an Opening Address by Graham Russell MBE, Chief Executive of the OPSS, a Welcome Address by City's President, Professor Anthony Finkelstein, and a Keynote Address, by Professor Rajkumar Roy, Dean of the School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering.
Professor Roy helped to 'Set the Scene' by examining UK energy use and emissions patterns. Given that refrigeration of all kinds is responsible for 10 percent of global energy use, Professor Roy also drew attention to changing demographic trends and the opportunities presented by new technologies, materials and autonomous systems in refrigeration.
The OPSS, Chief Executive said:
“We need to be on the front foot if we are to use innovation to meet our goal of Net Zero emissions while backing long term growth. The 2050: Fridge of the Future event provided an excellent platform to discuss the potential benefits and challenges, and the role regulators have in ensuring our homes remain safe while getting the most from technological advances.”
There were three sessions for the day.
The first, Innovation, was led by a keynote address from Professor Ahmed Kovacevic, who spoke about the relationship between heat generation and refrigeration. He also traced the history of domestic and industrial refrigeration and suggested technologies which are currently being explored to reduce the environmental footprint of refrigeration.
Chaired by Wendy Middleton of the OPSS, the Innovation panel discussion featured Professor Kovacevic, Professor Nick Colosimo (BAE Systems), Dr Ashwini Natraj (London School of Economics) and Steve McDonald (Haier and Candy Hoover).
Session 2 – The Road to Net Zero, chaired by Professor Rajkumar Roy, featured a keynote address by Paul Hide, Chief Executive of the AMDEA and panel discussants Professor Fiona Charnley (University of Exeter), Dr Nina Klein (BEIS), Judith Peacock (Dixons Carphone) and Ian Moverley (Whirlpool).
Session 3 – Safety and Standards, was comprised of panellists Martyn Allen (Electrical Safety First), Daniel Mansfield (British Standards Institution), Dr Magda Osman (Experimental Psychologist) and Charlie Pugsley (London Fire Brigade).
The 2050: Fridge of the Future event was a hybrid event permitting interaction with a remote audience.