Latest news with #AriSobaruddin
The Star
a day ago
- Science
- The Star
In Indonesia, a start-up captures coolants to stop global warming
JAKARTA (AFP): In the basement of a Jakarta housing complex, surrounded by the silver piping of the air-conditioning system, Indonesian technician Ari Sobaruddin is doing his part to tackle climate change. Ari and his colleagues will spend 12 hours capturing AC refrigerant to stop this "super-pollutant" -- thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide -- from leaking into the atmosphere. It is plodding, sweaty work, but Ari, a member of climate startup Recoolit, does not mind. "I love it because it's about preserving nature, saving nature," the 30-year-old technician told AFP. Recoolit began working in Indonesia in 2021 to tackle what it considers an often-overlooked contributor to climate change: refrigerants. These gases found in air-conditioners, fridges and cars are an old environmental problem. In the 1970s, research showed refrigerants called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were destroying the ozone layer. Countries agreed to phase them out under a deal that came into force in 1989. While their replacements, particularly hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are less harmful to the ozone layer, they still have major climate-warming properties. "And those are in AC units, in the form of refrigerant banks... everywhere in developing countries right now," said Recoolit's head of operations Yosaka Eka Putranta. - 'Growing problem' - There are international agreements to phase out HFCs too, but, particularly in developing countries, they will be in use for decades yet. Demand is increasing as climate change fuels record temperatures and expanding middle classes seek cooling and refrigeration. "It is a growing problem because we need our indoor environments to be more resilient to climate change," said Robyn Schofield, associate professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of Melbourne. HFCs are expected to account for between 7 and 19 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to the United Nations. The risk comes during maintenance or disposal, when refrigerants like the HFC Ari is capturing can be released accidentally or on purpose. In Indonesia, as in most countries, this venting is illegal, but enforcement is limited. "It's odourless, we cannot trace it. (Capturing) it takes so much resources. The machine, the people," said Recoolit's senior business development manager Erik Cahyanta. "So some people just release it." Recoolit trains, equips and incentivises technicians to capture refrigerant so it can be destroyed. Technicians get 50,000 rupiah ($3) per kilogram of recovered refrigerant, which Recoolit sends to a government-approved cement kiln or municipal incinerator to be destroyed. While refrigerant can be recycled or reused, Recoolit argues this is imperfect. "Who's going to guarantee that when the refrigerants are injected again... they are going to stay there without another venting?" said Yosaka. - Big tech interest - Recoolit sells carbon credits based on the amount of refrigerant it destroys, priced at $75 a unit. Carbon credits have faced criticism in recent years, and Benja Faecks of Carbon Market Watch warned that "offsetting" can give the impression "that emissions can simply be erased through financial transactions". This allows "polluters to claim 'carbon neutrality' or 'negating ongoing emissions' without actually reducing their own emissions," she told AFP. Recoolit argues its carbon credits are robust because it measurably destroys a climate-warming gas. While many carbon credits are sold on exchanges with third-party verification, Recoolit sells directly to buyers and uses a credit methodology developed by the Carbon Containment Lab, a nonprofit spun out from Yale University. Yosaka said canisters are sampled, and analysis is then done by the region's only qualified lab, in Malaysia, to confirm the contents are refrigerants. Destruction facilities pass a "trial burn test" confirming they can break down refrigerants. Recoolit also pays less than the market price for coolants to avoid creating a market for new refrigerants. Refrigerant destruction remains a relatively small part of the carbon market. Existing players include US-based Tradewater, which grew out of California's state-level emissions caps and has worked in Latin America and Africa. But Recoolit has attracted attention from one of the market's biggest corporate players: Google. Earlier this year, the tech giant announced a partnership with Recoolit and a second company to prevent emissions equivalent to one million tons of carbon dioxide. Google says it wants to help Recoolit scale up operations and expand outside Indonesia. Some critics say refrigerant capture should simply be enforced by government policy, but Recoolit argues it is filling a real-world gap unlikely to be addressed otherwise. And Schofield said the need for refrigerant capture is significant. "As a climate action... it's a very good one," she said. "I wish we had more of it." - AFP
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
In Indonesia, a start-up captures coolants to stop global warming
In the basement of a Jakarta housing complex, surrounded by the silver piping of the air-conditioning system, Indonesian technician Ari Sobaruddin is doing his part to tackle climate change. Mr. Ari and his colleagues will spend 12 hours capturing AC refrigerant to stop this "super-pollutant" — thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide — from leaking into the atmosphere. It is plodding, sweaty work, but Mr. Ari, a member of climate startup Recoolit, does not mind. "I love it because it's about preserving nature, saving nature," the 30-year-old technician told AFP. Recoolit began working in Indonesia in 2021 to tackle what it considers an often-overlooked contributor to climate change: refrigerants. These gases found in air-conditioners, fridges and cars are an old environmental problem. In the 1970s, research showed refrigerants called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were destroying the ozone layer. Countries agreed to phase them out under a deal that came into force in 1989. While their replacements, particularly hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are less harmful to the ozone layer, they still have major climate-warming properties. "And those are in AC units, in the form of refrigerant banks... everywhere in developing countries right now," said Recoolit's head of operations Yosaka Eka Putranta. 'Growing problem' There are international agreements to phase out HFCs too, but, particularly in developing countries, they will be in use for decades yet. Demand is increasing as climate change fuels record temperatures and expanding middle classes seek cooling and refrigeration. "It is a growing problem because we need our indoor environments to be more resilient to climate change," said Robyn Schofield, associate professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of Melbourne. HFCs are expected to account for between 7 and 19% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to the United Nations. The risk comes during maintenance or disposal, when refrigerants like the HFC Ari is capturing can be released accidentally or on purpose. In Indonesia, as in most countries, this venting is illegal, but enforcement is limited. "It's odourless, we cannot trace it. [Capturing] it takes so much resources. The machine, the people," said Recoolit's senior business development manager Erik Cahyanta. "So some people just release it." Recoolit trains, equips and incentivises technicians to capture refrigerant so it can be destroyed. Technicians get 50,000 rupiah ($3) per kilogram of recovered refrigerant, which Recoolit sends to a government-approved cement kiln or municipal incinerator to be destroyed. While refrigerant can be recycled or reused, Recoolit argues this is imperfect. "Who's going to guarantee that when the refrigerants are injected again... they are going to stay there without another venting?" said Yosaka. Big tech interest Recoolit sells carbon credits based on the amount of refrigerant it destroys, priced at $75 a unit. Carbon credits have faced criticism in recent years, and Benja Faecks of Carbon Market Watch warned that "offsetting" can give the impression "that emissions can simply be erased through financial transactions". This allows "polluters to claim 'carbon neutrality' or 'negating ongoing emissions' without actually reducing their own emissions," she told AFP. Recoolit argues its carbon credits are robust because it measurably destroys a climate-warming gas. While many carbon credits are sold on exchanges with third-party verification, Recoolit sells directly to buyers and uses a credit methodology developed by the Carbon Containment Lab, a nonprofit spun out from Yale University. Yosaka said canisters are sampled, and analysis is then done by the region's only qualified lab, in Malaysia, to confirm the contents are refrigerants. Destruction facilities pass a "trial burn test" confirming they can break down refrigerants. Recoolit also pays less than the market price for coolants to avoid creating a market for new refrigerants. Refrigerant destruction remains a relatively small part of the carbon market. Existing players include U.S.-based Tradewater, which grew out of California's state-level emissions caps and has worked in Latin America and Africa. But Recoolit has attracted attention from one of the market's biggest corporate players: Google. Earlier this year, the tech giant announced a partnership with Recoolit and a second company to prevent emissions equivalent to one million tons of carbon dioxide. Google says it wants to help Recoolit scale up operations and expand outside Indonesia. Some critics say refrigerant capture should simply be enforced by government policy, but Recoolit argues it is filling a real-world gap unlikely to be addressed otherwise. And Schofield said the need for refrigerant capture is significant. "As a climate action... it's a very good one," she said. "I wish we had more of it."
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Science
- Malay Mail
In Indonesia, a start-up captures air conditioning coolants to stop global warming
JAKARTA, July 11 — In the basement of a housing complex in Indonesia's capital, Ari Sobaruddin and his team are on a mission to help save the planet. Armed with tools and sweat-soaked resolve, they spend 12-hour shifts capturing refrigerant gas leaking from air-conditioning units — a 'super-pollutant' thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide. 'I love it because it's about preserving nature, saving nature,' the 30-year-old technician told AFP. Ari works for Recoolit, a climate startup that began operations in Indonesia in 2021 to tackle what it sees as an under-acknowledged source of global warming: refrigerants. These gases — used in ACs, fridges and vehicles — have long been linked to environmental damage. Back in the 1970s, scientists found that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a class of refrigerants, were destroying the ozone layer. This photo taken on June 10, 2025 shows gauges as a team of technicians from climate startup Recoolit work to capture emissions from a large AC unit in the basement of a housing complex in Jakarta. — AFP pic This led to an international agreement to phase them out starting in 1989. Their replacements, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are less damaging to the ozone layer — but remain potent greenhouse gases. 'And those are in AC units, in the form of refrigerant banks... everywhere in developing countries right now,' said Recoolit's head of operations Yosaka Eka Putranta. 'Growing problem' Although international efforts are under way to phase out HFCs too, they are still widespread, especially in developing countries. Demand for cooling is expected to rise as climate change drives temperatures higher and more people join the middle class. 'It is a growing problem because we need our indoor environments to be more resilient to climate change,' said Robyn Schofield, an atmospheric chemistry expert at the University of Melbourne. According to the United Nations, HFCs could account for between 7 and 19 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Most refrigerant emissions happen during equipment maintenance or disposal, either by accident or deliberately. In Indonesia, such venting is illegal — but enforcement remains weak. 'It's odourless, we cannot trace it. (Capturing) it takes so much resources — the machine, the people,' said Recoolit's senior business development manager Erik Cahyanta. 'So some people just release it.' This photo taken on June 10, 2025 shows a team of technicians from climate startup Recoolit working to capture emissions from a large AC unit in the basement of a housing complex in Jakarta. — AFP pic Recoolit trains and pays technicians to capture refrigerant, which is then sent to approved facilities to be destroyed. Technicians earn 50,000 rupiah (about RM13) per kilogram of gas collected. The company believes destruction is preferable to recycling or reuse, which may result in future leaks. 'Who's going to guarantee that when the refrigerants are injected again... they are going to stay there without another venting?' said Yosaka. Big tech backing Recoolit finances its work by selling carbon credits — each priced at US$75 (RM319) — based on the amount of refrigerant it eliminates. Critics of the carbon credit industry argue that 'offsetting' gives polluters an excuse not to reduce emissions at source. 'This allows polluters to claim 'carbon neutrality' or 'negating ongoing emissions' without actually reducing their own emissions,' said Benja Faecks of Carbon Market Watch. Recoolit insists its credits are credible, as they are tied to measurable and permanent destruction of pollutants. The startup does not buy refrigerants at market rates, to avoid creating demand for new gas, and its system includes lab analysis in Malaysia to verify refrigerant content. It also uses a methodology developed by Yale University's Carbon Containment Lab and relies on destruction facilities that pass 'trial burn' tests. So far, refrigerant destruction remains a niche corner of the carbon market. But Recoolit has caught the eye of a major player — Google. Earlier this year, the US tech firm partnered with Recoolit and another company to prevent emissions equivalent to one million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Google says it hopes to help Recoolit scale up and expand beyond Indonesia. Some experts argue governments should simply enforce refrigerant capture through policy. But Recoolit says it is filling a practical gap that won't be solved by regulation alone. And for climate scientist Schofield, that makes a real difference. 'As a climate action... it's a very good one,' she said. 'I wish we had more of it.' — AFP
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
In Indonesia, a start-up captures coolants to stop global warming
In the basement of a Jakarta housing complex, surrounded by the silver piping of the air-conditioning system, Indonesian technician Ari Sobaruddin is doing his part to tackle climate change. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Ari and his colleagues will spend 12 hours capturing AC refrigerant to stop this " super-pollutant " -- thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide, from leaking into the atmosphere. It is plodding, sweaty work, but Ari, a member of climate startup Recoolit , does not mind. "I love it because it's about preserving nature, saving nature," the 30-year-old technician told AFP. Recoolit began working in Indonesia in 2021 to tackle what it considers an often-overlooked contributor to climate change: refrigerants. These gases found in air-conditioners, fridges and cars are an old environmental problem. In the 1970s, research showed refrigerants called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were destroying the ozone layer. Countries agreed to phase them out under a deal that came into force in 1989. While their replacements, particularly hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are less harmful to the ozone layer, they still have major climate-warming properties. "And those are in AC units, in the form of refrigerant banks... everywhere in developing countries right now," said Recoolit's head of operations Yosaka Eka Putranta. - 'Growing problem' - There are international agreements to phase out HFCs too, but, particularly in developing countries, they will be in use for decades yet. Demand is increasing as climate change fuels record temperatures and expanding middle classes seek cooling and refrigeration. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "It is a growing problem because we need our indoor environments to be more resilient to climate change," said Robyn Schofield, associate professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of Melbourne. HFCs are expected to account for between 7 and 19 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to the United Nations. The risk comes during maintenance or disposal, when refrigerants like the HFC Ari is capturing can be released accidentally or on purpose. In Indonesia, as in most countries, this venting is illegal, but enforcement is limited. "It's odourless, we cannot trace it. (Capturing) it takes so much resources. The machine, the people," said Recoolit's senior business development manager Erik Cahyanta. "So some people just release it." Recoolit trains, equips and incentivises technicians to capture refrigerant so it can be destroyed. Technicians get 50,000 rupiah ($3) per kilogram of recovered refrigerant, which Recoolit sends to a government-approved cement kiln or municipal incinerator to be destroyed. While refrigerant can be recycled or reused, Recoolit argues this is imperfect. "Who's going to guarantee that when the refrigerants are injected again... they are going to stay there without another venting?" said Yosaka. - Big tech interest - Recoolit sells carbon credits based on the amount of refrigerant it destroys, priced at $75 a unit. Carbon credits have faced criticism in recent years, and Benja Faecks of Carbon Market Watch warned that "offsetting" can give the impression "that emissions can simply be erased through financial transactions". This allows "polluters to claim 'carbon neutrality' or 'negating ongoing emissions' without actually reducing their own emissions," she told AFP. Recoolit argues its carbon credits are robust because it measurably destroys a climate-warming gas. While many carbon credits are sold on exchanges with third-party verification, Recoolit sells directly to buyers and uses a credit methodology developed by the Carbon Containment Lab, a nonprofit spun out from Yale University. Yosaka said canisters are sampled, and analysis is then done by the region's only qualified lab, in Malaysia, to confirm the contents are refrigerants. Destruction facilities pass a "trial burn test" confirming they can break down refrigerants. Recoolit also pays less than the market price for coolants to avoid creating a market for new refrigerants. Refrigerant destruction remains a relatively small part of the carbon market. Existing players include US-based Tradewater, which grew out of California's state-level emissions caps and has worked in Latin America and Africa. But Recoolit has attracted attention from one of the market's biggest corporate players: Google. Earlier this year, the tech giant announced a partnership with Recoolit and a second company to prevent emissions equivalent to one million tons of carbon dioxide. Google says it wants to help Recoolit scale up operations and expand outside Indonesia. Some critics say refrigerant capture should simply be enforced by government policy, but Recoolit argues it is filling a real-world gap unlikely to be addressed otherwise. And Schofield said the need for refrigerant capture is significant. "As a climate action... it's a very good one," she said. "I wish we had more of it."
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
In Indonesia, a startup captures coolants to stop global warming
In the basement of a Jakarta housing complex, surrounded by the silver piping of the air-conditioning system, Indonesian technician Ari Sobaruddin is doing his part to tackle climate change. Ari and his colleagues will spend 12 hours capturing AC refrigerant to stop this "super-pollutant" — thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide — from leaking into the atmosphere. It is plodding, sweaty work, but Ari, a member of climate startup Recoolit, does not mind. "I love it because it's about preserving nature, saving nature," the 30-year-old technician said. Recoolit began working in Indonesia in 2021 to tackle what it considers an often-overlooked contributor to climate change: refrigerants. These gases found in air-conditioners, fridges and cars are an old environmental problem. In the 1970s, research showed refrigerants called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were destroying the ozone layer. Countries agreed to phase them out under a deal that came into force in 1989. While their replacements, particularly hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are less harmful to the ozone layer, they still have major climate-warming properties. "And those are in AC units, in the form of refrigerant banks ... everywhere in developing countries right now," said Recoolit's head of operations Yosaka Eka Putranta. 'Growing problem' There are international agreements to phase out HFCs too, but, particularly in developing countries, they will be in use for decades yet. Demand is increasing as climate change fuels record temperatures and expanding middle classes seek cooling and refrigeration. "It is a growing problem because we need our indoor environments to be more resilient to climate change," said Robyn Schofield, associate professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of Melbourne. A field and warehouse officer for climate startup Recoolit checks AC refrigerant stored in cylinders at the company's warehouse in Jakarta on June 12. | AFP-JIJI HFCs are expected to account for between 7% and 19% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to the United Nations. The risk comes during maintenance or disposal, when refrigerants like the HFC Ari is capturing can be released accidentally or on purpose. In Indonesia, as in most countries, this venting is illegal, but enforcement is limited. "It's odourless, we cannot trace it. (Capturing) it takes so much resources. The machine, the people," said Recoolit's senior business development manager Erik Cahyanta. "So some people just release it." Recoolit trains, equips and incentivises technicians to capture refrigerant so it can be destroyed. Technicians get 50,000 rupiah ($3) per kilogram of recovered refrigerant, which Recoolit sends to a government-approved cement kiln or municipal incinerator to be destroyed. While refrigerant can be recycled or reused, Recoolit argues this is imperfect. "Who's going to guarantee that when the refrigerants are injected again ... they are going to stay there without another venting?" said Yosaka. Big tech interest Recoolit sells carbon credits based on the amount of refrigerant it destroys, priced at $75 a unit. Carbon credits have faced criticism in recent years, and Benja Faecks of Carbon Market Watch warned that "offsetting" can give the impression "that emissions can simply be erased through financial transactions." This allows "polluters to claim 'carbon neutrality' or 'negating ongoing emissions' without actually reducing their own emissions," she said. Recoolit argues its carbon credits are robust because it measurably destroys a climate-warming gas. While many carbon credits are sold on exchanges with third-party verification, Recoolit sells directly to buyers and uses a credit methodology developed by the Carbon Containment Lab, a nonprofit spun out from Yale University. Yosaka said canisters are sampled, and analysis is then done by the region's only qualified lab, in Malaysia, to confirm the contents are refrigerants. Destruction facilities pass a "trial burn test" confirming they can break down refrigerants. Recoolit also pays less than the market price for coolants to avoid creating a market for new refrigerants. Refrigerant destruction remains a relatively small part of the carbon market. Existing players include U.S.-based Tradewater, which grew out of California's state-level emissions caps and has worked in Latin America and Africa. But Recoolit has attracted attention from one of the market's biggest corporate players: Google. Earlier this year, the tech giant announced a partnership with Recoolit and a second company to prevent emissions equivalent to 1 million tons of carbon dioxide. Google says it wants to help Recoolit scale up operations and expand outside Indonesia. Some critics say refrigerant capture should simply be enforced by government policy, but Recoolit argues it is filling a real-world gap unlikely to be addressed otherwise. And Schofield said the need for refrigerant capture is significant. "As a climate action ... it's a very good one," she said. "I wish we had more of it."
