“On a global stage, with the recent announcement that the United States and China have committed to work together and with other countries to use the expertise and institutions of the Montreal Protocol, we’re possibly on the verge of an unprecedented agreement to phase down the consumption and production of HFCs,” said Wilkins in his introductory remarks.

Taking a look at natural refrigerants, Jim Hower, industrial refrigeration sales manager for Danfoss, and CIMCO Refrigeration presented a technology case study at the conference. Their presentation showcased how the successful installation of an ammonia/CO2 refrigeration system at Canadawide, one of Canada’s largest distributors of fruits and vegetables, is reducing the company’s costs, and addressed how the solution is scalable for mainstream deployment.

“The maxim in our industry is that no single refrigerant is suitable for all applications, but natural refrigerants can be used in many applications,” Wilkins said. “However, this does not ensure sustainability. Energy efficiency, affordability, safety, and product maturity is a long journey. But, in order for industry to move forward, there are several critical factors that need to be addressed and aligned: investment cost, lifecycle cost, complexity, risk awareness, market readiness, technical ability, environmental consciousness, and standards and legislation.”

ATMOsphere America 2013 promoted the business case for natural refrigerants in North America. The event convened decision makers from leading retailers, suppliers, associations, etc. Topics for presentations and workshops explored end users (retailers and consumer brands) as well as technology providers from the commercial and industrial refrigeration, and a/c and heat pump sectors. The event also looked at market trends and regulations, standards and training as they relate to natural refrigerants.

Visit www.atmo.org/america2013 for more information.