AHRI has responded to President Barack Obama’s plan to reduce emissions from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, saying the HVAC industry should take the lead.  

“AHRI and its member companies have led the global effort to reduce emissions from hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, through research and development, always with an eye on maintaining comfort, safety, system efficiency, and reliability of the products that use them,” said Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute President and CEO Stephen Yurek.

Yurek also said that AHRI supports the continued efforts by the United States to engage in discussions at the Montreal Protocol, especially the North American amendment regarding the future of HFCs.

“AHRI encourages industry driven refrigerant choice, rather than federally crafted mandates,” he said.   

To assist in the identification of lower global warming potential alternatives for the many different HVACR applications, AHRI has funded and administered a Low Global Warming Potential Alternative Refrigerants Evaluation Program. The initial phase of this program is near completion with 38 refrigerants being tested in 12 types of HVACR equipment.

“AHRI looks forward to continuing to work with the U.S. Department of Energy in pursuing greater energy efficiency in homes and buildings that is technically feasible and economically justified,” Yurek said. “We are prepared to support efforts to improve efficiency without adding to the regulatory burden on our member companies.”