Articles Tagged with ''HFC refrigerants''

The refrigerant landscape is preparing for a regulatory makeover. By 2018, approximately 80 percent of commercial refrigerators and ice machines will have to go through a redesign to meet new DOE standards for efficiency; the EPA is proposing to delist R-404A and R-134a in many commercial refrigeration applications; and more.

Last summer, Australia repealed its carbon tax, which, since July 2012, had been imposed on the country’s leading emitters of synthetic greenhouse gases controlled by the Kyoto Protocol. Could a tax that targets carbon dioxide emissions and refrigerants be headed to U.S. shores?

Honeywell announced that it has started full-scale commercial production of a low-global warming potential (GWP) material used as an aerosol propellant, insulating agent, and refrigerant.

Environment Canada announced that it is moving forward with regulatory measures to limit the growth of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). It has published a Notice of Intent to Regulate Hydrofluorocarbons in the Canada Gazette outlining the scope of the proposed measures for HFCs, which are considered potent greenhouse gases.

During his visit to China, President Obama issued a joint announcement with President Xi Jinping of China in which each country agreed to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The United States and China will also enhance cooperation to phase down the use of high global warming potential HFC refrigerants.

The HVACR industry is always exploring new options that may lead to more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly refrigerants to keep facilities — and the people and technology in them — comfortably cool.

AHRI representatives said the HVACR industry is committing $5 billion over the next decade to research and develop new refrigerants and equipment to help accomplish the phasedown.

Contractors hoping for a final word on the newest refrigerants will have to wait — but maybe only a bit longer. Research continues and most of the studies are focusing on low-GWP HFCs and HFOs. But the good news is that what is currently being worked on could well represent the last generation of refrigerants.

HVACR industry associations, manufacturers, end users, and fluorocarbon producers met with senior White House officials to show support and voluntary commitments to phase down HFCs. Industry coalition the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy and the White House hosted the event Sept. 16 at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

The rule deems certain HFC refrigerants unacceptable in specific applications on or after Jan. 1, 2016.