Trends in supermarkets can often provide insights into changes to come for the rest of the commercial refrigeration world, and — as is the case industry-wide — refrigerants are on the minds of many in the supermarket sector.

The following is excerpted from “Case Study: Transcritical Carbon Dioxide Supermarket Refrigeration Systems,” which was prepared by Navigant Consulting Inc. for the Better Buildings Alliance; Building Technologies Office; and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The HI celebrates its 100-year anniversary this year, tracing its roots back to the National Boiler and Radiator Manufacturers, which formed in 1915 with about 15 members. 

It’s easy in the HVACR business to get caught up in and maybe even a little overwhelmed by all the technology and regulations and rapid-fire changes — especially in the refrigeration sector. It’s important, however, not to let all the pandemonium make you lose sight of the human side of the business.

The increasing number of refrigerant options makes it more essential than ever for technicians to be aware of the hazards of mixing refrigerants and to cautiously approach systems they’re servicing in case it contains a refrigerant mixture that has been adulterated — perhaps dangerously so.

Several companies have invested millions of dollars into research and development of low-GWP (global-warming potential) refrigerants, resulting in a number of options for contractors seeking alternatives to the refrigerants that have been delisted under the EPA’s recent rule.

From a regulatory standpoint, the next two years promise to be active for the ammonia refrigeration industry, according to Lowell Randel, vice president government and legal affairs, Global Cold Chain Alliance. 

There’s a scene in the 1963 film “The Haunting” in which something comes down the hallway of a haunted house one night. It was the first time I ever realized that the unknown and unseen could be more frightening that the known and seen.

ZoomLock™ brazeless press-to-connect fittings from Parker Hannifin, Sporlan Division, earned the gold award in the Components & Accessories category of the 2015 Dealer Design Awards. 

Distributor Corp. of New England’s (DCNE’s) Cool Calc Manual J software uses advanced imaging technology and algorithms to automatically detect building footprints, wall area, ceiling area, floor area, and exposures of a home, all from Google Maps.