The HVAC industry has a well-earned reputation for creating innovative new products that meet the demands of regulations and the desires of contractors and their customers, and the coil market is no exception.

Condensing units are much more than a pretty face — they’re one of the key economic drivers in the HVAC industry.

The world is moving toward natural refrigerants. That was the message from the leadership of the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) at the 2015 IIAR Industrial Refrigeration Conference and Exhibition in San Diego.

Industrial refrigeration customers can benefit dramatically from the expertise and advice of a knowledgeable refrigeration contractor. These larger refrigeration systems present tremendous opportunities for energy efficiency improvements that can lead to significant operational savings.

Thinking back on my attempt as a young man to charge my car’s air conditioner, I was stunned to see a commercial on TV the other day for A/C PRO, a do-it-yourself a/c recharge kit for cars and trucks. I went to the website and, sure enough, they’re selling recharging canisters of R-134a for do-it-yourselfers.

There are a number of unknowns headed into the summer of 2015, not the least of which is how much R-22 is out there and how much demand will be created by this summer’s weather. 

In March, the EPA approved several low-GWP hydrocarbon refrigerants for use in refrigeration and air conditioning applications, subject to use conditions. The approval drew a mixture of reactions ranging from support to concern.

He acknowledges the proposed compliance requirements are not feasible and would cause considerable harm, result in economic job losses, and may increase — not decrease — risks to the American public. Whitfield said this opinion was the consensus of the most affected industries, including the air conditioning and refrigeration sectors.