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The HFC phasedown and impending transition to lower-GWP refrigerants were top-of-mind at the recent AHR Expo. At several educational sessions, industry experts talked about how the phasedown, which started this [...]

The July 2 ruling from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that sets forth the timeframes for the phaseout of certain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in specific applications presents some challenges for [...]

Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-134a replaced chlorofluorocarbon (CFO-12. Now, 134a is on its way out, too. The July 2, 2015, ruling from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set forth the time frames [...]

About a month ago, I spent a few days in Denmark as part of a press event hosted by Danfoss. Beyond the visit to the manufacturer, the trip gave me [...]

GEISMAR, LA -- About 30 miles northwest of New Orleans, in a rural setting outside of Geismar, sits a Honeywell/ Genetron refrigerant plant. The property runs down to the banks [...]

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN -- HFCs are coming in for some criticism overseas over the global warming issue. But several North American sources are coming to those refrigerants' defense. They are [...]

The state of refrigerants and the requirements for transitions have been a critical issue for stakeholders within the HVACR industry for many years. These stakeholders include manufacturers, contractors, and end [...]

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it's increasing the options for refrigerants used in various types of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment in the U.S. to offer [...]

WASHINGTON -- A respected refrigeration pioneer ha characterized HFCs a being on shaky ground a long-term refrigerants and called for more focus on such 'natural' refrigerants as C[O.sub.2] and halocarbons. [...]

Call it preaching to the choir, but refrigerant manufacturers in the United States are continuing to sing the praises of HFCs to those within the industry, even as elements in [...]

Back in the summer of 2013, an event called Atmospheres America took place in Washington, D.C. It was put on by advocates of so-called natural refrigerants like ammonia, C[O.sub.2], and [...]

Most leaders in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry (hvacr) approve of the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed revisions to rules about refrigerants. The new rules would continue to extend the same restrictions applied to ozone-depleting refrigerants to substitutes like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) because the substitutes still have an impact on global warming. However, the rules do allow hydrocarbons, ammonia and chlorine to be vented in some cases, and that has rased the ire of groups such as the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy. Increased use of HFCs is also discussed., Although they don't destroy the ozone layer, HFCs have their own environmental burdens. Most agree that preventing their release is a good idea. Isn't keeping ammonia from escaping a good [...]

The US Environmental Protection Agency is verifying the environmental advantages of using ammonia instead of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in supermarket refrigeration systems. The global warming potential of ammonia is close to zero, while HFCs are more damaging. However, using ammonia requires a secondary loop to deliver cooling fluids to refrigeration equipment, and research indicates the system is 3% to 24% less efficient than current methods. More federally sponsored research is under way., ATLANTA -- The International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration recently kicked off a yearlong celebration of its 25th anniversary. IIAR's annual meeting held here established a new attendance record, with almost [...]

Legislation requiring the phaseout of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) has forced engineers and manufacturers to use a new generation of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants as well as new lubricants. HFC refrigerants are incompatible with lubricants traditionally used with CFC refrigerants. Polyolester lubricants are considered to have the best properties for use with CFC refrigerants. Original equipment manufacturers urge end-users to follow their recommendations in using these new lubricants., DALLAS -- Over the past several years, the introduction of alternative refrigerants has generated considerable confusion and concern within the supermarket and hvac industry. Global legislation is driving the on-going [...]

The global warming potential (GWP) of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants may be the next target of federal regulation on the industry, according to Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute VP for Policy and government affairs Joseph McGuire. He told attendees of the Food Marketing Institute's Energy and Technical Services Conference that greater efforts should be made to contain refrigerants lest new restrictions be imposed on the manufacture of HFCs. He said that he believed that the Environmental Protection Agency would primarily examine the commercial food refrigeration and automobile air conditioning industries., NEW ORLEANS -- So much attention has been paid ozone depletion in recent years, that the equally sensitive and controversial issue of global warming seems to have been given short [...]

Hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, the alternative to ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons, may be restricted by subsequent environmental regulations for their global warming potential (GWP). James Wolf, American Standard VP for government affairs, told members of the Mechanical Service Contractors of America, that HFC 32, 134a and 125 have GWPs beyond that which federal regulators may later permit. HFC-152a has low GWP but is highly flammable. If the industry can show that it can properly contain these chemicals, permissible levels of GWP may not have to be so strict., FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- For many in the hvacr industry, the 'solution' in long-term refrigerants is here with such recently familiar HFCs as 134a set to replace CFC-12, and HCFC-123 [...]

An industry type who wishes to remain anonymous for the time being has been in touch with me regarding a series of stories on some ways to deal with difficult [...]

The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy challenges the Environmental Protection Agency';s authority to regular refrigerant substitutes such as HFCs, and urges the EPA to regular all substitutes in all uses if it is going to require recycling and prohibit venting of HFCs in some cases. The Alliance states that the EPA failed to consider toxicity, flammability, smog and other problems and instead focused on only global warming issues., The following comments from the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy concern the proposed changes in the federal EPA's refrigerant regulations. Responses can be sent to The News at hvac@bnp, com [...]

The International Council of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers' Association opposes government regulations on the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) as refrigerants. Appliances using HFC operate more efficiently and thus save energy, which indirectly reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from power generating plants. HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer as do CFCs, although they do contribute to global warming, yet so does carbon dioxide and other substances., The International Council of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers' Associations (ICARMA) has issued a policy statement on global climate change that is excerpted below. The statement focuses on the use [...]