News

70 countries agree to support the ‘rapid, fair and effective’ decarbonization of the buildings and construction sector

Representatives from 70 national governments have agreed to support the “rapid, fair and effective” decarbonization of the buildings and construction sector, according to a statement from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Read more

Japanese frozen tuna warehouse with new air and R717/CO₂ refrigeration systems cuts summer energy use by 15% over R22 and R23

Japanese frozen tuna warehouse and processor Marine Access has seen a 15% energy savings by replacing R22 and R23 refrigeration systems in two warehouses with refrigeration systems using air, ammonia (R717) and CO₂ (R744). Read more

South Korea’s ‘first-ever’ transcritical CO₂ supermarket saves 57% on its annual electricity bill vs. store using R404A, says Arneg

The “first-ever” South Korean supermarket with a transcritical CO₂ (R744) refrigeration system, a Nonghyup Hanaro Mart store in Jangseong-gun, has annual electricity costs that are 57% lower compared to a similar store using R404A, according to a case study conducted by the Korean branch of Italian OEM Arneg. Read more

PFAS evaluation underway

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has begun evaluating the proposed PFAS restrictions on a sector-by-sector basis but there is no indication yet of a timeline for the RACHP industry. Read more

French ice rink expects up to 35% energy savings with CO₂ compared to R404A

The operator of an outdoor ice skating rink in Auron, France, can expect to reduce its energy costs by 25–35% after replacing its R404A-based chiller with a CO₂ (R744) alternative, German OEM TEKO, the new system’s manufacturer, told R744.com. Read more

Open letter calls for greater action to cut short-lived climate pollutants, lncluding HFCs

Nineteen environmental companies, universities and experts have signed an open letter on the importance of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) in national and corporate climate action plans, urging “broad and swift action to abate their emissions.” Read more

District heating plant in historic German city uses ammonia heat pumps to generate heat from wastewater

Stadtwerke Lemgo, the utility provider in the German town of Lemgo, has installed two ammonia (R717)-based heat pumps from German OEM GEA to cover the district heating needs for the city’s historic old town, which dates back to 1190. Read more

Güntner finds transcritical CO₂ to be up to 18.6% more efficient than R404A in Monterrey, Mexico

Transcritical CO₂ (R744)-based refrigeration systems have been found to be up to 18.6% more efficient than R404A alternatives in hot climates like Monterrey, Mexico, according to Güntner, a German manufacturer of heat exchangers and cooling systems. Read more

ASHRAE committee chair expects ‘2025 or later’ for approval of higher R290 charge for heat pumps in U.S.

It will most likely not be until “2025 or later” before an ASHRAE standards committee approves the use of up to 4.9kg (10.9lbs) of flammable (A3) refrigerants like propane (R290) in outdoor (indirect) heat pumps and air conditioners in the U.S., according to the committee’s chair. Read more

HFC smuggler faces charges under US AIM Act

A San Diego man has been arrested and charged with smuggling HFC refrigerants into the US from Mexico and selling them in contravention of the AIM Act. Read more

U.S. EPA announces final rule updating safety requirements for ammonia refrigeration

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 1 announced finalized amendments to its Risk Management Program (RMP), which includes a host of safety requirements for ammonia (R717) refrigeration, among other industries using hazardous chemicals. Read more

EU parliament passes EPBD update

The European Parliament has voted in favour of the trilogue deal of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which seeks to deliver a climate-neutral building stock by 2050. Read more

KIO Networks says its new Valencia data center is Spain’s first to use 100% natural refrigerants

International information technologies provider KIO Networks announced in February 2023 that its new data center in Valencia, Spain, would be the country’s first to use 100% natural refrigerants, and now details of the CO₂ (R744)-based cooling and air-conditioning systems have been shared by Danish OEM Advansor in a new case study. Read more

China’s light commercial refrigeration equipment sector will be 60% R290 by 2024, according to analysts

The share of R290 (propane) equipment in China’s light commercial refrigeration sector is forecast to reach 60% by 2024, according to Ping Yang, General Manager at China IOL, which collects data on the country’s HVAC&R industry Read more

Revised EU F-gas regulation is law

The European Union’s revised F-gas Regulation, which mandates a a complete phase out of the consumption of HFCs across the bloc by 2050 as well as specific phase-out dates for the use of HFCs and HFOs in some heating and cooling equipment, has been published in the Official Journal of the EU and will be legally enforceable as of March 11. Read more