News
Refrigerants in Europe: Time is running out
Choosing the right refrigerant is one of the key factors in whether refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems are efficient and environmentally friendly. In addition, the choice is crucial in determining whether a leak will render the system useless in a few years. Read more
South Korea ratifies Kigali Amendment
The Republic of Korea has become the latest country to ratify the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFC refrigerants. Read more
Partners announce new ambition on sustainable cooling for COP28
As the Earth warms at a dangerous pace, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)-led Cool Coalition, with the United Arab Emirates’ incoming presidency of COP28, announced the development of a Global Cooling Pledge and a “Cool COP Menu of Actions” that will feature prominently at COP28. The Menu will be defined over the coming months in close collaboration with partners including the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). Read more
Prioritise efficiency in decarbonising efforts
Component manufacturers have called on European ministers to prioritise equipment efficiency over the atmospheric impact of refrigerants during the current F-gas revision discussions. Read more
Ozone hole on the mend as messenger dies
A day after the original satellite that provided data for the Montreal Protocol Agreement finally expired, the UN has announced that the Antarctic ozone hole will heal by 2066. Read more
Daikin’s new R290 monoblock with Embraco’s inverter compressors found to slash energy use compared to fixed-speed HFC units
Japanese OEM Daikin’s new propane (R290)-based LMSEY monoblock for walk-in cold rooms – which uses an FMF inverter compressor manufactured by Embraco – has been found to significantly reduce energy consumption compared to fixed-speed HFC units. Read more
Transboundary trafficking in waste and ozone depleting substances tackled through Operation DEMETER VIII
Operation DEMETER VIII, which took place from 1 to 31 October 2022, gave Customs administrations and their partners an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to playing their part in the fight against climate change. Read more
AHR Expo releases its 2023 trend report
Industry representatives from associations, manufacturers and contractors in the field share their views on the current state of the industry and predictions heading into 2023. Read more
US to ban higher GWP HFC refrigerants
All common higher GWP HFC refrigerants including R134a, R404A and R410A will be banned in most new refrigeration and air conditioning applications from 2025 under new US EPA proposals. Read more
EIA Accuses Chemours of ‘Peddling Disinformation’ on Refrigerants
In a statement issued on December 6, the U.K. office of the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) accused U.S. chemical giant Chemours of "peddling spurious claims and disinformation" to prevent the adoption of an ambitious update of the EU’s F-gas Regulation that would further restrict the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases (f-gases) produced by Chemours and other chemical companies. Read more
Transcritical CO2 system’s efficiency boosted with hydrocarbon heat pump in Netherlands
The COP of a transcritical CO2 (R744) heating and cooling system at a horticultural site in Maasbree, the Netherlands, has been improved by nearly 18% with the integration of a high-efficiency propane (R290) heat pump, according to a case study produced by the system’s suppliers and contractors. Read more
Venezuela latest to ratify Kigali
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has become the latest country to ratify the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFC refrigerants. Read more
In a first, rich countries agree to pay for climate damages in poor nations
Negotiators from nearly 200 countries concluded two weeks of talks early Sunday in which their main achievement was agreeing to establish a fund that would help poor, vulnerable countries cope with climate disasters made worse by the pollution spewed by wealthy nations that is dangerously heating the planet. Read more
Advancing Kigali goals through HVACR - International Special Issue 2022- 2023
Renewable Energy Institute (REI), with support from the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), The United Nations Environment Programme-OzonAction, (UNEP- OzonAction) and The Air conditioning and Refrigeration European Association (AREA), Ministero Della Transizione Ecologica, have collected experiences from around the world, compiled in this special publication, featuring papers from leading global institutions and experts, addressing the current situation, the challenges ahead, and sharing opinions from different National Ozone Units, on issues related among others to HVAC&R, training, and the role of women in the cooling industry. Read more
GIZ study finds minimal cost difference between use of hydrocarbons and F-gases in split ACs
A study published by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German government agency for implementing international cooperation projects, has found that there are minimal technical and cost issues related to the switch from HFCs to low-GWP refrigerants such as hydrocarbons in split air conditioners (ACs). Read more