Speaking at the 20th European RACHP Conference in Milan on June 9, EPEE chief Russell Patten acknowledged that the issue of a ban on hydrofluorocarbons is no longer relevant. “The issue is the pace of transition and the availability of alternatives.”
A new report into the usage of PFAS chemicals in Great Britain has suggested that exemptions could be considered for refrigerants in heat pumps and refrigeration systems.
The US Department of Energy has announced a $250m fund to accelerate heat pump manufacturing in America.
Data from social media has provided an insight into the increasing popularity of air conditioning worldwide.
The Republic of Moldova will gradually reduce, starting 1 January 2024, the import and use of fluorinated greenhouse gases and will replace them with natural cooling agents, according to the provisions of the new law on fluorinated greenhouse gases, voted in the final reading by the Parliament. The law was developed with the support of the EU4Climate project, financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP Moldova and is to enter into force six months after its publication. Until now, the import and use of F-gases was not regulated in Moldova.
Cambodia has recently announced its new National Cooling Action Plan, the first to be developed in South-East Asia.
From 6-8 September 2022, Cool Contributions Fighting Climate Change Phase II (C4II) supported the Technology Training Week at the Cold Chain Innovation Hub (CCI) in the Philippines. The Hub is cooled by two R290 split air conditioning units provided in the first Phase of C4.
The German government is offering funding from its annual €600m energy research budget for projects aimed at decarbonising heating and cooling.
The German Environment Agency (UBA) has released an interim report confirming that only heat pumps charged with natural refrigerants will be awarded the new German “Blue Angel” ecolabel certification.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), a key EU advisory body, has released its opinion on the proposed EU F-gas Regulation, calling for a ban on all refrigerants with a GWP above five in new heat pumps, room air conditioners, chillers and refrigeration applications as of 2030.
The Trump administration is reported to be planning to restore compliance credits for US automakers that could encourage greater use of low GWP refrigerant R1234yf in car ac systems.
New US rules allowing greater charge sizes of hydrocarbon refrigerants in new domestic refrigerators and freezers will enter into force on September 7.
The Caribbean island of Grenada, the 37th country to ratify the Kigali Amendment, is to implement an air conditioning project using propane refrigerant.
On 16 March, the council of ministers of the Italian government on the initiative of the Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and the Minister of Environment Gian Luca Galletti, approved a much-awaited preliminary measure to implement the EU F-Gas regulation in Italy (No. 517/2014).
The Italian refrigeration association, Assofrigoristi, has warned installers who retrofit R410A air conditioners with flammable R32 that they could face jail or a fine of up to to €5,200.
A joint initiative launched in China today seeks to improve the efficiency of China’s air conditioners.
The UK refrigeration and ac industry has backed staying within the European F-gas regulations post Brexit, but repeated warnings of dire shortages of high GWP refrigerants next year.
India-based Godrej Appliances has launched a line of R290 air conditioners in the Maldives.
On 25 August, the small Caribbean island country of Grenada installed its first two air-conditioning (AC) units to use hydrocarbons. The installation of the R290-based (propane) units is part of a regional demonstration project implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
The US manufacturers’ group AHRI insists that the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord will not change the HVACR industry’s commitment to energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.