The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has released a report presenting evidence of high-GWP and ozone-depleting gases being emitted from two major fluorochemical facilities in the US. For the report, EIA investigators used an infrared detection device at the fencelines of two production facilities operated by Honeywell and Chemours in Baton Rouge, LA and Corpus Christi, […]
The Environmental Investigation Agency US (EIA US) has released a new report calling for private sector commitments on cooling to be meaningful enough to tackle the climate crisis. EIA US says the suite of government contributions to curb greenhouse gas emissions alone are not enough to put the world on a path to limit warming to […]
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has moved to restrict the use of many “super-pollutant” hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in new air conditioner and refrigeration systems, as well as in foams and aerosols. The proposal targets the use of HFCs above a certain global warming potential (GWP) and will require most new equipment to transition to lower-GWP […]
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and natural refrigerants advocate shecco have teamed up to produce a consumer guide titled Pathway to Net-Zero: Cooling Product List. The EIA says the guide is aimed at helping companies cut their collective carbon footprint by providing a selection of products across all major cooling sectors, with a focus on […]
Global chemistry company and refrigerant producer Chemours has announced a project to significantly reduce emissions of HFC-23 at its Louisville, Kentucky (US) manufacturing site. HFC-23 is a potent greenhouse gas with a 100-year global warming potential (GWP) of 12,400 – many times greater than most refrigerants used today. It is a by-product of producing R22, […]
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has released the details of an investigation into refrigerant leakage in US supermarkets. The project, aimed at raising mainstream awareness of refrigerant management issues, is titled “Leaking Havoc” – and the results are indeed alarming. EIA investigated dozens of supermarkets in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland using portable […]
The votes are set to be counted on an updated international safety standard that would allow increased charge sizes of flammable refrigerants in household air conditioners, heat pumps and dehumidifiers. The proposal has sparked discussion in the world of HVAC&R. Although it would apply to A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants, the proposal has been framed […]
“Cool & Safe: Climate-friendly cooling is just one step away” is a free one-hour webinar on September 30 about the proposed update to the international standard for the use of flammable refrigerants in room air conditioners. It is organised by Environmental Action Germany and independent consulting firm HEAT, in cooperation with German development agency GIZ […]
Charge sizes for flammable refrigerants in HVAC&R equipment are changing with a proposal to raise international limits for room air conditioners, and the adoption of a new standard in Australia for refrigeration appliances. An International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) working group has released a proposal to update safety standard IEC 60335-2-40. This would allow larger amounts […]
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has renewed its call for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to be banned in domestic air conditioners, with the claim that a switch to hydrocarbons could prevent harmful emissions equal to 1,400 coal-fired power stations running for a year. New research commissioned by the EIA found that making the change could avoid 5.6 […]