Arlington, Virginia: The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has applauded the agreement reached on October 15, 2016, in Kigali, Rwanda, by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MP)  to include hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants in the treaty’s purview, according to a statement release by the Institute. Acknowledging the success of the MP in phasing out hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), AHRI, the statement said, has long supported including HFCs, in a global phase-down plan under the treaty.

AHRI, United States government agencies and energy-efficiency advocacy groups, the statement said, have all worked diligently for many years to ensure a phase-down of these chemicals. In 2011, AHRI, the statement revealed, initiated a global refrigerant research programme, known as the Low-Global Warming Potential Alternative Refrigerants Evaluation Program (Low-GWP AREP), to identify the most promising HFC alternatives. After two phases of research, the Institute revealed that the most promising alternatives are currently classified as mildly flammable or flammable, and additional field research is being undertaken to determine their suitability in different applications. The research, it added, is being sponsored by AHRI, ASHRAE, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the state of California.

“While the freeze dates and step down levels are ambitious, the HVACR industry is confident we can meet them and continue to provide quality, innovative, energy efficient products and equipment for the benefit of the world’s citizens,” said Stephen Yurek, President and CEO, AHRI, who attended the Kigali meeting.

“The agreement is just the first step in a multi-step process,” he added. “Our industry is hard at work doing the research on the HFC alternatives that will be used in the world’s air conditioners, heat pumps, and refrigeration equipment, and getting that right is certainly as important as reaching agreement.  Also very important are the education and training initiatives that will have to occur to ensure safe, efficient installation of the equipment that will contain these new refrigerants. Some of this is already being undertaken by AHRI in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Program and other global organizations.”