ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Tecumseh launched its Green Technology initiative by committing cross-functional resources to design, develop, manufacture, and market compressors and condensing units that are optimized for use with low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants.
The company is taking another step in that effort by becoming a recent signatory to The Natural Voice, a global call for action supported by industry and research that points to the environmental, economic, and social potential of natural refrigerants in heating, cooling, and refrigeration.
According to Tecumseh, it is keenly focused on developing compressors utilizing hydrocarbon refrigerants R-290 (propane) and R-600a (isobutane) which have ozone depletion potential factors of zero, and a fraction of the GWP of those refrigerants they are intended to replace.
Hydrocarbon refrigerants are expected to be authorized in the United States for use in commercial and residential refrigeration applications in 2011, due to approval of the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said Tecumseh.
In addition, later this year, a new Tecumseh Technology Center will open in Ann Arbor, Mich., joining other certified Tecumseh labs in France, Brazil, and India. It will provide state-of-the-art product development capabilities, complete hydrocarbon testing capability, and enhanced environmental simulation facilities.
For more information on The Natural Voice, log on to www.thenaturalvoice.org.
Publication date:05/30/2011
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