CHICAGO - At a DuPont press conference at the 2009 AHR Expo, Diane Iuliano Picho, global business manager, noted that the company has developed a new refrigerant for automotive air conditioning in the European market called HFO-1234yf. She said the refrigerant offers “dramatically lower global warming potential than R-134a.”

DuPont is looking at how this technology can be used for stationary applications. One issue that must be addressed is the mild flammability of the refrigerant.

Jim Bachman, national sales and marketing manager, stated that EPA’s proposed R-22 allocation rule, which would take effect in 2010, projects a 27.5 million pound supply shortfall. He said that this points out the need for intensified reclaim and retrofit initiatives.

“It makes it more vital then ever to consider reclaim,” said Bachman. It’s important to help customers develop refrigerant management plans.

Bachman said that DuPont has been working with industry organizations like the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute’s (AHRI’s) Chemicals and Refrigerant Reclaimers’ (CRR) Communications Committee to put together a Website, called phaseoutfacts.org, that will contain information on refrigerant issues relating to regulations and the phaseout of HCFCs. The Website is expected to launch in March.