Sept. 25, 2014: HVACR Associations Organize Global Refrigerant Management Initiative
Initiative Will Work to Improve the Management of Refrigerants and Reduce Leaks
NEW YORK — Three of the world’s leading HVACR associations, the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), and Brazilian Association for HVAC-R (ABRAVA), announced the formation of the Global Refrigerant Management Initiative at the United Nations Secretary-General’s Climate Summit.
The organizations noted the leakage of refrigerant during servicing of equipment is the largest source of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions. This initiative will work to identify opportunities to educate the industry’s global supply chain on ways to improve the management of refrigerants and to reduce leaks and service emissions, particularly where current leak rates are the greatest. In addition, the initiative will promote the recycling, recovery, reclaiming, and end of life destruction of refrigerants and develop policies to promote proper refrigerant management.
“Leaks from equipment installation and servicing are the largest source of HFC emissions around the globe,” said Kevin Fay, Alliance executive director. “We have established this initiative because it is incumbent on all sectors of our industry to work with our governments to educate the individuals who install, service, and replace HVACR equipment on how to handle these refrigerants responsibly and to create a culture of responsible care.”
In addition to the above organizations, this private-sector organized effort will include participation from organizations from Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, the European Union, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea — a global coalition that represents 90 percent of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment sold around the globe. The initiative will also work with Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) partners to develop and implement broad-based public and private sector collaborative programs to reduce HFC emissions by building awareness, training, and implementation guidance for proper management, servicing, and refrigerant end-of-life practices.
“Environmental stewardship is a hallmark of our industry,” said Stephen Yurek, AHRI president. “This initiative furthers our commitment to providing for the health, safety, and comfort of people around the world in the most responsible way possible.”
The growth of HFC emissions has been identified as an area of concern. Currently, HFCs only comprise about 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, unabated, HFCs are expected to increase to greater than 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. ABRAVA International president Samoel Vieira de Souza said, “There is no question that emissions are a concern of the entire supply chain.”
For more information about the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, visit www.arap.org. For more information about AHRI, visit www.ahrinet.org. For more information about ABRAVA, visit www.abrava.com.br.
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Publication date: 9/22/2014
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