ATLANTA, GA — According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), energy efficiency must be a key consideration in developing new technologies that do not contribute to ozone depletion.

At the ASHRAE Winter Meeting held here, the society approved an ozone-depleting substances position statement and paper that commits ASHRAE to taking a leading role in addressing ozone-depleting substance use in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. In addition, the paper said ASHRAE would continue to conduct research on alternative refrigerants and technologies, and assisting in the timely transition to new alternatives.