The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Building Technologies Office (BTO) recently convened two workshops to discuss the potential launch of a major research effort for advanced HVACR technologies.

The environmental nonprofit organization is focusing its efforts on promoting the use of naturals in supermarket and grocery store refrigeration.

A-Gas is urging the refrigeration industry to switch to low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants R-448A and R-449A before shortages of R-404A begin to bite.

ComStar International is introducing two new refrigerants. RS-44B (R-453A) is a low-global warming potential (GWP), energy-saving HFC refrigerant that replaces R-22 in a/c and refrigeration applications without an oil or component change.

Bitzer has announced it has modified all models of its two-stage reciprocating compressors to enable them to run with R-448A and R-449A refrigerant. The refrigerants have global warming potentials (GWPs) of 1,386 and 1,397 respectively.

Speaking at RAC’s Retail Question Time event, consultant Ray Gluckman, who worked closely with officials involved with the European Union (EU) F-gas regulation, said, “At the moment we don’t have enough end users, maintenance, or installation companies taking the necessary action to meet the targets set by the EU.”

Representatives from participating industry associations, refrigerant producers, and manufacturers of refrigeration equipment and components also provided progress reports detailing the steps they’ve taken over the past year to meet the goal of reducing hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) use 80 percent by 2050. 

Honeywell’s Solstice®N40 (R-448A) refrigerant for supermarket refrigeration has been named a finalist for the R&D 100 Awards. The R&D 100 Awards, sponsored by R&D Magazine, honor the 100 most innovative technologies and services of the past year.