A recent state-of-the-industry panel session focused on the cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency of natural refrigerants when compared to the much more common f-gases.
While the Shaheen-Portman bill enjoys bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, its passage is not a certainty as Senate leadership works out the amendment process.
The Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill was reintroduced as S. 1392 on July 30 with changes from the previous version, S. 761. On Aug. 1, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., filed for unanimous consent to bring it to the Senate floor for consideration, but since the Senate has recessed, the bill will come to the floor after recess in September.
HVACR equipment seems to be upgrading at an unprecedented pace. New regulations are reaching the industry quicker than ever, with more to come. New refrigerants are flooding the market, just in time to fill the gap left by the more familiar refrigerants that are on the brink of being phased out. And everybody seems to be talking green.
At the 2013 Energy Efficiency Forum, a continuing topic addressed was energy legislation, specifically the Shaheen-Portman bill, S 761, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013.
The goal of the annual event is to educate members of Congress on the issues and legislation most important to HARDI’s many members — and the HVACR industry as a whole.
Though the bill has broad support in both the House and Senate, as well as from numerous organizations nationwide, it still faces many hurdles before it reaches President Obama’s desk.