Change and progress in the HVAC industry
- Trane Co., LaCrosse, WI (United States)
Energy efficiency challenges presented to the Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) industry and its customers in the 1970s became even greater when combined with environmental mandates in the 1980s. Despite the fact that HVAC machinery worldwide depended on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a United Nations agreement called the Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, mandated that CFCs would have to be phased out of production by January 1, 1996, because of indications that CFCs were damaging the stratospheric ozone layer. Thus the industry was forced to find alternative refrigerant chemicals while developing the new equipment that could use the alternatives in an efficient way. After development of two major alternatives, HCFC-123 and HFC-134a, the HVAC industry had to develop new large air conditioners, called chillers, that could efficiently use the alternative refrigerants. Today, new chiller designs, working in concert with efficient building cooling systems, result in energy efficiencies far greater than could be attained only a few years ago. The new reality of the CFC production phase-out and better-than-ever chiller efficiency offers new opportunities for HVAC customers to save money while protecting the environment by containing existing CFC stocks, converting selected existing chillers and replacing others with more efficient machinery. The HVAC industry, by facing the dual challenges of energy efficiency and environmental stewardship, has created opportunities for their customers. These opportunities underline the fact that being business-wise can also be earth-wise.
- OSTI ID:
- 203852
- Journal Information:
- Energy Engineering, Vol. 92, Issue 6; Other Information: PBD: 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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