The newly formed Committee on HCFCs replacement technologies of the Chinese industrial and commercial refrigeration industry will research and recommend technologies, provide technical supply for the HCFCs phase-out strategy as well as recommend pilot HCFC replacement projects.

In its latest issue, the Japan Air Coniditioning, Heating and Refrigeration News (JARN) report that a new Committee on HCFCs replacement technologies of the Chinese industrial and commercial refrigeration industry has been formed in the country. The foundation of the Committee was announced in May at a conference held in Beijing by the Foreign Economic Office of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China.

The role of the committee

The committee will:

• Research, assess and recommend technologies to replace HCFCs in China’s industrial and commercial refrigeration industry
• Provide technical supply for the regulation and implementation of the HCFCs phase-out strategy in the industry
• Recommend sample HCFC replacement projects to the Ministry of Environmental Protection

Agreed strategies

The discussions during the conference held in Beijing by the Foreign Economic Office of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China lead to the following decisions/recommendations:

• Committing to in-depth studies and an assessment on the refrigerant replacement for water and heat pump chillers, refrigeration and industrial refrigeration and air handling units
• Suggested the creation of strategies and standards for selecting HCFC replacement technologies, to establish assessing index and system for HCFC replacement technologies suitable for China’s present situation with factors such as environmental protection, product performance, product safety, and cost
• Strengthening communication and exchange with relevant international organisations and institutions in order to actively seek participation in the regulation of international standards

The committee members 

The members of the committee include individuals from trade associations, research institutions, professors from universities, experts from manufacturers, and representatives and experts from the office of the United Nations Development Program in Beijing.

Zhang Zhaohui, secretary general of China Refrigeration and Air- Conditioning Industry Association (CRAA), was elected as the general director, Professor Xie Guozhen from Beijing Construction Engineering College was elected as the secretary general, while Zhou Xiaofang, deputy director of the third office of the Foreign Economic Office of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, was elected as the convener of the committee.

Dr. Volkmar Hasse, Program Manager at GTZ (German Technical Cooperation), has been involved in a project to introduce HC room air conditioning to the Chinese market. hydrocarbons21.com talked to him at the UN Montreal Protocol meeting in Geneva about safety concerns and how to effectively eliminate them.

hydrocarbons21.com (HC21): The GTZ is going to help to convince policy makers at the UN level that hydrocarbons are safe or, differently put, how they can be used safely. What would be the way to educating people? 

Volkmar Hasse: Safety with hydrocarbons in air conditioning and refrigerators, and any other walks of life where they are used, is mainly a technical problem. Many systems we are using every day are inherently dangerous to use. We know how to make them safe for everyone to use. To ensure that, there are technical standards and guidelines on how to make safe equipment. Hydrocarbons in air conditioners can in the same way be used safely which does not require any special knowledge by the equipment owner. However, these air conditioners are not yet widely available in the market.

HC21: Because they don’t have a proven track record yet?

Hasse: Yes, they do. Let’s put it that way: There are some rumours of terrible accidents. However, we know of no documented cases where such accidents happened due to the fact that the equipment runs on hydrocarbon. The stories always tell about physically rather impossible incidents. Fact is that in many countries R22 air conditioners are simply being re-filled with hydrocarbon refrigerant, a practice which we consider unsafe unless the equipment is properly retrofitted by a trained refrigeration engineer. Still, hydrocarbon air conditioners designed for and produced containing hydrocarbons are not yet widely available.

HC21: How many are there on the global market?

Hasse: There are a good number of small units already produced by New Zealander and Italian companies. One model even won an energy efficiency prize here in Switzerland. There are also different applications. We know that hydrocarbons are even used in automotive air conditioners in the range of many hundred thousands in the world. Here, they have a rather good track record despite the fact that there are no technical precautions against a large quantity of the gas entering the small passenger cabin. This is an application not very well regarded by the car industry. I think it would be necessary to have a well regulated market and technical standards for the safe use in mobile air conditioning.

HC21: Regarding the product you are showcasing here and for which Gree has provided the designs, how have you dealt with the aspects to ensure that it is safe? 

Hasse: The requirement for the design was to comply with the European norm EN 378. The Chinese, at this moment in time, do not have a suitable industry standard for safe use of hydrocarbons in air conditioners. So we had to use an existing standard and we chose the European norm, which some say is overly cautious, to make the system inherently safe. The idea was to make it so safe that at the point of sale the reference to hydrocarbons is not needed. The consumer buying the product doesn’t have to be told that hydrocarbons are inside. It is quite the same like buying a refrigerator in Europe. Most of them contain hydrocarbons today. You buy it because it is a “green” product, and on top of that it saves you electricity. That is the all the customer will ever know about the fact that the product contains hydrocarbons. The same can be done with air conditioners where the only difference is that they contain a higher refrigerant charge. So, again, the question if safety can be ensured can be answered with “yes”.

HC21: The customers will come both from China and the EU?

Hasse: Our intention is to help China to introduce this technology in the domestic market, in the light of the 2013 Montreal Protocol freeze of HCFCs. The market for the current R22 air conditioners is still expanding rapidly and we need to do something to head off this growth, so that at the end of 2012 there will be no further increase. The design of this particular product is meant to help the Chinese to have an alternative on the market that would fulfil the requirements of the Montreal Protocol. Since China has not yet developed an appropriate industry standard – it is currently working to draft one – Gree would like to wait first with selling its new products on the Chinese market. Instead, and since the product has been made to satisfy the European standard, they are now looking to attract European customers. The production line we are going to install together with Gree will manufacture 180,000 units a year. It will be ready by the end of this year, latest early next year. By then, a market for these 180,000 units will have been found. Interest has been expressed already by German companies that would like to buy this equipment. More importantly, other Chinese manufacturers will also benefit from the knowledge gained in this project and may themselves decide to produce hydrocarbon models of their own.

HC21: From the design point of view what can be done to make the system inherently safe?

Hasse: There are several options, depending on how the manufacturer is going to reach a safety standard. The European standard is regulating the charge amount in relation to the room size to avoid flammable concentrations in case of a rapid leak. The Gree AC unit has a reduced charge size to comply with the European norm. There are also other ways to increase safety. Some are integrated in the system, as electronic leak detection systems that would shut down the system and alert the owner if a leak is detected. This has also an added benefit: it will detect even harmless leaks that would otherwise lead to a reduced performance of the system and would therefore raise the electricity consumption. Since nowadays energy efficiency is very important, this is a very useful feature.

HC21: What do you reply to proponents of HCs talking about hands being blown off at even these small charges of 150 grammes?

Hasse: It simply does not happen. Nobody has any data that would prove these allegations. If these data exist, we would be happy see them and analyse what might have happened. There were the same rumours 10 years ago, saying that when you open a refrigerator containing HC refrigerant it could blow your head off. HC is a flammable refrigerant that, unless it is ignited in a small tight space, does not explode, but burn. Should all refrigerant flow out at once with a source of ignition present, a short flash flame will occur but no explosion, and the fire would not last long enough to propagate to other combustible materials in the room.

HC21: What is the typical refrigerant charge of an AC system?

Hasse: There is any charge possible, just like with other refrigerants, depending on the cooling requirements and considering the respective safety requirements. The machine on display here has a hydrocarbon R290 charge of 265 grams with a capacity of 2.7 KW.

HC21: And this is also far below the charge you would need in a car air conditioning system, where it is typically around 500 grammes?

Hasse: Hydrocarbons in car air conditioners are not currently being discussed by car manufacturers. However, as I mentioned there are several hundred thousand units operating with their old air conditioning systems but with hydrocarbon replacing other refrigerants such as R134a and R12. There are no statistics showing that HCs would have added to the severity of any car accident. Obviously, there have been road accidents with R134a systems and with HC systems, as well. To the best of our knowledge, and that is based on insurance data, the fact that the systems contained HC have not had any more severe consequences than the ones with R134a.

HC21: Going back to the training aspect, how important is that in making sure HC systems are serviced safely?

Hasse: In our opinion, design and training have to go together to make a system using HCs inherently safe. Every technical equipment needs to be serviced once in a while. All new air conditioning technologies, including HC, which are due to replace HCFCs in the near future require some new know-how from service technicians. The countries’ decision makers, hopefully with the assistance of the Montreal Protocol, have to make sure that refrigeration technicians in their country are aware that a new flammable refrigerant has entered the market. This can be done in several effective ways. The know-how required to service this kind of machine is not very complex. It can be passed on anywhere in the world in any language and in simple words. Technicians mainly have to know that a system contains HCs and then take precautions not to operate with open flames or smoke, and other common sense things. The only problem really is ignorance. However, we can educate the industry how to handle these systems professionally.

hydrocarbons21.com has been selected by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a platform to mobilise the global HC community and invite stakeholders to send their case studies about real-life experience with alternatives to HCFC-based technology. The submission deadline is 15 July.

UNEP is inviting companies or organisations experienced in the field of HCFC-free technologies to send a short abstract to the agency by 15 July. The UN Environment Programme is especially interested in receiving examples from operations in developing countries, although case studies from other regions would also be acceptable. All submitted studies should describe how and why a company either replaced an existing HCFC-based system with a non-HCFC one; or, where no HCFCs were previously used, a non-HCFC technology was chosen from the start.

Selected examples would be included on the UNEP HCFC Help Centre (http://www.unep.fr/ozonaction/topics/hcfc.asp) and possibly in other documents. Natural refrigerants are among the preferred options to avoid or replace HCFCs, as Rajendra Shende, Head of UNEP’s OzonAction Branch, told hydrocarbons21.com:

“Technologies based on natural refrigerants provide unique opportunities to achieve enhanced climate benefits while phasing out HCFCs. Additional significant climate and economic benefits could be gained by improving the energy efficiency of the appliances and equipment. By sharing real-world experiences of commercially-available carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon and ammonia solutions – including the pros and cons of those technologies compared to HCFC technology – we will build confidence in those natural refrigerant alternatives and thereby promote their wider adoption around the world. UNEP DTIE OzonAction strongly encourages companies who have such experiences with natural refrigerants to reach out and share their examples and data with enterprises in developing countries.”

HCFC Help Centre

The HCFC Help Centre is designed to help developing countries to opt for environmentally sound alternatives to ozone-depleting substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol. It provides an overview of the applicable legislative framework to phase out HCFCs, as well as key information sources in science, technology, policy, and financing. hydrocarbons21.com has been recognised as a reference source for natural refrigerants on the UNEP HCFC Help Centre website.

New study: HFCs are “Low Hanging Fruits” in climate challenge

The call for natural refrigerants real-life examples comes just one day after a new study issued by a team of international researchers found that HFCs in air conditioning units and other applications could equal 45% of total CO2 emissions by 2050 if their growth remained unchecked. Rapid action to freeze and cut HFC emissions now, alongside with promoting readily available alternatives, would be the way forward,  UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner commented:

“But there are other low hanging fruit in the climate change challenge and this new scientific paper spotlights one of them – HFCs. By some estimates, action to freeze and then reduce this group of gases could buy the world the equivalent of a decades-worth of CO2 emissions.”

A scientific report has spurred great momentum on how to tap HFCs if we are to avoid the worst effect of climate change in the coming decades. The findings show that if no new regulations are adopted, HFCs could equal 45% of CO₂ emissions by 2050. Hydrocarbons and systems such as Greenfreeze were quoted as proven alternatives to HFCs.

According to the findings, the production and consumption of HFCs could be responsible for up to 45% of CO₂ emissions by 2050. With the UN Copenhagen global climate deal only a few months away, increased emphasis must now be put on ways to hamper HFCs and promote hydrocarbon systems, such as Greenfreeze.

Alarming increase in HFCs negate any global effort to tackle climate change

“Dramatically cutting carbon dioxide emissions (…) is central to delivering a stabilization of the atmosphere as outlined by the assessments of the IPCC. But there are other low hanging fruit in the climate change challenge and this new scientific paper spotlights one of them – HFCs.” Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, said in reaction to the findings.

The study shows that if business-as-usual models are kept going, HFCs could equal nine gigatonnes equivalent to around 45% of total CO₂ emissions by 2050. This amount is far greater than those expected in previously drawn scenarios, such as those by SRES and IPPC/TEAP.

This is due to increasing demand in developed and developing countries, especially in Asia, for refrigeration, air-conditioning and insulating foam products. The scenario outlined in the study is based on an assumption that no new regulations are adopted to counter the increase in HFCs. Whilst proven technologies such as Greenfreeze are still subject to a ban in the US, it is now time for a global re-assessment of HFCs and strong incentive mechanisms to be adopted for alternatives such as hydrocarbon systems.

International agreement needed to avert worse effects of global warming

Guus Velders from the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, the lead author of the study, said that HFCs present a significant threat to the world’s efforts to stabilise climate emissions.

With international Copenhagen climate agreement only a few months ahead to regulate emissions of six greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide and HFCs, international efforts should be put on a concerted and ambitious scheme to avoid a surge in HFCs.

Swift action to freeze and reduce HFCs could buy the world the equivalent of a decade’s worth of carbon dioxide emissions according to Steiner. To which Kert Davies, Greenpeace US Research Director, added that technologically and economically market-ready replacements to HFCs are ready for deployment provided adequate incentives are given.

Ozone-friendly substances become climate enemies

The study based its findings on the projected response to regulation of ozone depleting gases under the Montreal protocol. The scenario is based on current HCFC consumption patterns of replacements of HCFCs by HFCs, and GDP growth.

The Parties to the Montreal Protocol agreed to cut production and consumption of HCFCs in developing countries by 35% in 2020 and 67.5% in 2025 whilst developed countries agreed to phase down HCFCs by 75% in 2010 and then 100% by 2020.

As HFCs have until now been used to replace CFCs/HCHCs in most applications, the lack of further regulation would lead to the above-mentioned scenario.

Use of natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons could be prompted by the first ever-proposed federal energy standards for beverage vending machines. hydrocarbons21.com attended the public meeting held in Washington D.C on the proposed US Department of Energy new requirements.

With one refrigerated beverage vending machine per 100 US citizens, vending machines represent a significant opportunity to curtail direct and indirect GHG emissions. The proposed standards could cut energy consumption by 35 to 42% and will apply to all vending machines produced within three years following formal adoption of the ruling which is expected 8 August 2009.

Big cuts but no far-reaching standards

Given that there are some 3 million beverage vending machines in the US, big emissions cuts can be achieved without jeopardising the overall industry with too challenging technological changes. Indeed, the DoE has specified that the requested standards were drafted on the basis of readily proven technologies.

The proposed draft is a result of some two years of discussions, meetings and should result in the adoption of the ruling this summer. Although there is hardly any mention of natural refrigerants, as the analysis is based on expected results from HFC use, some clear signals as regards the future consideration of natural refrigerant alternatives were given at the meeting.

Energy and emissions savings

In the amended version of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), the Department of Energy specifies that the energy conservation standards have been designed to ‘‘achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency which the Secretary determines is technologically feasible and economically justified.’’

As such, the DoE estimates that the prescribed standards could lead to 5.14Mt CO₂ being saved between 2012 to 2042. The energy savings from the proposed standards, in turn, will save the need for approximately 46 megawatts (MW) of electric generating capacity by 2042. All beverage vending machines manufactured within three years after the publication of the new ruling will have to comply with these new standards.

New requirements could save industry not just climate

At the hearing, beverage multinationals such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo informed that such standards had become a necessity for the industry to survive. Not only will this substantially cut CO2 emissions from the given industry, it will also cut energy consumption and make the business more profitable.

Questions were raised about the focus of the DoE being only on indirect emissions (energy efficiency) mentioning the obvious advantages of hydrocarbons and R744 with regard to GWP. Given that these standards will be revised again over the coming years one could expect focus to shift also to direct emissions of refrigerants. Both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola recognised that they were working with HCs and R744, seeing these technologies as promising solutions for the future. Recently, PepsiCo announced it would be testing some 5,000 vending machines using isobutane and propane refrigerants. Coca-Cola will also be testing some 1,800 CO₂ coolers and vending machines throughout the U.S. and Canada this year.

Comments were also made about providing incentives for utilities to switch to natural refrigerant based vending machines, or to give tax credits for companies, in order to stimulate the market as well as reduce overall emissions even further.

The new standards and comment period

The DoE has  divided vending machines into two classes: A&B. The new standards require vending machines to achieve a Maximum Daily Energy Consumption (MDEC) of:

• A 0.055 × V + 2.56†
• B 0.073 × V + 3.16††

V being the refrigerated volume, †: Trial Standard Level (TSL) 6 and ††: TSL 3.

Class A comprises machines that cool product throughout the entire refrigerated volume. These machines generally use ‘‘shelf-style’’ vending mechanisms and a transparent (glass or polymer) front where the product is visible to the consumer.

In Class B beverage vending machines, cold, refrigerated air is directed at a fraction of the refrigerated volume. This method is used to assure that the next- to-be-vended product will be the coolest product in the machine. These machines usually have an opaque front and use a ‘‘stack-style’’ vending mechanism.

DoE will accept comments, data, and information regarding the notice before 28 July 2009.

In the context of the Ecodesign Directive, BIO Intelligence Service has published the first part of a preparatory study that will lay the grounds for future energy requirements for commercial refrigerating and freezing equipment. Hydrocarbons are described as very good refrigerants that imply few changes from a CFC/HCFC system.

The preparatory study on LOT 1 (commercial refrigerating and freezing equipment) will provide the opportunity for consumer groups, NGOs and other stakeholders to comment on the draft study. This, in turn, will be used by the European Commission to draft future legislation concerning products ranging from walk-in cold rooms to beverage machines.

Reducing the environmental impact of commercial refrigeration

Service cabinets, walk-in cold rooms, chillers, ice-makers dessert, beverage machines, minibars, blast cabinets, water dispensers and wine storage cabinets all fall under the study. The document covers the scope, relevant legislations and test standards related to the commercial refrigerating and freezing equipment. The objective of Task 1 is to present the complete canvas of relevant products, to define and describe these products and to prioritise the products which will undergo further analysis in Tasks 4 to 7.

Cascade systems and increased efficiency

Although direct refrigeration is the most commonly used system according to the study, indirect and cascade systems have gained wider appraisal due to increased energy efficiency. When comparing direct, indirect, distributed and cascade systems, the document states amongst the strengths of cascade and indirect systems that use of natural refrigerants is possible.

Life Cycle Climate Performance indicator

The performance of a system is the result of a balance between its energy efficiency and the choice of the refrigerant. One method used in the document is the Life Cycle Climate Performance indicator (LCCP) expressed in CO2 equivalent. It takes into account production, emissions, and energy use. When comparing some supermarket systems, the document states that secondary loop propane systems are one of the least overall emitting systems available.

Other natural refrigerants

The study also mentions other natural refrigerants such as R744 and ammonia. R744 is regarded in the study as widely used before the 1950’s but superseded by halocarbons and now rediscovered as primary and secondary refrigerant. It adds that R744 represents an interesting prospect for commercial refrigeration. Ammonia is claimed as being used since the birth of refrigeration but described as being toxic and flammable.

Background Task 1 Lot 1

No conclusions as regards which products will be prioritised for Tasks 4-7 have yet been reached. Such decision is to be taken on the basis of quantitative data about market coverage, environmental impact, energy consumption and improvement potential of each product. The scope of the ENTR Lot1 study will also be defined and refined as the study progresses.

Last Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that the US administration is seriously considering an amendment to the Montreal Protocol to include the regulation of HFC emissions. Meanwhile, a similar concrete proposal was put forward by Micronesia and Mauritius, two island nations that will suffer from rising sea levels due to Global Warming.

On 29 April, the Associated Press (AP) released news according to which the Obama administration is leaning towards asking 195 nations that ratified the U.N. Montreal Protocol ozone treaty to also enact mandatory reductions in hydrofluorocarbons. The proposal, which would expand the scope of the ozone treaty to also cover global warming concerns, needs to be submitted by today so that it is in time to be considered at a meeting in November by parties to the Montreal Protocol. While the US is considering putting forward such a proposal, two island nations, namely the Federated States of Micronesia and Mauritius, did actually file a proposed amendment to regulate HFCs under the Montreal Protocol ozone treaty on 30 April, urging the 195 nations that signed on to the U.N. ozone treaty to reduce consumption of HFCs by 90 percent by 2030.

Rationale of the US “preferred option” 

AP reports that an EPA technical expert said that the Montreal Protocol created virtually the entire market for HFCs and, therefore, including them in the treaty would resolve a problem of its own making. The same source further reports that scientists utter that eliminating the use of HFCs would spare the world an amount of greenhouse gases up to about a third of all CO₂ emissions about two to four decades from now, and refers to manufacturers in both Europe and the U.S. who have begun to replace HFCs with natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons, ammonia, or carbon dioxide.

US documents and officials supporting potential mandatory HFC cuts

Although a final decision is still pending, Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Adora Andy described the inclusion of HFC mandatory cuts within the scope of the Montreal Protocol as the Obama administration’s preferred option.

Earlier, a March 27 State Department briefing paper described HFCs as a significant and growing source of emissions that could be eliminated more quickly in several ways, including amending the ozone treaty or creating “a legally distinct agreement” linked to it. The House Democrats are also adding to the pressure on regulating HFCs, with California Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Massachusetts Rep. Edward Markey, chairman of the energy and environment subcommittee, urging the White House to offer an amendment to the Montreal Protocol this year in a letter sent to President Barack Obama on 3 April. Finally, on 30 April, Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer sent a letter to the Administration in support of an HFC amendment, stating that “by providing the Montreal Protocol with the authority to regulate HFCs, regulation of these gases could begin as soon as next year – significantly faster than any regulation of these potent greenhouse gases could occur under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.”

Micronesia and Mauritius joint proposal

As HFC emissions are expected to grow rapidly over the next few decades to equal about one third of the climate problem by 2040, the two island nations on 30 April 2009 filed a proposed amendment to regulate HFCs under the Montreal Protocol ozone treaty. By filing a joint proposal, Micronesia and Mauritius urged the 195 nations that have signed on to the U.N. ozone treaty to reduce consumption of HFCs by 90 percent by 2030.

Ambassador Masao Nakayama, Permanent Representative of the Federated States of Micronesia to the United Nations said that “continuing to emit these super greenhouse gases is irresponsible when we have climate and ozone-friendly alternatives available,” said Ambassador Masao Nakayama, Permanent Representative of FSM to the United Nations. “Strengthening the Montreal Protocol can help save island countries like ours from extinction”.

Next steps

The deadline for proposing an amendment to the ozone treaty is today, six months ahead of the next scheduled treaty meeting, the 21st Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol which is to be held between 4 and 8 November 2009 in Egypt.

Following recent policy developments at the EU and UK level pointing to a potential tightening of restrictions on the use of HFCs, HFC industry proponents have launched a campaign to oppose such advent. In response, environmental group EIA has reiterated its call for a clear HFCs phase-out schedule as a means of achieving required emission reductions.

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has called for the early phase-out of HFCs in response to recent industry efforts to oppose current discussions on policy mandating restricted use of such substances. Such policy developments include the EU draft position paper for the international climate change negotiations in Copenhagen this December, whereby “an international emissions reduction arrangement” for HFCs is called for. A strong EU position on restricting HFC emissions is likely to further affect the 2011 review of the F-Gas regulation so that it includes a phase-out schedule in addition to the existing containment measures. At the UK level, Lord Hunt, Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has stated that a “restriction on non-essential use” would be considered as part of the government’s F-Gas legislation review.

As the pressure mounts to move away from the use of refrigerants with high global warming potential, HFC industry proponents in the UK have launched a campaign to advocate the essential role and benefits of using HFCs and call for a F-gas containment strategy as the means to addressing HFC emissions instead of a phase out.

EIA: HFC campaign is misguided

However, the EIA said that the campaign is misguided, and called a phase out of HFCs essential as an example to the developing world. “Although it poses significant challenges, a clear phase out schedule offers a strong degree of certainty and enables future planning which is essential to any business”, said EIA global environment campaign co-ordinator Fionnuala Walravens. “As with previous ODS phase outs it would involve a gradual reduction in HFC usage and will not mean that HFCs are banned overnight.” Miss Walravens insisted that a successful opposition of the HFC phase out by the industry would come at the cost of Europe not being able to precede to deeper emission reduction targets.

Already at last month’s RAC Alternative Cooling event, EIA stressed that only a complete ban on using HFCs in all new buildings and installations, and a consequent use of natural refrigerants, would lead to the required emission reductions. With less than 0.46% of all UK stores converted to natural alternatives and 19-33% of a supermarket’s carbon footprint coming from direct HFC refrigerant emissions, Walravens questioned the effectiveness of leakage reduction measures taken by the industry. The EIA is now in concrete talks with the UK government to explore an HFC phase out scheme.

In its second year running, the European Commission (EC) has launched its 2009 Eco-innovation call for proposal. The programme focuses on helping bring environmentally friendly technologies, such as the use of hydrocarbons in heating and cooling, faster to market.

On 20 April, members of the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) presented their programme at the Eco-innovation info day in Brussels. With a €200 million budget, the EACI has been appointed by the EC to manage this financial envelope to encourage greater eco-innovations across the EU.

This year’s call for proposal, open from 20 April until 10 September 2009, will focus on helping innovative, but still marginalized environmentally-friendly technologies. At the event, an EC spokesperson also confirmed that ODS substitutes would be closely studied in proposals.

2009 call for proposal 

Far from being another mere R&D fund, the Eco-innovation programme wants to shift the funding from R&D to commercialisation. As a result, and although some funding could still go to research & development, most will be attributed to bringing products faster to market. Last year, the programme accompanied some 40 projects. Not only does it provide financial help to these projects, it also serves as a networking platform for eco-innovative project carriers to work together and achieve greater efficiency and visibility.

The 2009 main priorities are:

• Materials recycling
• Buildings
• Food and drink sector
• Greening business and smart purchasing

The money is made available to innovating projects and is mostly, but not exclusively, given to SMEs.

New market for green products

In his presentation held at the Eco-innovation info day, Timo Mäkelä, Director of the EC’s Directorate-General Environment, stressed the importance of greening global economy. Quoting a letter the EC and all UN signatories had received last week from the United Nations Environment Panel (UNEP), he mentioned that out of the $3 trillion global recovery plans, $750 billion should be allocated to greening economies.

And this with 5 goals:

• Energy efficiency in new and old buildings
• Use and promotion of renewable sources of energy
• Sustainable transport
• Environment infrastructure
• Sustainable agriculture

He added that the Eco-innovation scheme was thus in line with global climate change efforts and that it was hoped the 2009 call would be as successful as the 2008 edition.

The draft American Clean Energy and security Act 2009 maintains that all HFCs, including 134a, 32 and HFO-1234yf will be scheduled for tighter production, exports/imports controls as well as a gradual phase down to 15% of current levels by 2038. Additional energy efficiency measures may enhance uptake of natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons.

Presented on Tuesday by the US House Energy and Commerce Committee, the draft American Clean Energy and security Act 2009 is the first set of concrete nationwide measures to help the US position as a key world player in fighting climate change. Though weak, it does include provisions regarding the phase down of HFCs.

HFC phase down schedule

According to the draft Act, the regulation and phase down of all HFCs would now fall under the scope of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), like the case of substances that deplete the ozone layer.

All HFCs, including 134a, 32 and HFO-1234yf will now be treated as class II, group II substances, which are scheduled for a gradual phase down, tighter production as well as exports/imports controls. More specifically, as of 1 January 2012, it will be forbidden to produce, export or import any class II, group II substance without holding one consumption allowance or offset credit for every CO₂equivalent ton of the substance. The baseline reduction percentage will be calculated on the basis of calendar years 2004, 2005 and 2006 consumption and import averages. According to the phase down schedule, about half of the amount of such substances compared to the baseline levels will be allowed in 2027, while eventually only 15% of baseline level will be allowed for consumption in 2038.

Energy efficiency measures

The draft proposes several measures to increase energy efficiency. Federal training and funding assistance will be provided to states that adopt advanced building efficiency codes. Funding will also be allowed for retrofitting commercial and residential buildings to meet better efficiency standards.

The document also proposes tax rebates for low-income families who live in pre-1976 manufactured homes to purchase Energy Star-rated manufactured homes. It also improves the current US process to set energy efficiency standards along with providing financial incentives for retailers who sell large amounts of “Best-in-Class” appliances. Finally, the draft creates a programme to allow each state energy office to establish a State Energy and Environment Development (SEED) Fund which should serve for clean energy and efficiency projects.

About the draft Act

As a means to create millions of green jobs for US citizens, the draft American Clean Energy and security Act 2009, co-signed by Chairmen Waxman and Markey, outlines comprehensible steps for the US to reduce their energy dependency, expenditure and related CO₂ emissions. The draft focuses on clean energy, energy efficiency, reducing global warming pollution and a transition to a clean energy economy.