ASHRAE commends the governments involved in the adoption of the HFC amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which will result in a global phase down of production and
consumption of hydrofl uorocarbons (HFCs). Several ASHRAE members were among those attending the Protocol meetings, including Jim Wolf, Presidential Member ASHRAE, and ASHRAE Director-at-Large Bill McQuade, P.E. The move comes as ASHRAE and leading U.S. government agencies, built environment associations and companies launch a multi-million dollar research program that will establish a more robust fact base about the properties and the use of fl ammable refrigerants. The
research is part of a $5.8 million program funded by ASHRAE, AHRI, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and Johnson Controls. “Flammable refrigerants hold great promise for reducing the use of HFCs in refrigerants and thereby lowering the environmental impactof air conditioning and refrigeration systems,” said ASHRAE President Tim Wentz, P.E., HBDP.

(Source: The HVAC&R Industry, October 20, 2016)