The American Association of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Heating (AHRI) recently announced that the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR) industry in the United States will invest $5 billion in the research and development of next-generation refrigerants and related air conditioning refrigeration equipment over the next decade.

Stephen Yurek, Secretary General of the association, pointed out that the HVACR industry has actively developed low GWP refrigerants. Since 2009, the industry has spent nearly $2 billion developing energy-efficient equipment and promoting the application of low GWP refrigerants. In the next 10 years, the HVACR industry will add an additional $5 billion for research and investment in the development and commercialization of low GWP technologies. ”

HVACR and the heating industry have made positive contributions in energy conservation and environmental protection. He said that since the late 1980s, the industry has supported international cooperation in developing non chlorine refrigerants to protect the ozone layer, and has unanimously agreed to actively promote the phase out schedule of ODS substances while ensuring equipment energy efficiency improvement. In the past decade, the industry has worked together to reduce the use of refrigerants that harm the Earth's environment in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment.

He emphasized that without government funding support, AHRI and association members launched a low GWP value alternative refrigerant assessment program in 2011, and the first phase of work was completed by the end of 2013. The second phase of work is currently underway. The purpose of this plan is to study the application of different refrigerants in different equipment. The US HVAC industry will collaborate with international organizations to systematically phase out high GWP refrigerants.