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Tag: USA
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Heat pump sales set to spike
Nine states in America have signed an agreement to increase heat pump sales and accelerate the transition to pollution-free buildings.
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US lays out next steps for HFC phase-down
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an HFC reduction of 40 per cent below historic levels from 2024 through 2028. The rule aligns with the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act’s goals to reduce the production and consumption of HFCs by 85 per cent by 2036. The US began its phase-down on […]
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US commits to HFC phase-down
The US Senate has ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, joining the 137 other countries that have already ratified the treaty. The Kigali Amendment calls for a gradual reduction in the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are potent greenhouse gases. Many of these are used as refrigerants in HVAC&R systems. “The […]
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US report makes compelling case for heat pumps
A new report focusing on heating and cooling in US homes argues that transitioning from the existing heating systems and one-way air conditioners to two-way heat pumps could slash emissions CO2 emissions by 67Mt and cut national heating costs by US$13.6 billion. The report, Combating High Fuel Prices with Hybrid Heating, advocates for households to […]
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US government launches National COVID-19 Plan
The US government has released its National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, laying out a roadmap for dealing with the pandemic and getting back to more normal routines. It includes measures such as vaccination, accurate advice on the use of masks and PPE, and ongoing monitoring of the virus, as well as a focus on ventilation. Strong […]
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EPA forges ahead with HFC phase-down
After the US government committed to phase down HFCs in line with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a concrete step by putting forward the first rule under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. The AIM Act directs the EPA to sharply reduce production and […]
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China and US commit to Kigali Amendment
China and the US have affirmed their joint commitment to phasing down HFCs in line with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The announcement came after two days of talks between US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and China Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua. Chinese president Xi Jinping had earlier […]
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Biden sued over executive environmental order
Twelve American states have filed a federal lawsuit against President Joe Biden for his executive climate change order, alleging that he lacks the statutory and constitutional authority to dictate specific values for the “social costs” of greenhouse gases for regulatory programs administered by the federal government. Biden signed executive order 13990 on his first day […]
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Chemours pledges to reduce HFC-23 emissions
Global chemistry company and refrigerant producer Chemours has announced a project to significantly reduce emissions of HFC-23 at its Louisville, Kentucky (US) manufacturing site. HFC-23 is a potent greenhouse gas with a 100-year global warming potential (GWP) of 12,400 – many times greater than most refrigerants used today. It is a by-product of producing R22, […]
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Biden signs orders to ratify Kigali – and more
US President Joe Biden has set the wheels in motion for his country to finally ratify the Kigali Amendment for the phasing down of HFCs. It was announced among a raft of measures aimed at addressing climate change. Via an executive order, Biden directed his administration to prepare to send the Kigali Amendment to the […]
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US passes HFC phase-down bill
The US government has passed a bill authorising a 15-year phase-down of HFCs in alignment with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM) requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement a phase-down of the production and consumption of HFCs through an allowance program. The phase-down […]
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Using body heat to warm buildings
Whether inside a crowded train or packed exhibition hall, most of us have experienced stuffiness due to body heat radiated from the people around us. The excess body heat released into the atmosphere can actually be used to warm buildings and homes. According to a BBC article, numerous companies are already harnessing this organic warmth. […]
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US HVAC&R professionals weathering COVID-19 crisis
The results are in from a survey exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on US HVAC&R professionals. The survey was conducted by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). About 3,000 of its members replied to “ASHRAE’s Survey of the Impact of COVID-19 on Members Professionally and Their Businesses”, which explored […]
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HVAC&R world: meet a fridgie from America
Around the world, “fridgies” everywhere are making sure air conditioning and refrigeration systems are operating efficiently and effectively across industrial, commercial and domestic settings. In the October issue of HVAC&R Nation magazine, we profiled some international fridgies. From the best things about the job to overall changes within the industry, they give us an insightful […]
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Trump pressed to commit to HFC phase-down
While the HFC phase-down has begun in earnest in Australia and Europe, the USA – one of the world’s largest users of HFCs – is yet to commit. Now, 32 major players in America’s HVAC&R industry have written an open letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to ratify the Kigali Amendment and commit to […]