Danfoss, a global manufacturer of high-efficiency electronic and mechanical components and controls for air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration, industrial and water systems, participated in an industry leader roundtable hosted by the White House to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Held Oct. 15 at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the event convened executives from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and component manufacturers, refrigerant producers and industry associations in a roundtable briefing of senior White House officials, including Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy. Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor Brian Deese, who oversees climate, conservation and energy policy, moderated the event.
The Administration’s Climate Action Plan seeks to leverage new opportunities to reduce HFCs. U.S. industry is leading the way in helping fulfill that pledge by investing millions of dollars to develop and deploy the next generation of safer HFC alternatives, and by incorporating climate-friendly technologies into the cars, air conditioners, refrigerators, foams and other products they manufacture and use.
During the event, John Galyen, president of Danfoss North America, provided an update on the Codes and Standards Task Force that the company announced it would convene and facilitate during a similar industry roundtable at the White House in September 2014.
The Task Force, which comprises a group of experts from industry, environmental advocacy groups, EPA, UL, codes officials, fire marshals and other stakeholders with a vested interest, is focused on accelerating the implementation of fire and building codes for mildly flammable, low-GWP refrigerants.
“The Task Force has already taken several steps,” Galyen said. “We have launched a communications plan to educate industry on the need for revised standards and codes. We have worked with ASHRAE to keep its development of standards on track and have been active at the meetings of its refrigerant safety Standard 15 committee. We have actively engaged the model code groups to gain support in preparing codes, once the Standard is ready. And, we have established a sub-committee to work with states and municipalities. Acting together, the group has authored several articles and secured speaking engagements with influential audiences vital to support this transition.
“Future progress is highly dependent on ASHRAE Standard 15, which is delayed because additional testing and analytical work is needed. Some of that work is being done, but some still needs funding. Without the needed research, we risk missing the 3-year code cycle which can protract and complicate the conversion to low-GWP alternatives. Administration support at that critical moment could be decisive.
“We ask for the Administration’s support in encouraging local and state governments in the timely adoption of the standards once completed,” he continued. “During the next 12 months, the Task Force will continue collaboration with ASHRAE, the model code groups, firefighter associations, state code groups and state and city governance associations. As the ASHRAE Standard 15 nears publication, the Task Force will help prepare, coordinate and submit code proposals.”
Source: Danfoss
