R-22 - Editor's Note
The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act is among the environmental initiatives and regulations driving the phasedown in the use of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants in the HVAC industry. The AIM Act’s schedule seeks to phase down HFCs by 85% by 2036. The first significant reduction in consumption and production under the AIM Act began on Jan. 1, 2022, representing a 10% reduction from a baseline value. The next major step begins Jan. 1, 2024, with an additional 30% reductio...
Gradient seeks to bring the benefits of mini-split systems - variable speed drive, efficient operation, heat pump heating - to a wider audience, by simplifying the installation process. Gradient offers a design that is installed in a window, but it has more similarities to mini-split systems than to a window air conditioner. simple installation The system is designed for simple installation by a layman – it generally takes about 15 minutes. Using heat pump technology, Gradient has the e...
The story of Bluon is the tale of how a chemical company blended a new refrigerant, and then later evolved into a large, brand-agnostic online community that helps technicians do their job. Currently, Bluon is on the verge of monetizing its platform, linking e-commerce into its vast wellspring of technical information to guide HVAC installers. Tdx 20 refrigerant blend Bluon created and received EPA approval for its Tdx 20 refrigerant blend (R-458A) to replace R-22 and provide 20% great...
With a required 15% increase in seasonal efficiency looming in 2023, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are being challenged to design HVAC rooftop units (RTUs) that both meet the immediate efficiency requirements and also set the stage for a refrigerant transition in 2025 and beyond. Meeting the challenges requires that new hardware designs be more than ‘a little bit better’; rather, complete shifts in technology are called for. Insights on the changing technologies and regulat...
AHR Expo was back in a big way for 2022, reflecting a dynamic industry that not only survived the pandemic but has found new ways to thrive. Technical developments on display in Las Vegas spanned traditional product categories, which continued to display new levels of innovation in a mature market. Also reflecting progress were new digital offerings that increase control and efficiency of HVAC products and link them to the expanding world of data. Omar Tabba, the Chief Product Officer at...
The HVAC market is moving fast. Supply shortages, technology trends and regulatory issues all converged and had a profound impact on the industry in 2021, even as the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic also made a mark. Looking back at the top articles of the year at HVACInformed.com, as measured by those that received the most ‘clicks’ on the website, provides a decent summary of how the industry evolved in 2021. Top 10 articles posted at HVACInformed.com in 2021 Timely and...
This year’s Texas deep freeze struck the region hard, causing an estimated $10 billion in damage. It was one of the costliest winter weather events in the state’s history. The extreme weather conditions severely impacted HVAC systems, too, overtaxing equipment and challenging contractors to keep up with the pace of repairs. What did not happen, despite some homeowner insurance claims filed in the aftermath of the extreme cold snap, was ‘frozen refrigerant.’ Although the...
A key deadline for phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) from residential air conditioning systems is less than a year away. Jan. 1, 2020, is the deadline after which there will be no U.S. production or import of HCFC-142b and HCFC-22 (also called R-22). The deadline is part of an incremental phazeout of HCFC consumption and production based on the U.S. commitment in the 1997 Montreal Protocol aimed at protecting stratospheric ozone. Section 605 of the Clean Air Act establishes phazeout...
