A healthy environment and energy responsibility are important priorities for engineering and technology leader Emerson. Today, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry is being asked to reduce the impact that air conditioning systems and refrigerants have on the global environment. Emerson Climate Technologies is helping the industry do just that by engineering new air conditioning technologies that work with refrigerants that are a better choice for the environment.
Scientists have determined that releases of R-22, a chlorine-containing refrigerant used worldwide in residential air conditioning and heat pump systems for the past four decades, are contributing to ozone depletion. An international agreement and U.S. environmental regulations call for the amount of R-22 being produced to be reduced by 75 percent by 2010 and eliminated by 2020, limiting the amount of R-22 refrigerant available for service needs after that time.
Research has shown that a chlorine-free refrigerant called R-410A is the best solution today as a replacement for R-22 in residential and light commercial air conditioning systems. As a result, most air conditioning technology and systems manufacturers are already converting much of their production to R-410A systems.
As the world’s leading provider of HVAC solutions, Emerson Climate Technologies introduced its first R-410A-compatible scroll compressor in 1996 and now has the broadest, most efficient R-410A scroll compressor lineup in the world.
These new Copeland Scroll® compressors – the “engines” that run most residential and light commercial air conditioners – are optimized for R-410A and deliver breakthroughs in efficiency, reliability, and sound. Additionally, Emerson Climate Technologies is developing a new high-efficiency R-410A reciprocating compressor for use in residential air conditioning systems.
Why make the switch to R-410A? For starters, R-410A is a better environmental choice because it has zero ozone-depleting potential. Second, R-410A systems are more cost-efficient in the long run because of the higher expected service costs of older R-22 systems. Third, R-410A has been specifically designed for new systems and is far less likely to break down, under even the harshest conditions.
This conversion offers homeowners and business owners with reduced maintenance expenses, lower energy bills, and a better cooling for the environment.
It is estimated that more than 80 million U.S. households will be affected eventually by this refrigerant change, along with countless offices, retailers, restaurants, and public buildings that use air conditioning.
Emerson Climate Technologies is working closely with industry trade associations, air conditioning system manufacturers, distributors, and contractors as the refrigerant transition gets underway. Emerson is sharing its R-410A research and sponsoring contractor training and education on proper installation and maintenance of the new R-410A-compatible compressors.
Emerson is committed to developing technology innovations that improve human comfort and are better for the environment. Our engineers are hard at work developing the next-generation of innovative climate control products that will meet and exceed industry standards for energy efficiency and reduce overall energy consumption. By developing climate control products and services which reduce energy use and promoting best practices in refrigerant management, Emerson is helping reduce emissions that are harmful to the environment.
Related Information:
Refrigerant Solutions: Countdown to 2010 R-22 Phase-out (Emerson Climate Technolgies)
