ASHRAE Insights

Tom Phoenix (r.), former ASHRAE vice president, shakes hands with Rajendra Shende, director of the Ozone Action Branch of UNEP.

 As the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Montréal Protocol approached, two international organizations focused on the environment joined forces to reduce emissions and encourage energy-efficient refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and building designs.

ASHRAE and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) have formalized an agreement to cooperate on several technical issues, such as assessing and addressing remaining chlorofluorocarbon-based chillers. The two organizations also will promote sustainable activities in areas such as emissions reduction and energy efficient systems and building design.

In the mid-1980s, worldwide concern occurred over damage to the ozone layer from the use of ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs. These substances have important applications, including refrigerants, heat transfer fluids and blowing agents for insulating foams.

Under the Montreal Protocol, CFC use for new equipment has ceased in developed countries, and HCFC usage has been capped and is scheduled to be phased out. Developing countries have agreed to phaseout schedules for both CFCs and HCFCs and have made substantial progress in meeting this commitment. Many new technologies to replace CFCs and HCFCs have emerged with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have zero ozone depletion potential but positive global warming potential, as one of the most popular.

“ASHRAE and the HVAC&R industry are responding to growing global demand for new technologies that do not contribute to ozone depletion and are energy efficient,” said 2006–07 ASHRAE president Terry Townsend. “Energy efficiency is a key issue because the burning of fossil fuels to generate electric power is considered a major greenhouse gas emitter. By partnering with UNEP/DTIE, we can further our respective work by mutual exchange of technical guidance.”

ASHRAE and UNEP previously collaborated on a smaller scale with the signing and implementation of a regional cooperation agreement between the UNEP regional Office in West Asia and ASHRAE’s local chapters.