Danfoss to bring lower-GWP refrigerants into focus during second Refrigerant Week

As the price of high Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants increases and regulations become tougher, Danfoss, a leader in the HVACR sector, is continuing its annual Refrigerant Week initiative to help industry professionals and decision-makers make the transition to lower-GWP refrigerants. Refrigerant Week, an official affiliate of Climate Week NYC, features webinars, tools, resources and local events aimed at promoting and enabling lower-GWP solutions was held in September this year. A global partnership with industry professionals and policy makers The Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment require the progressive phase-down of high-GWP refrigerants used in HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration). Refrigerants are indispensable in the daily operation of cooling systems everywhere and they are also a key concern, impacting resources and the bottom line in the long term. Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol in specific, calls for countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, India, Iraq and Pakistan to freeze HFC levels in 2028 before starting to cut them down from 2032. However, HCFC R22 remains a key refrigerant across the Middle East and is used in domestic, commercial and industrial air-conditioning and other cooling applications because of how well suited it is for the region’s hot climate. As such, these countries are then faced with the challenge of finding alternatives that are not only safe and efficient but also environmentally-friendly while being able to cope with the Middle East’s scorching heat. Refrigeration and air conditioning professionals need the right information, tools, and technology to comply with these new regulations and aid them in the refrigerant transition. They also need guidance when it comes to specifying, installing, servicing, and using available solutions. All of this and more were covered during RefrigerantWeek 2018. “Even though countries have different timeframes, switching to more climate-friendly refrigerants is a global concern,” says Jürgen Fischer, President of Danfoss Cooling. He continued, “The HVACR sector can make important contributions even now with energy efficient and lower-GWP equipment, and it is here that Danfoss can make a significant impact. We believe that by providing industry expertise, product qualifications, in-depth training, and testing facilities to our customers and business partners, we can all keep moving in the same direction. RefrigerantWeek is a big part of that.” Refrigerant Week: A milestone moment for refrigerants Refrigerant Week brings the use of alternative refrigerants and energy efficiency into focus as solutions that enable a sustainable cooling future. Through live webinars, local events hosted by business partners, downloadable and digital tools, and an online library of easy to access information, Danfoss aims to highlight the global and local impact of refrigerant regulations and agreements. The Refrigerant Week activities included nine webinars, available both in English and local languages, that covered topics such as the future of sustainable cooling, global trends on refrigerants and regulations, flammable refrigerants, the means to reduce refrigerant charge, CO2 in industrial systems and small stores, and refrigerant selection in commercial refrigeration. These online events are complemented by a variety of online videos, infographics, articles, and tools, all of which are available at the official Refrigerant Transition Centre, the digital hub for Refrigerant Week.