The Ministry of Environmental Protection International Cooperation department, and China Household Electrical Appliances Association’s (CHEAA) Environmental Protection department are jointly organizing the "Green, Low-carbon Air Conditioner Exhibition", to take place at the Shanghai New International Exhibition Center on March 18, 2014. Major manufacturers from the industry will showcase their air conditioners and compressors using alternative refrigerants. This exhibition is the culmination of many years’ work on alternative refrigerants, a joint effort between the Chinese government, CHEAA, and companies within the industry.

 

Currently, most air conditioners use HCFC-22 and HFC-410A, refrigerants that are harmful to the environment. Many developed countries have completed or are in the process of eliminating these two substances.

 

Environmental agencies in the EU have been aggressively working on this issue, currently engaged in a long-term assessment of a proposed revision to the 2006 F-Gas Regulation.  proposed to modify the proposal , With regards to HFCs substances ( such as R410A) a more detailed regulation timeline, and specific measures to increase the quota management and HFCs ban in some industries. Starting three years after the regulation comes into force (2018), “refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump equipment shall not be charged with hydrofluorocarbons before it is placed on the market or before it is made available to the end-user for its first installation.” In addition, the proposal even places strict prohibitions on HFCs usage for some industries.

 

The United States is also actively working on regulating the use of HFCs refrigerants. As early as 2009, the United States, Canada, and Mexico jointly submitted a proposed amendment to the Montreal Protocol regarding reduction of HFCs use. As of 2012, more than a hundred countries have approved this amendment.

 

In June 2013, during the China-US summit meeting between Chairman Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama, issues regarding HFCs were among the topics of discussion. Afterwards, the two countries issued a joint statement agreeing to work together and with other countries – including through the mechanism of the Montreal Protocol – to multilaterally reduce production and consumption of HFC substances. Replacement of HFCs was officially included on the Chinese government's agenda.

 

Considering the above, the use of hydroflurocarbon refrigerants is likely to end soon. On this "Green, Low-carbon Air Conditioner Exhibition" demonstrates the use of natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbon in room air conditioners and compressors is to select the products and in such international context. Such a choice is necessary for the sustainable development of the industry, but also for environmental protection. We hope companies will choose the route of alternative refrigerants now to avoid larger costs down the road.