As the HVAC industry and regulators evaluate the phase down of refrigerants with high-global warming potential (GWP) and the introduction of alternative refrigerants, Johnson 

Controls recommends taking a broad and comprehensive approach that considers safety, efficiency, reliability, availability and affordability, says Laura Wand, vice president, global chiller solutions at Johnson Controls Building Efficiency Business.

At a White House roundtable discussion on phasing down high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, the company reaffirmed its commitment to spend $50 million over three years to develop and expand its existing low-GWP product portfolio. Since that promise was made at last year’s White House refrigerant roundtable, says Wand, the company has spent more than $15 million to investigate low GWP refrigerants and component technology for scroll, screw and centrifugal products.

Many alternative refrigerants that are available or emerging are classified as mildly flammable. That’s particularly true for high pressure refrigerants, says Bill McQuade, director of technology, energy efficiency and the environment, for Johnson Controls Building Efficiency Business. It’s essential to understand how those mildly flammable refrigerants can be safely used.

Another big consideration is efficiency. Refrigerants affect global warming in two ways. One is the direct effect of the release of refrigerant into the atmosphere; the other, known as the indirect effect, is the result of CO2 emissions from electricity consumed by the chiller. The more efficient the refrigerant, the lower the indirect effect. “The vast majority of CO2 emissions come from the indirect effect of the refrigerant at the power plant,” says Wand. “We don’t ever want to put ourselves in the position of taking a step back on efficiency.”

Reliability is another major concern. “With any of these new refrigerants, there is sign testing that needs to be done” to determine the long term impact of the refrigerant on the equipment that uses it, says McQuade.  Alternative refrigerants also need to be both affordable and available in local marketplaces around the world, supported by service organizations that can handle the refrigerant. “We want to make sure we have the whole supply chain available,” says 

Wand. “We will need to watch as those supply chains get developed over the various marketplaces.”

At the White House roundtable Johnson Controls also announced that it will complete the following over the next 12 months:

 Develop high efficiency, low-GWP refrigerant options in its commercial air-conditioning and industrial refrigeration product portfolio. 

 Offer equipment that can be readily retrofitted with low-GWP options for customers concerned that they will not receive the full value over the entire life of their equipment.

 Develop aftermarket retrofit services for customers that desire to convert their existing equipment to low-GWP refrigerants.

We’re the only ones taking a look at the installed based and coming up with a solution to address those situations, says Bill McQuade, director of technology, energy efficiency and the environment, for Johnson Controls Building Efficiency Business 

In addition, the company will donate up to $100,000 toward independent, third-party, peer-reviewed research to support the development safety standards related to the use of mildly flammable, low-GWP refrigerants. The company also plans to support and participate in an industry effort to develop and standardize service technician and operator training for the safe use of these same refrigerants. 

For more information about Johnson Controls, visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.