February 21, 2024

Revolutionizing Real Estate: The Compelling Case for Investing in EV Charging Infrastructure

By: Jenna Prasad, Sustainability Engineer, Ambient

 

The shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) is rapidly transforming the transportation landscape, and as a key stakeholder in the build environment, it’s crucial for property owners, consulting engineers, and contractors to recognize and capitalize on the benefits of investing in EV charging infrastructure. Here, we’ll delve into the urgency behind this transition and outline some reasons for property owners and developers to embrace the EV revolution.

 

Transportation Emissions and the Need for Change

 

Transportation, notably cars and trucks, has long been a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, transportation accounted for 29% of total GHG emissions in the U.S. in 2021. Notably, light-duty vehicles were responsible for 58% of this, with medium- and heavy-duty trucks contributing 23% to total transportation emissions. To combat climate change effectively, there’s a critical need for widespread vehicle electrification.

 

 

Why Invest in EV Charging For Your Building?

 

 

Environmental and Health Benefits

  • Contributing to community CO2 reduction efforts.
  • EVs decrease air pollution, fostering cleaner air quality
  • Enhancing overall energy efficiency.

 

Public Commitment to Sustainability

  • Attracting environmentally conscious employees, clients, and tenants.

 

Property Value Enhancement

  • The addition of EV chargers can increase property value.

 

Potential Additional Revenue Stream

  • Charging fees can offset the initial investment in charger technology.

 

Encouraging EV Adoption

  • Employees/tenants are more likely to switch to electric vehicles.
  • Reducing Scope 3 CO2 emissions related to employee commuting.

 

Investment in Sustainable Development

  • Seizing opportunities in the exponentially growing EV market.

 

Leveraging Incentives

  • Utilizing utility rebates, tax credits, and additional funding programs.

 

How Companies are Supporting the Transition

 

Ambient, a national HVAC solutions provider with companies such as Gil-Bar and Mechanical Technologies, recognizes the pivotal role that EV charging plays in nationwide efforts to embrace sustainability. In partnership with ABB E-mobility, Ambient and its companies offer comprehensive EV charging solutions for multifamily residential and commercial projects.

 

So Where Does This Leave Us?

 

Investing in EV charging infrastructure is not just a responsible environmental choice but a strategic business decision for building owners, consulting engineers, and contractors. Beyond aligning with sustainability goals, it enhances property values, attracts eco-conscious stakeholders, and positions businesses at the forefront of a growing market. With the support of companies like Ambient and ABB, supporting EV charging for tenants, employees, and guests becomes a tangible reality for the build environment in New York and beyond.

 

Learn More About…
Ambient Enterprises

January 8, 2024

Construction and Climate Policy, Local to National

By: Jenna Prasad, Sustainability Engineer, Ambient Enterprises

 

As we enter 2024, all eyes turn to policymakers as they intensify commitments to climate action. Municipal, state, and national governments across the U.S. continue to push for decarbonization and energy efficiency in the built industry through increasingly strict regulations. Building owners, contractors, and engineers face a profoundly shifting landscape dictated by the implementation and enforcement of these rulings and therefore must remain proactive as compliance deadlines approach. As businesses prepare to meet these policies head-on, an understanding of current and upcoming climate regulations is crucial to navigating this new era.

In New York City, Local Law 97 stands out as one of the most prominent—and stringent—emissions reduction laws in the country. A subset of the 2019 Climate Mobilization Act, Local Law 97 requires buildings larger than 25,000 square feet to meet new greenhouse gas emissions, aiming to reduce NYC building emissions 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. These emissions limits and energy efficiency standards begin in 2024, with even stricter carbon caps slated for implementation starting in 2030. Building owners are responding by implementing energy conservation measures, transitioning to lower-carbon fuels, and undergoing HVAC systems electrification and retrofits.

Alongside NYC’s efforts to reduce building emissions is a push to phase out fossil fuels. Local Law 154, passed in late 2021, sets carbon limits for new constructions and gut renovations, essentially prohibiting the use of fossil fuels. These requirements are enforced starting in 2024 with low-rise buildings and in 2027 for buildings with seven stories or more.

NYC is not the only city making significant strides toward greener buildings. Boston’s Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) 2.0, adopted in 2021, established comparable emissions limits, which are enforced beginning in 2025 for buildings larger than 35,000 square feet and in 2030 for buildings exceeding 20,000 square feet. Similarly, Washington D.C. also established a climate goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in 2032, which is upheld by the Building Energy Performance Standard (BEPS) Program introduced in the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act.

In addition to state laws, environmental efforts are underway on a national scale. One target of national policy is refrigerant, which can contribute heavily to a building’s greenhouse gas emissions through leakages. Introduced in 2020, the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act intends to address the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are greenhouse gases with high global warming potentials (GWPs; used to measure the environmental impact of a greenhouse gas in comparison to carbon dioxide) that are commonly used as refrigerants. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), authorized by the AIM Act, issued a final rule on the phasedown of these gases, restricting the sale, distribution, import, and export of high-GWP HFCs, including R-410A, one of the most popular refrigerants internationally. Starting in 2025, refrigerant GWP for residential and commercial air conditioners, heat pumps, and chillers must be less than 700. Similar restrictions are in place for variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems and data centers, with enforcement beginning in 2026 and 2027 respectively. Many manufacturers are already transitioning to more eco-friendly refrigerants, such as R-744 and R-454B, for use in their products.

The most anticipated upcoming regulation facing corporate America is from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Initially proposed in March 2022, the SEC is in the process of developing a national climate disclosure rule, which will require publicly traded companies to report on annual greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risks. Such a rule is intended both to encourage companies to take emissions-reduction action and to prevent “greenwashing,” or making false claims about sustainability and positive environmental impact. Although it was initially anticipated for October 2023, the final ruling has been delayed; a release in early 2024 is now projected, in which case the requirements will likely go into effect in 2026.

One state, however, is not waiting around for an impending SEC ruling; in September 2023, California legislation passed two climate disclosure bills enforcing emissions and risk reporting for both public and private companies. The first is the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, which requires companies doing business in California with revenues of one billion dollars or more to disclose their annual greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2026. The second law is the Climate-Related Risk Disclosure Act, which requires companies doing business in California with revenues exceeding $500 million dollars to report biennially on climate-related financial risks starting in 2026. Both bills were signed into law in October 2023 by California Governor Gavin Newsom, and although they are still subject to legal challenges, these disclosure regulations indicate a nationwide shift toward actionable climate change mitigation.

Innovation and modernization in the built environment are actively being propelled by legislative developments at all levels of government. These regulations, both current and future, emphasize a shared responsibility to integrate environmental stewardship into the engineering and construction landscapes. If climate action is taken through solutions like electrification, refrigerant management, and carbon footprint reduction, the industry will align itself with a path of resiliency and sustainability in pursuit of a greener future.

 

 

Learn More About…

Ambient Enterprises

December 29, 2023

Ambient Releases 2023 Emissions Update

New York, Dec. 29 Ambient Enterprises, the parent of HVAC sales representatives such as Gil-Bar, APA HVAC Technologies, Mechanical Technologies, H.C. Nye, and recently DMG HVAC and Johnson Barrow, shared it’s 2023 emissions report Friday through its site.

 

“Understanding our environmental impact and driving sustainable change has been a major focus for Ambient in recent years. The 2023 Emissions Update reflects on Ambient’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship and emissions reduction efforts in conjunction with the company’s nationwide growth. The goal of this publicly-available report is to embrace a culture of accountability and transparency within the HVAC community and to encourage others to join Ambient in the collective push toward a greener future.” says Jenna Prasad, Sustainability Engineer at Ambient.

Ambient is a collective of HVAC design and implementation experts, offering solutions for spaces in the healthcare, commercial, and residential sectors.

Learn More About…

Ambient Enterprises

December 7, 2023

Harnessing Earth’s Power: The Rise of Geothermal in Commerical Buildings

By Joe Kalina, Sales Engineer, Gil-Bar Industries

As the world grapples with the consequences of climate change, innovative solutions are emerging to mitigate the environmental impact of traditional HVAC systems. One solution gaining momentum is geothermal heating and cooling. This revolutionary approach taps into the Earth’s natural heat reservoirs, offering a sustainable and efficient alternative to conventional HVAC.

A recent CNN article highlights the increasing adoption of geothermal systems in the heart of New York City, where extreme heat events are becoming more frequent. The city, known for its towering skyscrapers and bustling commercial spaces, is turning to geothermal technology to tackle rising temperatures, reduce its carbon footprint, ease strain on the electrical grid, and meet carbon reduction goals set forth by the Climate Act.

Geothermal systems operate by harnessing the Earth’s internal temperature. Unlike traditional HVAC systems that mainly rely on fossil fuels for heating, geothermal designs have a greener, lower-carbon-emitting approach. Geothermal systems operate by utilizing the Earth’s consistent internal temperature to transfer or extract heat from the ground. This translates to a substantial reduction in energy needed to move heat from one source to another, ultimately leading to more a sustainable infrastructure. By stabilizing the source where the heat is pulled from, we can optimize the mechanical systems doing the work. Although the initial installation may seem like a more involved process compared to traditional HVAC, the long-term savings are substantial. These systems also boast lower operational and maintenance costs, making them a wise investment for organizations looking to cut utility expenses over the life span of the building. With geothermal systems providing lower environmental strain and lower costs for building owners, it’s really no surprise that we’ve seen the increase in adoption that we have over recent years.

The cost savings and sustainability aspects of geothermal have also led to advancements in the technology itself and are contributing to its widespread adoption. Enhanced drilling techniques, improved heat exchangers, and smarter control systems are making these systems more accessible and efficient. In turn, commercial buildings are increasingly turning to this solution to meet their needs.

While geothermal may present a promising future, there are challenges that still exist. The availability of suitable underground conditions and upfront installation costs can be barriers for some businesses. That won’t be for long though. Government incentives and a growing awareness of the long-term benefits are creating opportunities for expansion of these types of systems in the commercial setting.

Geothermal represents a beacon of hope in the quest for sustainable, environmentally friendly, and profitable solutions in a world of growing regulation. New York City’s adoption of geothermal technology at 1 Java Street only underscores its potential to address the dual challenges of extreme weather and carbon emissions. As technology continues to advance and awareness grows, we’re likely to see it become a cornerstone of the green building revolution, ushering in a new era of energy-efficient and eco-friendly commercial spaces.

October 2, 2023

Decarbonization & Electrification: The Way to a Greener Future

HVAC Experts Break Down What You Need To Know

By: Amir Goharpey, Application Engineer, Gil-Bar Solutions

Decarbonization, a term often heard in the context of sustainability and climate action, represents a critical step towards reducing our carbon footprint and mitigating climate change. In the realm of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), decarbonization entails a strategic shift towards cleaner, more efficient technologies and practices. Here, we’ll discuss what decarbonization is and three key strategies for achieving it, with a particular focus on electrification as a driving force for positive change.

Understanding Decarbonization

At its core, decarbonization is the process of reducing or eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from various processes. In the HVAC world, this is a concerted effort to minimize the carbon footprint of buildings and encompasses four fundamental components:

  1. Energy Efficiency: This involves making units and buildings as energy-efficient as possible, ensuring that minimal energy input yields the maximum heating or cooling output. Besides environmental benefits, increased energy efficiency also reduces buildings’ energy bills, making it a win-win strategy.
  2. Electrification: Electrification is the strategy to replace existing equipment that relies on fossil fuels with the latest electric technology. This transition not only reduces carbon emissions but also aligns with the broader movement towards cleaner energy sources.
  3. Renewable Energy: Building all-electric systems and utilizing renewable energy sources to generate electricity play a pivotal role in decarbonization. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation, we can significantly lower carbon emissions.
  4. Electricity Loads: While essential, electricity load management falls just beyond the scope of what we are discussing here, but remains a crucial element of the overall decarbonization strategy.

The Significance of Decarbonization

Why is decarbonization so important? Simply put, it is a linchpin in our efforts to combat climate change and achieve reduction goals. The Climate and Community Protection Act, for instance, commits New York State to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and a staggering 85% by 2050. To achieve these ambitious targets, an aggressive plan has been set in motion. Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP), for example, have emerged as a viable solution, not only for meeting climate goals but also for surpassing the environmental performance of traditional DX and gas heating options.

Strategies for Combating Decarbonization

To effectively combat carbon emissions, HVAC professionals and policymakers must consider three main strategies:

  1. Energy Efficiency: Although energy efficiency has long been a priority in HVAC, its focus has often centered on cost savings rather than improving the carbon footprint. However, reduced energy consumption directly translates into fewer emissions from fuel use, making it a vital component.
  2. Refrigerant Management: Managing refrigerants is a critical aspect of reducing unwanted emissions from buildings. Employing low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants is essential to minimize environmental impact. Regular maintenance practices can also help prevent refrigerant leakage.
  3. Electrification: Electrification, especially in heating, is gaining prominence as we move away from gas heaters and inefficient electric heating methods. The shift towards cleaner electric grids, with an emphasis on renewable energy sources, is a cornerstone of electrification efforts.

Electrified Heating Solutions

One of the key drivers of electrification in the HVAC industry is the adoption of electric heating solutions, particularly heat pumps. These solutions include:

  • Air to Air Heat Pumps: These systems, includingsplit system heat pumps, rooftop unit (RTU) heat pumps, and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pumps, efficiently provide both heating and cooling, reducing the need for fossil fuels.
  • Heat Recovery Solutions: Heat recovery systems, such as heat recovery chillersand multi-pipe systems maximize energy efficiency by capturing and repurposing waste heat, further contributing to the decarbonization movement.

So where does this leave us? We know decarbonization and electrification are intertwined as essential components of our journey towards a greener, more sustainable future. By embracing energy efficiency, responsible refrigerant management, and electrified heating solutions, we can not only meet reduction goals but also take significant strides in combatting climate change and preserving the environment for future generations.

Amir Goharpey is an application engineer with Gil-Bar Solutions, a division of the Ambient HVAC Collective.

HVAC Invests in Smart Building Controls

By Chris Plummer, Sales Manager, Gil-Bar Industries

Future Tech Pays Off?

Connected smart equipment and devices have changed the way we live our lives. If you’re in the engineering or construction space, it’s also changed the way we maintain our facilities. Big data and cloud analytics allowed us to create actionable intelligence by providing greater visibility on system performance and trends.

Often one of the biggest costs of maintaining a building is climate control. Building owners and management professionals know that keeping BTUs in the space is a primary challenge. Luckily, smart controls and connected devices have allowed us to use data and insights to develop the right maintenance strategies, helping us reduce energy consumption, extend asset life, and increase uptime, making it a potentially smart investment.

Connecting your HVAC equipment, such as your chiller, enhances your data visibility and grants access to:

  • Expanded data beyond what’s visible in the BAS, up to 200 points, for advanced insight into chiller performance.
  • Sophisticated AI-infused, machine-learning insights.
  • Chiller expertise powered by cutting-edge digital capabilities.
  • Real-time, chiller health and performance diagnostics at your fingertips.
  • Historical data from first day of connection.
  • Diagnostic trends allow comparison to design intent and historical operation.
  • Predictive analytics designed to uncover potential issues early.

Recently, we’ve seen manufacturers placing safe bets on connected smart tools, some even offering free extended service to demonstrate their confidence in the future tech. For example, Johnson Controls, in conjunction with Gil-Bar Industries, now offers 1 year service included with all connected chiller orders.

Now is the best time for building owners and engineers to take advantage of these additional offers.  If you have additional questions please reach out to your respect Gil-Bar Sales representative.

Chris Plummer is a sales manager at Gil-Bar Industries. Part of the Ambient HVAC collective, Gil-Bar is New York City’s provider of Yorkconnected chillers and HVAC product expertise.

July 31, 2023

From Basement to HVAC Powerhouse: Interview with Joe Sbarra

By: Edwin Warfield, Publisher, CityBiz

After beginning his career as a degreed sales engineer for the Trane Company, Joe Sbarra founded Gil-Bar Industries with his partner John Gill in July of 1986. The company had a family feel from the start: working out of the basement of a residential home in Brooklyn, the city where Joe was born and raised. In fact, the company’s first employee was Joe’s mom, who did everything from answering the phone to cooking meals for clients and factory visitors.

As Gil-Bar grew, Joe built and preserved a company culture that extends the values of family to every individual within the firm, and to every client the firm serves. These values are reflected in the way Gil-Bar cares deeply about every single project and all of the people who come together to make it work. They’re reflected in the way Gil-Bar protects everyone associated with the firm by insisting on excellence and taking responsibility for finding solutions where everyone wins.

As Joe says: “In order to maintain a great working relationship with our clients, we have to be friends with them. We have to have their backs.”

This philosophy has allowed Joe and John to attract and retain the “cream of the crop” in the HVAC industry, now including 24 degreed sales engineers and 22 inside engineering support staff. Today, Gil-Bar offers the strongest solution-based HVAC engineering team in the tri state area and is widely regarded as the nation’s premier engineering rep force.

“We’re entering our 35th year of providing expert guidance to our clients and we’re proud of the projects we’ve built together. We’ve become the largest solution-based HVAC company in the industry, proving ourselves with over 2000 clients daily across multiple market segments. But as we’ve grown, our philosophy and focus have never changed: we build working relationships as a family. We work together to find the best solutions, always. There is no project or problem too big or too small for Gil-Bar. We will figure it out.”

Connect with Joseph on LinkedIn

Interview questions:

Founding | You founded Gil-Bar in a basement in Brooklyn in 1986. Please tell us about the launch of Gil-Bar.

Introduction | Can you provide a snapshot of Gil-Bar today? How many locations, employees…?

Timeline | What are some of the key milestones since 1986?

Partner | Tell me about the role of your other partners and their part in Gil-Bar’s growth”

Private Equity|When did you decide to pursue private equity? Tell us about the Intermediate Capital Group.

Merger | Last November, Gil-Bar Solutions merged with HC Nye. Tell us about the merger and the results to date.

Growth | What are the growth plans for Gil-Bar?

High Performance Heat Pumps Are Here

By Joe Kalina, Sales Engineer, Gil-Bar Industries

The Future of NYC HVAC Design

As an engineer and salesperson, I am always on the lookout for new solutions that work for both our customers and the environment. Recently, I’ve gotten excited about the new YMAE Air-to-Water Inverter Scroll Modular Heat Pump launched by York.

The New York City market has been asking for a product like this for the past five years. With electrification and decarbonization changing the landscape of HVAC design, this product will help in accomplishing the aggressive carbon neutral goals of Local Law 97. A leap in development from the 2021 ACR Awards Heat Pump Product of the Year, the new YMAE-130 produces 140 °F hot water at the highest COP in the category. It also promises to deliver the broadest operating envelope in the market, and that means maximum flexibility across different applications. Combined with the use of ultra-low GWP refrigerant, R-454b, the YMAE is a sustainable, high-performance solution for building owners and engineers wanting to minimize their environmental impact.

So What Are The Specs?

  • Inverter vapor injection compressors on both circuits as standard (individually circuited compressors under 15HP) and ECM condenser fans. Part load turndown to 10% of design capacity.
  • 2-Pipe (heating or cooling mode) and 4-Pipe (simultaneous heating and cooling mode)
  • 4-Pipe operation is not solely reliant on energy recovery from internal loads – the condenser will aid in maintaining both chilled water and hot water LWT setpoints as needed with both setpoints individually controlled. This allows for a wide range of new construction and retrofit applications.
  • Modular flexibility with up to 4 modules factory packaged on a skid with single point power. Up to 32 modules can be controlled as a single chiller bank.
  • R454B next generation low GWP refrigerant allowing for shipment after the 2023/2024 chiller HFC refrigerant ban.
  • Condenser fan external static pressure capabilities up to 0.4” allowing for indoor installations behind louvers.
  • Capacity per 4-pipe module at AHRI conditions:
    • 35 tons cooling @ 44°F water
    • 546 MBH heating @ 105°F water
    • Combined COP of 7.9
    • Cooling operation IPLV greater than 20
    • Achieves 131°F @ 5°F
    • Maximum 140°F @ 14°F
  • Ideally suited to reduce the environmental impact of schools, hotels, offices, hospitals, and multi-unit residential applications by replacing fossil fuel boilers with high performance heat pump technology.

Gil-Bar is excited to add the YMAE to its extensive air source heat pump portfolio with its groundbreaking new technology. Delivering heating capacities and efficiencies at design conditions is something the NYC market has needed in a modular package, and now it’s here.

Joe Kalina is a sales engineer at Gil-Bar Industries. Part of the Ambient HVAC Collective, Gil-Bar has been the HVAC solutions company that offers greater expertise and commitment than any other firm, and is NYC Metro’s expert on York products and solutions.

June 26, 2023

The Gil-Bar & Mechanical Technologies Showcase

Join Gil-Bar Industries and Mechanical Technologies on Thursday, August 10th for the 2023 Gil-Bar and Mechanical Technologies Showcase featuring the Aaon Mobile Experience and ABB Rolling Roadshow. As we look toward the future of HVAC technology and sustainability, we are hosting some of the top names in the industry so you get the inside scoop on the most current solutions available:

 

Date: Thursday, 8/10/23
Time: 12:00PM – 7:00PM
Cost: Complimentary
Location: Javits Center Outdoor Event Space, 655 W 34th Street, New York, NY 10001

 

✓ On-Site Opportunities for PDH Credit
✓ Experience the Latest in HVAC Products & Features
✓ Enjoy a Bite to Eat

 

Featured Vendors

                                  

 

                            

 

 

Click Here to Add to Calendar

Click Here to See Event Area

Click Here to Download the Event Map

Click Here to Download PDH Credit Information

* Please note that I.D.s will be checked at the point of entry.

 

More Info: 212.331.8272

 

May 25, 2023

Global Warming Potential: Is It Time for a Change?

What to expect with refrigerant phase-outs in HVAC

 

Chris Plummer, Product Manager, Gil-Bar Industries

 

If you’re a professional within the HVAC industry, you know that the EPA is constantly changing codes and regulations to be better to our planet. Sometimes, those changes can seem hard to understand or adapt to, but knowing the true impact of your equipment can help. Lately, the EPA has made changes to ensure equipment is not using “high global-warming-potential” (or GWP) refrigerants. Within the scientific community, there is a fear that the high GWP refrigerants can leak and in turn add to Ozone depletion.  As a result, we’ve seen certain refrigerants in the industry begin to “phase out.”

But what is Global Warming Potential and what are the other determining factors for a “sustainable” refrigerant? Well, it turns out there are three main criteria:

Global Warming Potential (GWP): The metric used to compare the global warming impact of greenhouse gases compared to a reference gas, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), where its GWP is equal to 1. For example, R-134a refrigerant has a GWP rating of 1,430, indicating that it has 1,430 times the 100-year warming potential of the same volume of CO2. R-410a has a rating of 2,088, indicating that it has 2,088 times the 100-year warming potential of the same volume of CO2. In this case, R-134a would be considered a more sustainable refrigerant.

Toxicity: Relative toxicity to humans, broken into two classes:

  • Class A (Lower Toxicity): Refrigerants for which toxicity has been identified at concentrations less than or equal to 400 parts per million (PPM).
  • Class B (Higher Toxicity): Refrigerants for which toxicity has been identified at concentrations greater than 400 parts per million (PPM).

Flammability: There are four classes of flammability (From Figaro):

  • Class 1: When tested, the refrigerant saw no flame propagation at 140°F (60°C)and 14.7 psia (101.3 kPa).
  • Class 2: When tested, the refrigerant exhibited flame propagation at 140°F (60°C)and 14.7 psia (101.3 kPa), had a heat of combustion less than 19,000 kJ/kg (8,174 British thermal units BTU/lb), and had a lower flammability limit (LFL) greater than 0.10 kg/m3.
  • Class 2L: When tested, the refrigerant had a maximum burning velocity of 3.9 in./s (10 cm/s)or lower when tested at 73.4°F (23.0°C) and 14.7 psia (101.3 kPa). The purpose of the 2L subclass is to reflect the lower flammability properties of the new low-GWP refrigerant options on the rise, such as hydrofluorolefins (HFOs), like R-1234ze.
  • Class 3: When tested, the refrigerant exhibited flame propagation at 140°F (60°C)and 14.7 psia (101.3 kPa) and either had a heat of combustion of 19,000 kJ/kg (8,174 BTU/lb) or greater or a LFL of 0.10 kg/m3 or lower.

Standards (like ASHRAE 15 and EN 378) and guidelines use this number to determine what size charge is permitted in an occupied space such that if one were to leak, it would not exceed the concentration limit.

So What Does It All Mean?

Over the past 30 years, some of the phase outs brought on by the EPA we have included: Ammonia, R-22, and R-123. The next refrigerants to be retired will be R-134a and R-410a. R-134a is commonly used in large tonnage HVAC equipment including Air-Cooled and Water-Cooled Chillers. R-410a is used in smaller HVAC equipment like Roof Top Units (RTUs), Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) units and even window units.

There are 12 states, including New York and New Jersey, that are seeing the phase out of R-134a by the end of 2023. The challenge we face now is that there is no replacement. R-134a had the best heat transfer properties and flammability rating compared to known legal refrigerants. As a result, the only options now will be to utilize a less efficient refrigerant or one with a higher flammability rating. A less efficient refrigerant will lead to more energy usage in order to get the same amount of cooling. Considering that most of our energy comes from fossil fuels, we will be adding more carbon to the atmosphere to obtain the additional energy required, having the opposite of the intended effect. Similarly, moving to Class 2 refrigerants introduce whole new challenges, having to take life safety into consideration. Moreover, most localities do not allow flammable refrigerants to be present in buildings, so we are at a crossroads.

Even for R-410a (Freon), we see the same challenges, with it being replaced by R-454b and R-32. Both of which are A2L refrigerants. Luckily, the R-410a phase-out will not happen until the start of 2025.

Almost all major manufacturers have decided already to go with an A2L refrigerant, compounding the effects previously outlined. While the end goal is to stay compliant and reduce global warming potential, we will need to see some local code changes to account for new equipment in the coming years.

Chris Plummer is a product manager at Gil-Bar Industries. Since 1986, Gil-Bar has been the HVAC solutions company that offers greater engineering expertise, with deeper commitment to client success, than any other firm.

Chris Plummer
cplummer@gil-bar.com
(646) 584-5031