Ashrae Journal - October 2008 - 6

FMI Conference R-22 Phaseout, Energy Costs Changing Grocery Industry ORLANDO, Fla.—These are interest- equipment. The phaseout is part of the ing times for the supermarket industry. 193-country Montreal Protocol agreeJust consider: ment to restrict the uses of gasses that • In 15 months, the industry begins damage the ozone layer. withdrawal of its long-favorite refrigerAccording to Keilly Witman of the ant, R-22. While all forecasts show there U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be plenty of R-22 available during (EPA) Green Chill Program, the average the first years of the phaseout, demand supermarket uses DX equipment and has will temporarily exceed supply in 2015. a 4,000 lb (1814 kg) refrigerant charge • The rising cost of energy is raising the and leak rate of 23.5% a year, or 1,000 lb profile and importance of the people who (454 kg) per year per supermarket. Fedmanage buildings and systems in the gro- eral penalties kick in if a system’s leak cery industry. The rate of an HCFC Natural challenge is highly exceeds 35%. The Gas Use Fleet distributed sites, maximum fine is 4% multiple energy Transportation 13% $32,500 a day. consuming assets, She said the purand highly variable pose of Green Chill Electricity Use 49% energy use. is to promote a shift Refrigerants 34% • Restaurants and from DX systems grocers have the and HCFCs, and highest per square promote technolofoot energy intengies that reduce syssity in the building Carbon footprint of grocery retail sector. tem charge and leak rates. It also proindustry. • The use of corn for ethanol is hav- vides best practice guidelines. “You’re not ing a significant effect on food prices. going to accomplish anything if you retroOf 40,000 items in a typical food store, fit from one leaky system to another leaky 17,000 have corn as a component. In ad- system,” she told attendees. HCFCs, she dition, the cost of fuel and other issues said, damage the ozone layer and HFCs are driving up prices. The consumer are global warming gasses. price index for food rose 4.5% in 2007 “Leaking 1,000 pounds of greenhouse gas instead of 1,000 pounds of ozoneand is expected to rise 5.5% in 2008. These issues formed the backdrop for depleting gas is substituting one enviFood Marketing Institute’s (FMI) Energy ronmental disaster for another.” According to another speaker, a 100 and Technical Services Conference, the annual gathering of U.S. grocery execu- lb (45 kg) cylinder of the HFC, R-404A, tives and engineers. More than 500 peo- leaked to the atmosphere equals 27 ple attended the conference Sept. 7 – 10 Chevy Suburbans driving 12,000 miles which included plenary and breakout (19 300 km). programs, and a tabletop trade show. Dave Godwin, Member ASHRAE, an While all things energy are center environmental engineer with the EPA, stage at this event, the big issue con- said the benefits of the 1987 Montreal tinues to be the R-22s phaseout, which Protocol are more than the Kyoto Protocol starts Jan. 1, 2010, in new equipment. will achieve. For example, the CFC phaseLimited production of the HCFC will out of the 1990s has delayed the effects of be allowed until 2020 to service existing climate change for at least 10 years. 6 ASHRAE Journal ashrae.org Rendering of Enermodal headquarters. Firm to Set Canada Record With New Headquarters KITCHENER, Ontario, Canada— Enermodal Engineering specializes in sustainable building design and is building a new headquarters that it says will be Canada’s most energyefficient building. According to Enermodal President Stephen Carpenter, the three-story, 22,000 ft2 (2044 m2) building is expected to use 75 kWh per square meter (11 ft2) when it opens in summer 2009. This is about 10% of the consumption of the average Canadian office building. Carpenter said the cost is expected to be about $185/ft2. Among features, the mechanical system uses variable refrigerant flow and individual room heat pumps that are connected. This arrangement allows the heat pumps to operate continuously at low speed instead of cycling on and off. Another energy-saver is the ICF See Canada, Page 7 He said there would be no reprieve on the phaseout of R-22 in equipment manufactured after Jan. 1, 2010, or the complete HCFC phaseout by 2030. The EPA, he said, does expect a shortage in 2015. The issue, he said, will resolve itself because the shortage will increase price and make R-22 recovery and recycling more attractive. “It’s going to be a valuable resource,” he said. He also said that the EPA is considering a tighter leak rate repair trigger. Presently, the trigger for federal penalties is 35% for refrigeration and 15% for air conditioning. Sheila Millar, a lawyer who specializes in regulatory issues, said the two big questions for the R-22 phaseout are how to October 2008

Ashrae Journal - October 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ashrae Journal - October 2008

Ashrae Journal - October 2008

Contents

Commentary
Industry News
Letters
ASHRAE HQ Dedication Booklet
ASHRAE Rebuilds HQ to Reflect Mission
Feature Articles
ASHRAE's Living Lab
Meetings and Shows
Sizing Pipe Using Life-Cycle Costs
Feature Articles
Energy-Efficient Data Centers: A Close-Coupled Row Solution
The Future of 90.1
Ventilation Standard for Health Care Facilities
Grosvenor Humidity Chart
ASHRAE Research Report
ASHRAE Honor Roll
Building Sciences
Special Products
Emerging Technologies
Product Showplace
Classified Advertisting
Advertising Index
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Contents