ASHRAE Journal - June 2021 - 4

COMMEN COMMENCOMMENTARY
TARY
180 Technology Parkway
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
Phone: 404-636-8400
Fax: 404-321-5478 | www.ashrae.org
DIRECTOR OF ASHRAE PUBLICATIONS & EDUCATION
Mark S. Owen
EDITORIAL
Editor
Sarah Foster
sfoster@ashrae.org
Managing Editor
Mary Kate McGowan
mmcgowan@ashrae.org
Assistant Managing Editor
Jeri Alger
jalger@ashrae.org
Associate Editor
Rebecca Matyasovski
rmatyasovski@ashrae.org
Associate Editor
Tani Palefski
tpalefski@ashrae.org
Associate Editor
Chadd Jones
cjones@ashrae.org
PUBLISHING SERVICES
Publishing Services Manager
David Soltis
Production
Jayne Jackson
ADVERTISING
Associate Publisher,
ASHRAE Media Advertising
Greg Martin
gmartin@ashrae.org
Senior Coordinator-Advertising
Production and Operations
Vanessa Johnson
vjohnson@ashrae.org
Coordinator-Circulation Development
Austin Brafford
abrafford@ashrae.org
ASHRAE OFFICERS
President
Charles E. Gulledge III, P.E.
President-Elect
Michael Schwedler, P.E.
Treasurer
Farooq Mehboob, P.E.
Vice Presidents
Donald L. Brandt
K. William Dean, P.Eng.
William F. McQuade, P.E.
Tim McGinn, P.E.
Secretary & Executive Vice President
Jeff H. Littleton
POLICY GROUP
2020 - 21 Chair
Publications Committee
Hugh D. McMillan III, P.E.
Washington Offi ce
washdc@ashrae.org
Next Steps for Refrigerants
On April 30, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
issued a proposed rule to reduce HFC production
and consumption in accordance with the American
Innovation and Manufacturing legislation. The rule
establishes an initial methodology for issuing 10%
reduced allowances for companies that produced and/or
imported HFCs in 2020, as well as provides refrigerants suppliers with
GWP-based allocations. The rule also seeks input into the next phasedown
step in 2024 of 40% from the baseline.
INDUSTRY EXPERTS participated in a roundtable recently to discuss
future HFC phasedown impacts on the United States and future impacts
that may result with the existing F-gas reduction process in Europe.
One lesson learned is that in the six years since the second F-Gas
Regulation was enforced only 7% of all certifi ed installers are trained for
non-fl uorinated gases. Another challenge is that many countries are still
restricting the use of fl ammable refrigerants.
But there is good news. HFC emissions in Europe have been steadily
decreasing since 2014 and have achieved the highest relative emission
reductions of all non-CO2 greenhouse gases. Next, the European Union
is reviewing the F-Gas Regulation and considering adding new GWP
thresholds.
ROUNDTABLE PARTICIPANTS also discuss potential global impacts
that may result from the misalignment between various developed and
developing countries' individual phasedown goals and plans. The A5
parties to the Kigali Amendment (developing countries) may have an
advantage. Because they are in the midst of their HCFC transition decisions,
they may be able to jump directly to low-GWP technologies. The
roundtable discussion begins on Page 26.
OTHER ARTICLES in this issue:
* Last month's discussion on " Minimizing COVID-19 Transmission in
High Occupant Density Settings " fi nishes on Page 12;
* The IEQ Applications column discusses managing aerosols using
space fl ushing, Page 22; and
* Designing for humid vs. arid climates, which is explored in the
Engineer's Notebook column, Page 42.
ASHRAE Journal is always open to submissions of abstracts and articles.
E-mail me at sfoster@ashrae.org if you have any questions.
Sarah Foster, ASHRAE Journal Editor
Mission Statement: ASHRAE Journal reviews current HVAC&R technology of broad interest through publication of application-oriented articles. ASHRAE
Journal's editorial content ranges from back-to-basics features to reviews of emerging technologies, covering the entire spectrum of professional interest
from design and construction practices to commissioning and the service life of HVAC&R environmental systems.
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ASHRAE Journal - June 2021

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