Promoting Energy Efficiency in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

Energy related emissions from the use of refrigerants in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment (including heat pump and reversible air-conditioning systems) represent on average of 85 % of the total. Since a significant proportion of CO₂ remains in the atmosphere for more than 500 years, measures to promote energy efficiency should be the prime focus of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the use of refrigerants.

The advantage of the use of HFCs in this respect is that their use does not require indirect circuitry or secondary loops with heat exchangers systems (which expends additional energy) to address safety concerns related to the use of ammonia and hydrocarbons such as butane and propane.

The key to improving energy efficiency is effective product design, system certification and performance programmes and testing, as well as servicing and maintenance. More than 100 European manufacturers already participate in thirteen programmes which test product performance through independent third parties, based on well-defined procedures.

Most equipment used in air conditioning, heat pump and refrigeration systems is tested under this voluntary system. EPEE envisages that this programme could be expanded and reinforced as part of the responsible use policies it has presented to the European Climate Change Programme.

August 2005
On the Energy Efficiency of Carbon Dioxide in Small Commercial Cooling Applications
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