United States.
The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) applauded the agreement reached in Kigali, Rwanda, by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol to include HFC refrigerants under the treaty.
Acknowledging the success of the Montreal Protocol in eliminating HCFCs, AHRI said it has long supported the inclusion of HFCs in a global phase-out plan.
"While the freeze and lowering dates are ambitious, the HVAC/R industry is confident that we can meet them and continue to provide quality, innovative and efficient equipment and products for the benefit of the world's citizens," said AHRI's president and CEO. Stephen Yurek, who attended the Kigali meeting.
"The agreement is only the first step in a multi-step process," Yurek said. "Our industry is hard at work doing research on alternatives to HFCs that will be used in the world's air conditioners, heat pumps and refrigeration equipment, and getting that right is certainly as important as reaching an agreement. Also very important are the education and training initiatives that will have to take place to ensure a safe and efficient installation of the equipment containing these new refrigerants. Some of this is already being done by AHRI in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme and other global organizations."
