NSF ERC EARTH Aligns with ASHRAE’s Position on the Responsible Use of Refrigerants

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) - Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) strongly supports the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) position document on “Refrigerants and their Responsible Use.”  ASHRAE is the global professional society of more than 55,000 members, committed to serving humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) and their allied fields. 

The vision for NSF ERC EARTH is to create sustainable, accessible refrigeration and air conditioning innovations that improve the quality of life for all, addressing current and future environmental challenges, as well as securing U.S. leadership in workforce development and manufacturing.

NSF ERC EARTH agrees with the ASHRAE position that no refrigerant is without trade-offs and decisions should not rely solely on a single feature, such as GWP, operating pressure, efficiency, first cost, or flammability.  A balance of properties is required based on the application and selection must consider many factors, including:

• Environmental impact, including effects on the ozone layer and climate
• Health and safety, including flammability and toxicity
• System energy efficiency and overall lifecycle impacts
• Cost-effectiveness, including first cost and total cost of ownership
• Performance at high- and low-ambient temperatures
• Thermal stability and materials compatibility
• Future projected availability of the refrigerant

ASHRAE’s position is that refrigerant selection should consider all factors holistically, including current and future global, national, and local policies; employee and public safety; energy efficiency and performance; environmental impacts; and life-cycle operating economics.  NSF ERC EARTH is in full agreement with this. The wide range of HVACR application requirements, system types, and regional conditions and regulations necessitates broad understanding and guidance to determine the refrigerants best suited for each application. 

NSF ERC EARTH concurs that refrigerant charge should be minimized whenever possible to reduce potential risk to people and the environment in the event of system leak or failure. All refrigerant emissions should be proactively managed through improved technology, operations, and accurate understanding of release rates and quantities.

The foundational pillars for NSF ERC EARTH are focused on convergent research (reclamation and repurposing, novel and safe refrigerants, and energy-efficient systems), workforce development, impact and innovation. These pillars align and support ASHRAE’s recommended actions for (1) Research, Standards, and Guidelines, (2) Improved Design Practice, (3) Field Practices and Training, and (4) Regulations and Long-Range Actions: Promotion and Collaboration with Other Organizations.

In summary, NSF ERC EARTH strongly supports ASHRAE’s position document on “Refrigerants and their Responsible Use” and agrees that selecting a refrigerant for a given application requires balancing multiple factors, including safety, efficiency, cost, environmental impacts, and materials compatibility. No single refrigerant can satisfy the full range of requirements for all HVACR applications.  Selecting a refrigerant often involves making trade-offs including short-term and long-term environmental effects, health and safety, equipment cost and reliability, system performance, and current and potential future regulations, codes, and standards.