Code Treatment of A2L Refrigerants
Worldwide efforts to combat climate change have included a push to attempt to reduce the impact that refrigerants have on global warming. In an effort to shift away from widely used refrigerants that have a major global warming impact, the refrigeration industry has found that most alternative refrigerants are flammable. Some refrigeration end uses, such as small appliances with limited refrigerant charge have already transitioned to use flammable refrigerants. However, most flammable refrigerants are too flammable to be used in systems with larger capacities. One group of refrigerants that could act as a replacement is a newly classified A2L refrigerant group, which is described as “mildly flammable.” While several countries have already transitioned to using these mildly flammable refrigerants, several major obstacles remain in place for the transition to happen in the U.S.
How to Make Affordable Green Buildings?
The benefits of green building may be difficult to quantify, but the benefits of reduced energy costs are easy. Everyone wants to save money on energy, especially the low- and moderate-income families who pay a disproportionate percentage of their income.
Newport Ventures, on behalf of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), assessed the market for newly constructed and affordable green residential buildings by looking at the merits of six green building programs. These included the US Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Homes, Enterprise Green Communities, and Built Green.
Among the findings:
-
Costs and benefits vary.
-
Some measures involve minimal costs, others require substantial investment.
-
Outcomes always reduce energy demand.
Newport’s analysis helped NYSERDA understand where research matters, what measures save families the most, and how programs are best implemented.
LED Lighting: A bright idea!
LED lighting technology, which includes organic LEDs (OLEDs), are the present and the future of energy efficient residential lighting. To showcase the benefits of this technology, Newport teamed up with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to outfit five homes throughout New York State with 100% LED lighting and monitor them for energy and cost savings, as well understand homeowner satisfaction.
LEDs and OLEDs, referred to as solid-state lighting technology, help save energy and the environment. Advances in technology increased light quality, output, controllability, and efficiency. Expanded product lines give consumers and designers plenty of options for any home. Most important, the cost of LEDs are way down.
Check out our findings from our LED Lighting Demonstration and learn more.
