AREA, the European refrigeration and air-conditioning contractors' association, has produced an advisory document for European decision-makers outlining the contribution that the industry can make to reducing energy use and wastage.
Mindful of the fact that air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pumps are responsible for a sizeable part of the energy consumed globally, AREA says it is fully aware of the significant energy savings achievable through the raising of energy efficiency at all levels but especially in small to medium air conditioning applications.

Such savings could be achieved without major investment in capital equipment and plant refurbishment, it says, but rather with education, good maintenance, implementation of good energy saving practices and enforcement of relevant regulations.

The document stresses the need for using the most appropriate refrigerant for the application, particularly in the light of the increasing popularity of 'natural' refrigerants.

'Whilst AREA sees the development and promotion of new alternative refrigerants as a natural evolution, it must be pointed out that the energy efficiency level of the 'new' refrigerant can only be assessed by comparing it to the existing HFC energy usage on a like for like basis,' says the report.

AREA says it recognises that alternatives to fluorinated refrigerants are both desirable from a political perspective and preferable from an environmental perspective, citing hydrocarbons in domestic refrigerators and freezers and point of sale display fridges as examples of good energy efficiency compared with the old HCFCs. It also recognises the use of CO₂ or ammonia on large central plant systems in a remote plant area either on the roof or besides the building where the flammability or toxicological issues are less of a risk to the occupants of the building.

However, the report also cites certain applications where it is beneficial to retain the use of fluorinated gases, particularly in small to medium cooling duty applications, such as room air conditioners and localised process or comfort cooling applications, where it has been demonstrated that HFCs are more energy efficient.

According to AREA in heat pump air conditioners with cooling duties of 4 kW, HFCs prove between 33% and 67% more energy efficient than alternatives. In units with cooling duties of 14 kW, HFCs prove between 34% and 58% more energy efficient than alternatives.

The document also stresses that heating-only heat pumps are largely reliant on HFCs to achieve their low carbon potential.

AREA also call for the enforcement of the F-Gas Regulation across all EU Member States as well as that of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive.

It welcomes the move towards 'nearly zero energy' buildings but argues that any measures to further improve the energy performance of buildings ought to take into account climatic and local conditions as well as indoor climate environment and cost-effectiveness.

'Since Europe - and even some Member States internally - show a great variety in climate conditions, AREA believes that minimum energy performance requirements to be set by Member States must be tailored to the local climate,' it says.

For more information see: The contribution of the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump contracting sector to energy efficiency: an unleashed potential