Latest news with #refrigerant
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
HVAC prices rise over refrigerant shortage
(NewsNation) — Anyone hoping to repair or replace their air conditioning units this summer may face higher prices. New federal rules are contributing to a nationwide refrigerant shortage, meaning getting cool could cost you just as it's about to get hot. Starting this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is mandating a switch to more climate friendly refrigerants, but the rush to roll out new coolants has set off a supply crisis. 'During the Biden administration, the EPA enacted an HVAC management rule,' said Jorge Alvarez, co-founder of iGas USA. 'And why it was done, nobody knows. It was simply done in order to speed up the process, the EPA said. Let's speed it up. Let's bring this change to happen within 15 months in lieu of 10 years or 20 years.' That fast-track shift means short supply and skyrocketing costs. Hiring is cooling but not in freefall yet 'Refrigerant cost, because there is no refrigerant available, is up 600%,' Alvarez said. 'A 5-ton air conditioning system a year ago installed used to cost roughly $8000 today. That exact same system is a minimum of $11,000.' The shortage is driven by regulation, global supply issues and surging demand, and a big chunk of the coolant supply now comes from China. 'Eighty percent of the refrigerant gas we need today is now coming from China. That's 100% against Trump's initiative,' he said. So what can homeowners do? Experts say if your unit is more than 10 years old, it may be time to replace but act quickly. Waiting could mean paying even more or sweating it out. 'Americans in 2025 will pay in excess of $25 billion extra for… air conditioning simply because of this management rule,' Alvarez said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Why this Memorial Day could be the hottest and most uncomfortable EVER thanks to Joe Biden
Americans getting ready for the unofficial start of summer this Memorial Day will soon get some unwelcome news when it comes time to service their home air conditioning units. Prices to service and install AC units have been spiking in part due to an 11th hour Biden administration move to speed up the transition to a new refrigerant gas that has become the subject of a supply crunch. 'It's going to be a hot summer and unfortunately a lot of people are going to be paying the price,' Jorge Alvarez, the co-founder of an air conditioning company based in Tampa, Florida told The issue is a shortage of a newly mandated refrigerant that began with an Obama administration effort to curb damage to the planet's ozone layer. That brought an effort to phase out R-410A, the commonly used refrigerant used as an alternative to another ozone-depleting gas. In October 2024, the Biden administration accelerated a phase-out for the switch to a new refrigerant, R-454B. It's considered effective, but it is also flammable, which has required changes to AC units. But there are only two U.S. manufacturers with a patent to make it, said Alvarez, whose company iGas manufactures AC equipment and sued to try to roll back the phase-out. 'There simply isn't enough refrigerant to go around,' he said. 'It's so bad that the contractors today are forced to either pull the refrigerant out of the system, and introduce a new refrigerant that's not even intended to be used with that system, and voiding the warranty, because there simply isn't enough refrigerant to go around,' he said. He says it has meant an 18 to 23 week back order for his clients – which means people wanting to get a new system might have to wait until October. Refrigeration costs for older units has spiked 600 percent, he said. 'If you spend $10,000 to $15,000 on air conditioning system today, imagine the contractor telling you, "I don't have enough refrigerant to make it work on this brand new unit". That's the reality of what's happening today. We're not even in the summer yet,' he said. He shared cost estimates for a similar five-ton AC unit for the same Florida apartment complex – one last spring, and one this year. Last year's proposal was for $8,570. This year's came in at $11,513 – an increase of 34 percent. Honeywell told contractors in April to prepare for a 42 percent price increase. That presaged a move by some contractors to look overseas for resupply – but that causes them to run smack into some of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Much of the supply comes from China, although shipments from China through Mexico appear to be getting around some of them. 'Dear Valued Customer,' the firm wrote its clients. 'Due to unprecedented demand for 454B, which cannot be met with domestic production alone, we are forced to source a significant portion of the supply through international markets to meet North American market demand.' Alvarez said the shortages are leading to a spike in prices This installation jumped by about a third year over year, he said It's not just supply. Companies must identify new hardware, valves, and other equipment, plus training to accommodate the change. Another company, Daikin Comfort Technologies, warned its sales and distribution reps about a potential shortage of cylinders that transport the refrigerant, calling it a 'major issue' and warning ominously, 'It's going to be a nasty summer.' It's not only individual homeowners who are getting hit. A spokesman for Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), who has introduced legislation to try to undo the rule under a process to overturn administration regulations, said the nation's grocers are feeling the pinch. 'They're the ones who have these massive refrigeration units,' said spokesman Matt Maley. He said small business including restaurants and grocers potentially having to lay out thousands of dollars to replace their systems. Dunn's legislation calls the EPA regulation an 'undue burden' and the National Grocers Association claimed it could lead to 'higher grocery prices for consumers and, in extreme cases, force community grocers to shut their doors.' The Biden administration pushed through the rule after inking a global climate agreement. It came amid the global rise in the use of air conditioning and studies on the damages posed by Hydroflorocarbons (HFCs) - a greenhouse gas termed a 'super-pollutant.' The agreement was seeking a 40 percent reduction of HFCs beginning in 2024 with a push for an 85 percent reduction by 2036. It was just one element of a climate agenda that the Trump administration is trying to dismantle through executive orders and legislation.
Malay Mail
22-05-2025
- Science
- Malay Mail
Cooling without climate cost: UK scientists eye air-conditioning revolution minus polluting gases
CAMBRIDGE, May 23 — The soft, waxy 'solid refrigerant' being investigated in a UK laboratory may not look very exciting, but its unusual properties promise an air-conditioning revolution that could eliminate the need for greenhouse gases. The substance's temperature can vary by more than 50 degrees Celsius under pressure, and unlike the gases currently used in appliances, solid refrigerants do not leak. 'They don't contribute to global warming, but also they are potentially more energy efficient,' Xavier Moya, a professor of materials physics at the University of Cambridge, told AFP. Approximately two billion air-conditioner units are in use worldwide, and their number is increasing as the planet warms. Between leaks and energy consumption, the emissions associated with them are also increasing each year, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Moya has been studying the properties of these plastic crystals in his laboratory at the prestigious UK university for 15 years. On his work surface, a large red and grey machine, topped with a cylinder, tests how the temperature of a substance changes under pressure. The aim is to identify the best refrigerants among this class of materials, which are already used by the chemical industry and are relatively easy to obtain, even if the exact composition of the crystals eventually selected remains secret. The phenomenon is invisible to the naked eye, but these crystals are composed of molecules that spin on their own axis. When the substance is squeezed, that movement stops and the energy is dissipated in the form of heat. When released, the substance cools its surroundings in what is known as the 'barocaloric effect'. Chilled cans 'We're expecting demand for air conditioning to increase hugely, globally, between now and 2050,' Cliff Elwell, a professor of building physics at University College London, told AFP. He believes barocaloric solids have the potential to be as efficient as gas, if not more so. 'But whatever we introduce as new technologies always has to hit the basic requirements,' which include being compact and quiet enough for use in homes and cars, he said. Alongside his research at Cambridge, Moya founded the startup Barocal in 2019 to turn his research group's discoveries into tangible products. It employs nine people and has its own laboratory, which is currently a modest container in a parking lot. But the startup is attracting interest and in recent years has raised around US$4.5 million (RM19.18 million), notably from the European Innovation Council — an EU programme involving the UK — and Breakthrough Energy, an umbrella group of initiatives founded by US billionaire Bill Gates to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It plans to increase its workforce to 25 or 30 this year. The first air-conditioner prototype is the size of a large suitcase and hums quite loudly when a hydraulic circuit increases or decreases the pressure inside the four crystal-filled cylinders. But it works. A small refrigerator is attached to the system, and the cans of soda inside are perfectly chilled. Cheaper bills The prototype has 'not really been optimised yet for either mass, volume, or even sound', acknowledged Mohsen Elabbadi, a materials engineer at Barocal. But the performance of the units they are working to perfect will eventually be comparable with those running on gas, he promised. While the company is currently focusing on cooling, the technology could also be used to produce heat. Several teams are studying these materials around the world, but the Cambridge team is a pioneer in the field, according to Breakthrough Energy, which estimates that these devices have the potential to reduce emissions by up to 75 per cent compared with traditional units. Barocal hopes to launch a first product on the market within three years, according to commercial director Florian Schabus. These will initially be cooling units for 'large shopping centres, warehouses, schools' and even 'data centres', he said. The company reasons that the ultimate promise of cheaper bills will convince businesses to stump up the higher initial costs. Barocal is eventually aiming for retail prices similar to traditional units, allowing it to launch in the residential market. — AFP
Khaleej Times
22-05-2025
- Science
- Khaleej Times
UK lab promises air-con revolution without polluting gases
The soft, waxy "solid refrigerant" being investigated in a UK laboratory may not look very exciting, but its unusual properties promise an air-conditioning revolution that could eliminate the need for greenhouse gases. The substance's temperature can vary by more than 50 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) under pressure, and unlike the gases currently used in appliances solid refrigerants, it does not leak. "They don't contribute to global warming, but also they are potentially more energy efficient," Xavier Moya, a professor of materials physics at the University of Cambridge, told AFP. Approximately two billion air-conditioner units are in use worldwide, and their number is increasing as the planet warms. Between leaks and energy consumption, the emissions associated with them are also increasing each year, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Moya has been studying the properties of these plastic crystals in his laboratory at the prestigious UK university for 15 years. On his work surface, a large red and grey machine, topped with a cylinder, tests how the temperature of a substance changes under pressure. The aim is to identify the best refrigerants among this class of materials, which are already used by the chemical industry and are relatively easy to obtain, even if the exact composition of the crystals eventually selected remains secret. The phenomenon is invisible to the naked eye, but these crystals are composed of molecules that spin on their own axis. When the substance is squeezed, that movement stops and the energy is dissipated in the form of heat. When released, the substance cools its surroundings in what is known as the "barocaloric effect". Chilled cans "We're expecting demand for air conditioning to increase hugely, globally, between now and 2050," Cliff Elwell, a professor of building physics at University College London, told AFP. He believes barocaloric solids have the potential to be as efficient as gas, if not more so. "But whatever we introduce as new technologies always has to hit the basic requirements," which include being compact and quiet enough for use in homes and cars, he said. Alongside his research at Cambridge, Moya founded the startup Barocal in 2019 to turn his research group's discoveries into tangible products. It employs nine people and has its own laboratory, which is currently a modest container in a parking lot. But the startup is attracting interest and in recent years has raised around $4.5 million, notably from the European Innovation Council -- an EU programme involving the UK -- and Breakthrough Energy, an umbrella group of initiatives founded by US billionaire Bill Gates to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It plans to increase its workforce to 25 or 30 this year. The first air-conditioner prototype is the size of a large suitcase and hums quite loudly when a hydraulic circuit increases or decreases the pressure inside the four crystal-filled cylinders. But it works. A small refrigerator is attached to the system, and the cans of soda inside are perfectly chilled. Cheaper bills The prototype has "not really been optimised yet for either mass, volume, or even sound", acknowledged Mohsen Elabbadi, a materials engineer at Barocal. But the performance of the units they are working to perfect will eventually be comparable with those running on gas, he promised. While the company is currently focusing on cooling, the technology could also be used to produce heat. Several teams are studying these materials around the world, but the Cambridge team is a pioneer in the field, according to Breakthrough Energy, which estimates that these devices have the potential to reduce emissions by up to 75 percent compared with traditional units. Barocal hopes to launch a first product on the market within three years, according to commercial director Florian Schabus. These will initially be cooling units for "large shopping centres, warehouses, schools" and even "data centres", he said. The company reasons that the ultimate promise of cheaper bills will convince businesses to stump up the higher initial costs. Barocal is eventually aiming for retail prices similar to traditional units, allowing it to launch in the residential market.
Japan Times
13-05-2025
- Science
- Japan Times
U.K. lab promises air conditioner revolution without polluting gases
The soft, waxy "solid refrigerant" being investigated in a U.K. laboratory may not look very exciting, but its unusual properties promise an air-conditioning revolution that could eliminate the need for greenhouse gases. The substance's temperature can vary by more than 50 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) under pressure, and unlike the gases currently used in appliances solid refrigerants, it does not leak. "They don't contribute to global warming, but also they are potentially more energy efficient," said Xavier Moya, a professor of materials physics at the University of Cambridge. Approximately 2 billion air-conditioner units are in use worldwide, and their number is increasing as the planet warms. Between leaks and energy consumption, the emissions associated with them are also increasing each year, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Moya has been studying the properties of these plastic crystals in his laboratory at the prestigious U.K. university for 15 years. On his work surface, a large red and grey machine, topped with a cylinder, tests how the temperature of a substance changes under pressure. The aim is to identify the best refrigerants among this class of materials, which are already used by the chemical industry and are relatively easy to obtain, even if the exact composition of the crystals eventually selected remains secret. The phenomenon is invisible to the naked eye, but these crystals are composed of molecules that spin on their own axis. When the substance is squeezed, that movement stops and the energy is dissipated in the form of heat. When released, the substance cools its surroundings in what is known as the "barocaloric effect." Chilled cans "We're expecting demand for air conditioning to increase hugely, globally, between now and 2050," said Cliff Elwell, a professor of building physics at University College London. He believes barocaloric solids have the potential to be as efficient as gas, if not more so. "But whatever we introduce as new technologies always has to hit the basic requirements," which include being compact and quiet enough for use in homes and cars, he said. Founder of Barocal Professor Xavier Moya | AFP-Jiji Alongside his research at Cambridge, Moya founded the startup Barocal in 2019 to turn his research group's discoveries into tangible products. It employs nine people and has its own laboratory, which is currently a modest container in a parking lot. But the startup is attracting interest and in recent years has raised around €4 million ($4.5 million), notably from the European Innovation Council — an EU program involving the U.K. — and Breakthrough Energy, an umbrella group of initiatives founded by U.S. billionaire Bill Gates to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It plans to increase its workforce to 25 or 30 this year. The first air-conditioner prototype is the size of a large suitcase and hums quite loudly when a hydraulic circuit increases or decreases the pressure inside the four crystal-filled cylinders. But it works. A small refrigerator is attached to the system, and the cans of soda inside are perfectly chilled. Cheaper bills The prototype has "not really been optimized yet for either mass, volume, or even sound", acknowledged Mohsen Elabbadi, a materials engineer at Barocal. But the performance of the units they are working to perfect will eventually be comparable with those running on gas, he promised. While the company is currently focusing on cooling, the technology could also be used to produce heat. Several teams are studying these materials around the world, but the Cambridge team is a pioneer in the field, according to Breakthrough Energy, which estimates that these devices have the potential to reduce emissions by up to 75% compared with traditional units. Barocal hopes to launch a first product on the market within three years, according to commercial director Florian Schabus. These will initially be cooling units for "large shopping centers, warehouses, schools" and even "data centers," he said. The company reasons that the ultimate promise of cheaper bills will convince businesses to stump up the higher initial costs. Barocal is eventually aiming for retail prices similar to traditional units, allowing it to launch in the residential market.
