Twenty-five years after the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer, Carrier continues to pursue initiatives to reduce the alleged impact of refrigerants on the layer.
Carrier Corp. pioneered the phase-out of CFCs for the air conditioning and refrigeration industry in 1994, two years ahead of U.S. requirements and 16 years before mandates in developing countries. Since then, Carrier has continued to develop cutting-edge sustainable products and solutions and has been recognized for its leadership in environmental stewardship.
“Carrier is proud to have done its part in leading the air conditioning and refrigeration industry to a non-ozone depleting future,” says Geraud Darnis, president of Carrier Corp. Carrier continues its commitment to sustainability today with the development of next generation systems using refrigerants that further reduce environmental impact.
“Carrier has the right refrigerant solution for every application, but every application will not have the same refrigerant solution,” said Mandyck. For example, Carrier’s CO2OLtec™ food retail refrigeration system uses natural refrigerant carbon dioxide and is installed at more than 100 sites across Europe. The system delivers up to 10% higher energy efficiency in cooler climates compared to conventional refrigerants. Carbon dioxide as a refrigerant is non-ozone depleting with minimal global warming potential. The cumulative global warming savings to date of the CO2OLtec™ systems installed by Carrier are equivalent to removing 10,800 cars from the road. For its leadership in ozone protection and energy efficiency,
Carrier has received numerous local and national environmental awards.
- In 2007, Carrier received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Best-of-the-Best Stratospheric Ozone Protection award in recognition of its achievements in helping restore the earth's ozone layer.
- In 2008, Carrier’s commercial refrigeration business in the United Kingdom was awarded the Environmental Pioneer in Cooling Award for its CO2OLtec™ system utilizing natural refrigerant.
- In 2009, for the third consecutive year, the Government of India's Ministry of Power awarded Carrier India First Prize for the National Energy Conservation Awards in the Consumer Goods Manufacturing Sector.
- Also in 2009, Carrier Korea was the recipient of the Korea Outstanding Green Energy Company Award in the environmental management category for the second consecutive year – the only air conditioning company to receive this award.
“At Carrier, we believe green products must start at a green company that demonstrates measurable results in four key areas: products, people, production and practices. We extend our influence across the value chain to reduce, and where possible eliminate, negative effects on our environment created by factories, products and suppliers,” says John Mandyck, Carrier’s vice president for Sustainability & Environmental Strategies.
For more than 20 years Carrier has provided sustainable solutions to advance energy efficiency and ozone protection, while minimizing the environmental impact of its manufacturing operations.
- From 1997 through 2006, Carrier doubled its revenues but held energy use flat.
- Starting in 2007, the company pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas footprint by 3% each year.
- In 2009, Carrier factories in Charlotte, N.C. and Huntington, Ind. became only the 10th and 11th in the world at that time to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® green building rating for existing buildings.