"Decarbonization can be unifying or very divisive," noted Kimberly Llewellyn, senior product manager for emerging markets at Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US, on Jan. 24 at the 2024 AHR Expo in Chicago. "However, we're fighting for stewardship of precious resources."
When looking at decarbonization, stakeholders need to "choose their lens," she said: asset/investment risk management, climate justice and preservation, and financial opportunities.
A Forbes magazine article noted that millennials are looking at sustainable investments; they are "the next wave of investors" in the sustainability space, Llewellyn said.
Strategies for decarbonization of the built environment include reducing building loads, maximizing financial benefits, engaging all key stakeholders, reducing refrigerant impact, and building out electric infrastructure.
The missing link is quality data monitoring, Llewellyn noted. Data points to examine are occupancy. mode of operation, setpoint, temperature/relative humidity, local exhaust ventilation position, return/supply air temperature, liquid/gas line temperature, and total capacity.
Llewellyn gave a quick rundown on regulatory changes engineers and contractors should be aware of:
- 2023: Efficiency Changes and the Inflation Reduction Act
- DOE efficiencies and M1 (SEER2/HSPF2)
- Energy Star 6.1 and CEE
- 25C tax credit
- High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program
- HOMES
- 2024: Low Global-Warming Potential (A2L) Refrigerants Referenced
- UL 60335-2-40
- Uniform Mechanical Code
- International Residential Code
- International Mechanical Code
- California Mechanical Code
- 2025: Low GWP Refrigerant Transition, Part 1
- Single zone
- Multizone
- Single phase
- Less than 65,000 Btuh systems, GWP less than 700
- 2026: Low GWP Refrigerant Transition, Part 2
- VRF
- Three phase
- Less than 65,000 Btuh systems, GWP less than 700
- 2030: Low GWP Refrigerant Transition, Part 3
- No HCFC manufacture or import
"Every building should be an asset, not a liability," she said. "And buildings should be things people are drawn to."
About the Author
Kelly L. Faloon
Freelance Writer/Editor
Kelly L. Faloon is a contributing editor and writer to Contracting Business magazine, Contractor and HPAC Engineering. The former editor of Plumbing & Mechanical magazine, Faloon has more than 20 years experience in the plumbing and heating industry. She started a freelance writing and editing business in 2017, where she has a varied clientele.
Faloon spent 3 1/2 years at Supply House Times before joining the Plumbing & Mechanical staff in 2001. Previously, she spent nearly 10 years at CCH/Wolters Kluwer, a publishing firm specializing in business and tax law, where she wore many hats — proofreader, writer/editor for a daily tax publication, and Internal Revenue Code editor.
A native of Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula, Faloon is a journalism graduate of Michigan State University. You can reach her at [email protected].