Select FAQs

 

What is HPMP talked about?

The term HPMP means HCFC Phase out Management Plan. This is being implemented in most countries on the globe in different ways, on its approval by the team of experts coming from various countries and working as Ex-Com. In our country the same is already prepared and has undergone its approval at the International level.

 

What is the need to phase-out HCFC?

A number of domestic and commercial refrigeration and air-conditioning appliances commonly found using various refrigerants. One of the refrigerant, commonly known as R-22/hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC-22) and is popular refrigerant for room air-conditioners for many years. HCFC-22 contains chlorine element that when released, damages the Ozone layer within the stratosphere.

 

In spite of every effort is made to maintain leak free systems, the natural movement of a system structure carries the risk of tube cracks. To eliminate any possibilities of Ozone depletion, HCFC-22 is being phased out. Unfortunately releases of R-22 into the atmosphere from system leaks or improper handling/servicing have been also found contributing to global warming effects.

 

What are HCFCs, why and how can they be phased out?

Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are a group of chemicals used mainly as cooling agents or refrigerants in air conditioners, to make insulating foams and other products. Due to the Chlorine contents in it, it react with ozone layer and depleting the same. Which in result causing skin cancers, weaker immune system, eye cataracts and other ailments. In addition HCFCs add to warming the planet-earth.

As per Montreal Protocol, it was decided and agreed that ozone-depleting substances (ODS) including Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) would be phased out by all countries in phased manner; by the year 2020 in developed countries and 2030 in developing countries like India. The Ozone Cell under Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of India has set a timetable to remove these hazardous refrigerants from their usage. The phase-out will be completed in the year 2030 in phased manner, starting from year 2015.

Why  Ozone layer  is so important?

Certainly it is important. The Ozone layer in the stratosphere filters out the harmful effects of UV Radiation from the sun. Without this protective Ozone layer, the following effects could be experienced:

• Possible damage to human immune systems

• Damage to marine life and phytoplankton

• Reduced crop yields

• Increased incidence of skin cancer

• Increased incidence of eye cataracts

 

What is the schedule for phasing out HCFCs?

India being a Party to the Montreal Protocol (MOP) and its amendments needs to phase-out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) including HCFC as per the reduction schedule specified in the Protocol. The 19th MOP took a decision to accelerate the phase-out of HCFC production and consumption for developed and developing countries. The phase-out schedule for Article 5 parties as per the decision taken at the 19th MOP is as under:

• Base-level for production & consumption: the average of 2009 and 2010
• Freeze= 2013 at the base-level
• 10% reduction in 2015 à 90% availability
• 35% reduction in 2020 à 65% availability
• 67.5% reduction in 2025 à 32.5% availability
• 100% reduction in 2030 with a service tail (nominal) of 2.5% annual average during the period 2030-2040. 

 

Can existing appliance containing R-22 still be serviced?

Certainly yes, existing appliance will continue to be serviced which may include the replacement of failed components or just recharging of refrigerant. For example, an existing R-22 split air-conditioning system (i.e., appliance), undergoing service in 2015 or later, may need individual components of the system replacement and/or recharging of R-22 refrigerant which can be done .

 

Will any technician be able to use virgin and/or recycled R-22?

Certainly yes till phase-out arrives, because the availability of virgin R22 will not be adequate to meet service needs. As such, use of recycled R-22 will encourage enabling our service sector and country as a whole, to fulfil its obligations under HPMP.

 

What will technician do with the existing/used R-22/other HCFCs?

When safely recovered from the refrigeration systems into recovery cylinders, they need to be either recycled by technicians if found to be of good quality with-out any contamination or returned to the agency like Refrigerant Recyclers for recycling on finding it to be useable or send it for reclamation/disposal by authorized organization.

 

Can technician use recovered HCFC refrigerants?

Yes, technicians have a good opportunity to use recovered refrigerants if attempted. A technician needs to recover refrigerant from an appliance and recharge the same appliance belonging to that same customer, with the recovered refrigerant. The technician can also recycle the recovered refrigerant that involves extracting it and cleaning it for reuse without meeting the requirements for reclamation. This recovered, recycled refrigerant may only be recharged into appliance belonging to the same customer.

Certainly these activities need extra equipment like recovery unit and/or recovery cum recycling unit etc. 

 

Are the 3 -R's, Recovery, Recycling & Reclaiming heard by me one and the same?

No, these terms are different and are as under:

Recovery is the removal or extraction of refrigerant from an appliance accomplished through a recovery unit. The recovered refrigerant is then transferred to an external storage vessel or container.

 

Recycling is the transfer of the recovered refrigerant through the use of a machine that removes most of the impurities such as moisture, acidity, particulate matter and oil; then recharges the cleaned refrigerant into the same appliance.

 

Reclamation is the process of taking recovered refrigerant and processing (cleaning) it through a quality controlled procedure to meet or exceed ARI-700 purity specifications (the same purity standard used for new refrigerant).  Reclamation normally requires sending the recovered refrigerant to an approved reclamation centre.

 

What are the options available to a technician?

1.  Always adopt good servicing practices during servicing and/or repairing the refrigeration systems of all types of air-conditioners and refrigeration units. Use recycled refrigerant when possible. Also be careful while installing air-conditioners.

2.  Try to make safe use of reliable sources of recycled R-22.

3.  If approved methods of retrofitting are made available, retrofit the appliances with HC / HFC blend only if agreeable to a customer.

4.  Replace or significantly upgrade appliance – expensive and labour-intense but may be worthwhile if appliance is old (more than reasonable period) and/or less efficient that consumes more energy.

 

Is it necessary for technician to discuss the HPMP or HCFC phase-out with the customers?

Yes, if the need be. This is because technicians are an important information centre for common consumers. Technicians should explain to their customers that HCFCs are being phased out in India and worldwide as per Montreal Protocol. The future availability of R-22 is being phased-out in steps.  Consumers must be made aware that the continued use of existing appliances with R-22 is not banned or disqualified.

 

What alternative refrigerants are available to HCFCs?

There are a number of environmentally friendly and non-ozone-depleting alternative retrofit solutions available, world-wide. Major groups at present are:

·        Hydrocarbon and/or Natural refrigerants

·        HFCs / HFC blends

 

What is Energy Efficiency?

Energy efficiency means simply “using less energy to provide the same service”. It is associated with technological improvements and is not energy conservation which is nothing but to reduce or go without service to save energy.

Wherever energy is used, there are possibilities of improving efficiency and in most cases, energy efficiency method usually pay back over a period of time by way of energy bills.

 

What is EER?

The energy efficiency ratio is used to evaluate the air-conditioner’s efficiency while in the cooling mode. Each air conditioner has an energy efficiency rating and a room air-conditioner's efficiency is measured by the energy efficiency ratio (EER). The EER is the ratio of the cooling capacity (the amount of heat energy removed in Watts) to the power input (electrical energy in watts).

For example, if a (1 TR) 3517W AC consumes 1000 watts of electrical energy, then the EER of the Air conditioners is 3.5 W/W.

The higher the EER rating, the more efficient the air conditioner is. This means air-conditioners with high EER consume less power.

 

What is Energy Star?

Star ratings have been developed to provide consumers with an easy way of comparing the energy efficiency of different models. Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Govt of India supported program of energy efficiency declaring the status using stars. This program is committed to identifying appliances/products in many categories, including room air conditioners that save energy without ignoring performance or quality. The Energy Star labelled appliances/products save energy, money, and the environment.

 

The Star Rating is calculated on the measured values for energy and capacity during a rating test instead of rated values.

 

How do room air-conditioners receive the Energy Stars?

Energy Star labelled room air conditioners exceed minimum energy performance standards through high-performance components like:

Advanced compressors—draw more heat from the air into the coils than  conventional models, saving the energy required to compress refrigerant

High-efficiency fan motors—use less energy to circulate the air and reduce noise

Electronic controls/Timers—included in most models to run air-conditioners only as per selected mode/function

Heat transfer surfaces – helps to receive and/or reject the un-required heat

Refrigerant – have high thermal properties/performance

 

Why should customer choose energy efficient appliances?

Choosing energy efficient appliances will save money. The more energy-efficient an appliance is, the less electricity it uses and the less it costs to run. Added to this, customer will benefit the environment as reducing the energy consumption reduces CO₂ emissions.

 

What will an energy star label of room air-conditioner tell to a customer?

Apart from the manufacturer’s product details like make & model, the energy star label will help customers compare air-conditioner with similar characteristics.

BEE’s Energy Star Label carries following facts:

Energy Stars (Nos.), Appliance/Type (SAC/WAC), Brand/Model Name/Number, Year of Manufacturing, Power Consumption (W), Cooling capacity (W) (Actual Tested), Energy Efficiency Ratio EER (W/W), Label Period, Variable Speed Compressor (Yes/No), Heat Pump (Yes/No)

 

Basically, the energy star label acts as an efficiency indicator – telling the likely customer how energy efficient the product is. Most efficient air-conditioner will have 5 Stars while least will have 1 star.

The energy label does not tell customer which is the best appliance to buy but it will provide customer with a enough information to decide.

 

 

Tips to Become Environment Friendly Air-Conditioner Customer

 

1 - Buy Energy Star labelled Air-Conditioners (AC)

When you think of purchasing an air conditioner and want to be environment friendly, you need to look for Energy Star labelled air conditioners. These ACs consume less energy than normal air conditioners. By going with this type of air conditioner, you save money on your electric bill by reducing energy consumed; as also help reducing global warming. Do examine label for its validity.

 

2 – Calculate Desired cooling capacity of Air Conditioner

As a customer, ensure to get suitable cooling capacity air-conditioner that is enough to cool the room. When you are buying an air conditioner, do not consider only the space/size of your room. There are four more factors you should consider:

Type and number of windows your room has, Kind of shading it has outside, Level of insulation/sealing the room has,  Quantity of heat being generated by all occupants who stay in the room and the appliances/gadgets used there-in.

 

3 – Insulating/Sealing Room Air Leaks

It is best to ensure sealing leaks inside the room (around window, below door etc.) and lead towards saving money apart from becoming kind to the environment. This means filling cracks and using sealants. In case walls are damp, then get them attended quickly.

 

4 – Regular Servicing/ Preventive Maintenance

Be sure to clean the dust filter regularly. Dust filter should be replaced once in two years. Even if it doesn't look like it, do it anyway. When there is enough airflow, it allows the AC to be more energy efficient. Also make certain that usual preventive maintenance through trained/qualified technician is provided.

 

5 - Thermostat Setting/Programming

Many people manage room’s air temperature as per suggested setting of thermostat to 24 - 25ºC. However, determine what your level of comfort is before committing to it. Keep in mind that the higher the thermostat (temperature) is set, the less energy you will use. The consumption varies by 3-5% per degree of temperature.

 

6 – Intermittent use of Fan

Intermittent use of ceiling fan will help circulate the air evenly in an air-conditioned room and it doesn’t use much energy to operate.

 

7 - Shade AC (external or protruded portion)

Try to install your environment friendly AC around bushes and trees so that the summer sun won't be able to beat down on it so easily. Alternatively provide awning over the external or protruded portion of the AC. When done, it is much more energy efficient. Remember that shaded air is cooler than air that's not shaded.

 

8 – Using Good/New ACs

Sometimes you can take an old Air-Conditioner refurbished to meet new energy standards but it is a challenging task. When you do this, you keep that Air-conditioner from being disposed and in such cases you may pay high electricity bills. Instead consider to buy new Energy efficient Star labelled air conditioner that will save your money and also help protecting the environment.