Johnson Controls Joins White House Roundtable Discussion
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Johnson Controls recently joined a White House roundtable discussion on actions toward a phase down of high global warming potential refrigerants. In its first 12 months of a three-year commitment, Johnson Controls reaffirmed its $50-million investment to developing and expanding its existing low-GWP product portfolio.
Since last year, the company invested $15 million in research and development of low-GWP refrigerants and component technology for scroll, screw and centrifugal compressor-based products.
Over the past decade, Johnson Controls’ product innovations have reduced refrigerant charge in equipment by nearly 30 percent while improving efficiency over 40 percent, which has a major impact on reducing greenhouse gas. Other R&D focus areas have included efforts to reduce the potential for leaks, as well as improved maintenance practices and service training.
In addition to the investment disclosed at the Council on Environmental Quality roundtable meeting last October, Johnson Controls announced that over the next 12 months the company will complete the following:
- Develop high-efficiency, low-GWP refrigerant options in its commercial air conditioning and industrial refrigeration product portfolio
- Offer equipment that can be readily retrofitted with low-GWP options for customers concerned that they will not receive the full value over the entire life of their equipment
- Develop aftermarket retrofit services for customers who desire to convert their existing equipment to low-GWP refrigerants
In addition, the company will donate up to $100,000 toward independent, third-party, peer-reviewed research to support the development safety standards related to the use of mildly flammable, low-GWP refrigerants. The company also plans to support and participate in an industry effort to develop and standardize service technician and operator training for the safe use of these same refrigerants.
Learn more about Johnson Controls’ commitments to the Council on Environmental Quality at http://on.jci.com/1MrW3sT.
