ISH: Innovations Shaping the HVAC Industry

Innovative HVAC systems sometimes benefit from incorporating innovative HVAC products. To stay on the cutting edge, four of our engineers (Richard Tremblay, Frederick Marchand, Simon Lessard and Guillaume Lavallee) flew to Frankfurt, Germany, and attended the world’s largest trade show for HVAC and water, the ISH Frankfurt. Everywhere we looked, a focus on sustainability was evident, with products designed to reduce energy consumption and meet Europe’s ambitious environmental goals.

We were struck by differences between the technologies available in North America and Europe. For example, several manufacturers were featuring state-of-the-art air-source heat pumps using natural refrigerants like propane. European regulations, particularly the EU’s F-Gas Regulation, have driven a transition away from high-global warming potential HFCs. Europe is banning the use of most synthetic refrigerants by 2030, and the adoption of propane reflects a growing commitment to sustainable practices within the HVAC sector. This same impetus has spurred a fresh look at other natural refrigerants, like CO₂ and ammonia.

At ISH, we saw a variety of available equipment using propane as a refrigerant. Propane offers several advantages for heat pumps, including high energy efficiency, low environmental impact, and cost effectiveness. It has excellent thermodynamic properties, a higher coefficient of performance, very low GWP, and zero ozone depletion potential. Propane is readily available and is not the target of refrigerant phase-out regulations. In addition, its thermophysical properties suit it for use in colder climates.

In the North American markets, adoption of propane as a refrigerant is hampered by regulatory challenges and certification hurdles (UL, ASME, etc.). However, adopting advanced HVAC technologies, such as propane-based heat pumps, can significantly help with ambitious environmental goals. If we look across the Atlantic, we see a vision of where we might be in 10 years. At Ecosystem, we’re ready for the change, so what can we do to accelerate progress?