New Legislation Would Spur Replacement of CFC Chillers

Congressman Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich), an active member of the Congressional Manufacturing Caucus, has reintroduced H.R. 1241, the Cool and Efficient Buildings Act, to set the depreciation period from 39 to 20 years for “any property which is part of a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or commercial refrigeration system, and which is installed on or in a building which is non-residential real property.”The legislation would provide an incentive for the replacement of the more than 36,000 chillers still in use in 2004 that use chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants.“This represents 45 percent of the original 80,000 CFC chillers banned from production in the United States,” said Hoekstra. “Improved new chiller units are 40-percent more efficient than those installed 20 years ago and virtually leak-free, reducing loss of refrigerant and improving the protection to human health and the environment.”“ARI [the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute] strongly urges its members to support the Cool and Efficient Buildings Act,” said William G. Sutton, president, ARI. “A depreciation schedule that reflects the useful life of chillers and other equipment will save money, reduce energy consumption, and encourage investment in more efficient models.”A wide range of non-residential buildings would qualify for the new depreciation rate including offices, malls, airports, and factories where HVACR equipment – from large tonnage liquid chillers to unitary air-conditioners and heat pumps – plays a key role in increased productivity and makes possible use of heat sensitive computers and telecommunications gear.According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), installing more efficient chillers could reduce energy consumption by 7 billion kilowatt hours per year, saving $480 million annually and avoiding emissions of 4 million tons of carbon dioxide. The electricity saved would be enough to provide for the average annual electrical needs of approximately 740,000 American households.Hoekstra has already garnered support of 25 cosponsors, including bi-partisan members of the House Committee on Ways and Means. To become a co-sponsor of the bill, or for more information contact Hoekstra’s office at ([email protected]).This information was reprinted with permission from the Arlington, VA-based Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), a trade association representing manufacturers of more than 90 percent of North American-produced central air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration equipment. For more information, visit (www.ari.org).