TABLE OF CONTENTS - Everything R744

About this GUIDE
A Short Overview
More than one in four respondents to an industry survey
conducted for this GUIDE believe that North America
has the potential to become a world leader in natural
refrigerant technology. In fact, North America presents
one of the largest immediate market opportunities for
natural refrigerants (NR), both because of the size of its
internal market, and also because of the leadership role
it can play, providing an example which other developed
and developing countries can follow. However, besides
the dominant use of ammonia refrigerant in industrial
refrigeration, the North American market has remained
one of largely untapped potential for HFC-free solutions.
Since the use of hydrocarbons in small applications was
recently approved by the US Environmental Protection
Agency, their widespread adoption now largely depends
on setting the right course in the field of standards,
refining and tailoring regulations to avoid burdens and
barriers, as well as on proactive end-use industry leaders
investing in natural refrigerant technology. The same
is true for CO 2
refrigerant which is expected to make
inroads in the commercial refrigeration and hot water
heating markets as soon as ongoing trials have proved
its financial viability, and regulatory conditions have
become more favorable.
At a time when the overall economic climate has
toughened, business choices have become harder, and
solutions that are advantages from both an economic
and a long-term environmental perspective need to
be found. The fact that natural refrigerants – including
ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, water, and air –
can be viable alternatives, and in some cases are already
mainstream solutions, is at the core of this GUIDE. While
the environmental and technological benefits of these
substances are now being acknowledged by a growing
number of business leaders in the supply and the enduse
industry, this GUIDE is the first-ever publication to
present an overview of the market potential for natural
refrigerants. It summarizes state-of-the art technology,
captures the industry’s and the end-users’ views, brings
together scattered information on best practice in the
form of case studies, and explains the use potential of
natural refrigerants. More than 550 North American
industry experts have co-authored this publication,
adding their views by taking part in an industry survey
assessing several crucial issues such as familiarity levels
with NRs, current and future use of NR products and
services, as well as overall purchasing criteria for endusers
and how these criteria match with the strengths
and weaknesses of non-synthetic working fluids.
Industry experts also predict that the market growth
of NR solutions will continue in commercial and lightcommercial
refrigeration, in industrial and residential
air-conditioning, and in industrial refrigeration in the
coming years.
Chapter 1 – a User’s Guide to Natural Refrigerants in
North America – briefly summarizes the characteristics
of the “natural five” (ammonia, carbon dioxide,
hydrocarbons, water, and air), while depicting their use
in four “ecosystems”: The Food Chain, City & Buildings,
Transport, and Industry & Special Applications. The
chapter concludes with an outlook on the adoption
potential of natural working fluids in different world
regions, highlighting the application potential of
NR technology outside the North American market
and, thereby, drawing attention to more business
opportunities.
Nina Masson
Head of Market Research
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