TABLE OF CONTENTS

Global Industry Survey on Natural Refrigerants
To quantify the global market for natural refrigerants
carbon dioxide (CO 2
), ammonia (NH 3
), and hydrocarbons
(HCs), an online survey was sent to more than 6,000
HVAC&R professionals, and relevant industry associations.
The total universal response set used in the following
was 1,254 individuals.
Specific objectives of the survey were to identify expectations
and priorities of the HVAC&R sector; discover the
perceived drivers and barriers affecting the uptake of
natural refrigerants; and determine the level of awareness
and support for natural refrigerants. This was the
first time that an industry-specific survey was conducted
focusing exclusively on the market potential of natural
working fluids in different applications, sub-sectors and
geographic regions. The comparatively high response
rate showed that interest in more reliable data on the
economic prospects and drivers are sought by the industry
which is (still) highly heterogeneous, depending on
natural refrigerant selected and end-use application.
Methodology
The online survey has been active since 1 February 2011
and consists of a mixture of 28 structured (closed-ended)
and unstructured (open-ended) questions. The question
set was fielded online to targeted representatives of key
HVAC&R organisations and companies around the world,
including system manufacturers, component suppliers
and end-users. Over 6,000 invitations to participate were
sent by email. Selected industry associations, including
AIRAH 1 , AREA 2 , BRA 3 , EHPA 4 , Green Cooling Association,
GreenChill program, and REHVA 5 supported the distribution
of the survey among the associations’ members.
By 15 November 2011, the survey had received a total
of 1,338 responses. To avoid overrepresentation of individuals
in the form of double responses, access is automatically
restricted to a one time data entry per IP address.
To enable a reliable analysis, data received up to 31
September was taken into account in the drafting of this
guide – in total 1,254 individual responses.
The survey was of a voluntary nature. A balanced representation
of HVAC&R professionals in terms of geographic
distribution, main types of activities and prior
experience with natural refrigerants was aimed for by
involving neutral industry associations. To increase the
response rate participants were informed that by participating
they could get access to preliminary data and
choose for their organisation to be included in a directory
in the forthcoming Guide: Natural Refrigerants Market
growth for Europe. This, and the fact that the initial database
contained a high sample of individuals familiar with
and/or involved in offering natural refrigerant technologies
and services, led to a relative overrepresentation of
the “pro-Natural Refrigerant” industry; those that already
offer and/or are willing to offer in the future solutions
based on CO 2
, NH 3
and HCs. Overall and not surprisingly,
it can be concluded that, due to the survey’s voluntary
nature, the question set attracted a higher-than-average
number of respondents already interested in the future
of natural working fluids.
To avoid bias as far as possible however, wherever there
were marked differences in response patterns from the
total data set, a separate sub-set containing only individuals
with no current or future natural refrigerant
products was formed and contrasted with the parent
population. This allows for a clear distinction between
“pro-Natural Refrigerant” respondents and those not
planning on marketing solutions based on natural working
fluids anytime soon.
1 Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air-conditioning
& Heating
2 Air-conditioning & Refrigeration European Association
3 British Refrigeration Association
4 European Heat Pump Association
5 Federation of European Heating, Ventilation & Air
-conditioning Associations
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