World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

Entries open for lower GWP innovation award

USA/FRANCE: Entries are now being accepted for the 2020 ASHRAE and UNEP OzonAction Lower GWP Innovation Awards for refrigeration and air conditioning projects in developing countries. 

The award promotes innovative design, research and practice by recognising people who have developed or implemented innovative technological concepts applied in developing countries to minimise global warming potential (GWP) through refrigeration and air conditioning applications. 

“With the phase out and phase down of many refrigerants currently used in developing countries, it is critical that the refrigeration and air conditioning industry promote a rapid transition to energy efficient solutions that lessen the impact of ozone depletion and lowering global warming potential,” said ASHRAE President Darryl K Boyce. “By identifying innovation, ASHRAE and UNEP believe the awards will hasten adoption of lower GWP technologies in developing countries.”

James S Curlin, acting head/network and policy manager for OzonAction, described this as a watershed moment with developing countries needing to find long-term solutions to replace HCFC refrigerants while simultaneously minimising climate impacts. “It is vital to empower the research community to identify new approaches and alternative refrigerants that work for those countries,” he said. 

Information about the award and the online submission form can be found at www.ashrae.org/lowerGWP. Entries will be judged by an international jury of experts in the field of refrigerant research and management selected by ASHRAE and UNEP. The closing date for entries is September 1. 

Latest News

11th October 2026

Carrier cooler protects building workers

JAPAN: Construction workers building Tokyo’s Torch Tower, Japan’s tallest building, are being kept cool thanks to a temporary cooling system jointly developed by Carrier Japan.
11th October 2026

MHI expands sales of high temp heat pump

JAPAN: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is expanding sales of its high-temperature ETI-W series centrifugal heat pump to overseas markets.
10th October 2026

Solstice plans $49m investment in refrigerant R&D

USA: Refrigerant manufacturer Solstice has announced plans to invest $49m in an expansion of R&D capabilities at its Buffalo, New York, facility.
10th October 2026

US AC and HP shipments up 11.4%

USA: US shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps totalled 756,739 units in August, an increase of 11.4% on August 2025.
9th October 2026

Hybrid heat pumps – the new Dutch standard

NETHERLANDS: The Dutch government wants homeowners to switch to a smart and hybrid heat pump from 2029 when replacing their central heating boiler.
9th October 2026

Beijer Ref completes Refra purchase

SWEDEN/LITHUANIA: Beijer Ref has completed the acquisition of Lithuanian HVACR equipment manufacturer Refra.