Perspectives on natural refrigerant use were the focus of a session at the ATMOsphere America 2013 Conference, held June 17–19 in Washington, D.C. Sam Gladis, business director-heat pumps at Milwaukee-based Vilter Manufacturing LLC, a business of Emerson Climate Technologies, participated in the supply chain panel discussion that brought together perspectives on natural refrigerant use from end users, system suppliers, refrigeration consultants, refrigerant suppliers and trade and training associations.

Discussions among the session’s participants focused on the regulatory burden on natural refrigerant end users and on the importance of knowledge sharing and collaborative projects to improve safety and training. Gladis also noted a growing recognition of the benefits of natural refrigerants in Europe, which is gradually being adopted in the United States as well.

“Since Emerson’s first ammonia heat pump installation in the United Kingdom three years ago, which reduced the amount of coal needed to run the factory by approximately 50 percent, Emerson has installed an additional 17 ammonia systems around the globe, 14 of which are located in Europe,” Gladis said.