Refrigeration Briefs

March 1, 2012
The board of directors of Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) announced the appointment of Troy Meachum as chairman of the Refrigeration and Refrigerants Council.

Troy Meachum to Lead HARDI Refrigeration/Refrigerant Council
The board of directors of Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) announced the appointment of Troy Meachum as chairman of the Refrigeration and Refrigerants Council.

The president of ACR Supply in Durham, NC, Meachum has spent more than 30 years in the HVACR distribution industry. HARDI sources report the organization is excited that someone as committed and knowledgeable as Meachum is willing to volunteer his time to the association in this leadership role. He joins vice-chairs, Bill Bergamini, ILLCO, Inc., and Frank Meier, Meier Supply. In his new position, Troy and the vice-chairs will direct the council’s three newly-formed subcouncils: Refrigerants, Refrigeration Equipment, and Refrigerant Management & Reclamation. Read more about the Council at http://bit.ly/hardirefcouncil. Read about Troy Meachum and ACR Supply by visiting: http://bit.ly/acrsupplystory.

Robert Wilkins of Danfoss Provides Exclusive Industry Commentary
Robert Wilkins, vice president, public affairs, Danfoss, recently provided an exclusive commentary for our Refrigerant 411 monthly newsletter and Contracting Business.com.

In "Taking Control: Leading the Global Debate on the Phase-down of HFC Refrigerants," Wilkins urges HVACR original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and contractors to adapt to change, and do all they can to influence it. His comments are focused around new developments relating to a possible accelerated phaseout of R22 refrigerant by the U.S. EPA, and the development of alternatives to R22.

“From a business perspective, it’s important that our entire industry, including OEMs and contractors, be actively engaged in, supporting, and even leading the movement that will transition us in an orderly manner to alternatives with lower GWP,” Wilkins says.

“By being proactive and shaping policy discussions, we can take charge of our destiny and eliminate the potentially negative impact of regulations imposed by those without a stake in our industry. We risk that HFCs could be lumped into the so-called ‘big basket of gases’ that refers to waste byproducts such as smokestack emissions and tailpipe exhausts.” The entire commentary can be found online at http://bit.ly/cbwilkins.