CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Global consumer electronics and appliance manufacturer Hisense will incorporate a lower-GWP refrigerant from Honeywell into its residential air-conditioning units.
Hisense units will use Honeywell Solstice R-454B, a refrigerant acknowledged for its outstanding performance in both cooling and heating, a press release from Honeywell said. Hisense’s decision to use the refrigerant is in line with global efforts to phase out higher-GWP refrigerants for air conditioners and heat pumps.
“Driven by a commitment to pioneering scientific and technological advancements, Hisense relentlessly strives to enhance the quality of life and bring boundless joy to countless families,” said Hao Wang, general manager of the supply-chain management department at Hisense. “Our alliance with Honeywell signifies a formidable leap towards sustainability, as we integrate cutting-edge refrigerants into our industry-leading air-conditioning units, ensuring unparalleled cooling efficacy with minimal environmental impact.”
The integration of Honeywell’s Solstice refrigerant into Hisense units comes amidst the recent increase in legislative mandates across the country to reduce the use of high-GWP HFCs in response to the growing global emphasis on addressing climate change. The partnership between Hisense and Honeywell also follows this year’s 40% cut in the production and importation of HFCs, as required by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
“The world is migrating away from refrigerants with high-global warming potential, but it is also accelerating innovation to create responsible replacements that lower carbon footprints and improve energy efficiency, all without sacrificing safety and end-product performance,” said Jeff Dormo, president of Honeywell Advanced Materials. “Honeywell anticipated the need for these solutions more than a decade ago when we introduced our Solstice technology, and today we are pleased to be able to partner with manufacturers like Hisense that are leveraging our expertise to enhance their own sustainability efforts in alignment with the global energy transition.”
Honeywell has invested more than $1 billion in research and development and the creation of new capacity for its Solstice technology, which currently has applications in refrigerants, blowing agents, aerosols, and solvents, and is also being evaluated for expanded use in metered dose inhalers.