Sustainability in Action at Rheem Air Distribution

Partnering with Those in the Field

At Rheem, we understand the important role our contractors play in furthering our sustainability initiatives. Through our distribution channels and family of brands under the Rheem Air Distribution (RAD) umbrella we are able to connect with contractors and support them with additional training, access to supplies and refrigerant management.

Working for one of those distributors, Century A/C Supply, for 31 years before joining Rheem has given me the unique experience of seeing the HVAC industry evolve. Over the years, the biggest shift in focus around sustainability has been in the reclamation of refrigerants.

Starting in the 1990s, a series of regulations from the EPA and Clean Air Act started by prohibiting the venting of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and have now progressed to include other bans on various refrigerant types and the phase down of using certain substances. Due to their potential to deplete ozone and trap heat in the atmosphere as greenhouse gases, refrigerants must be properly handled and syphoned from an HVAC system. The recovered refrigerants can then be processed and recycled to be used again.

This focus on sustainability means we must appreciate the resources we have been given and be good stewards of them. By doing so, we will leave a better place for future generations. At RAD we seek to accomplish this by helping contractors and technicians in the field.

Championing Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling at Product End-of-Life

To further our impact, we are working to establish a standardized network procedure for all RAD businesses to follow. This will allow us to enhance the refrigerant reclamation program through our distributors, boost reclamation adoption among our contractors and introduce various recovery incentive programs to benefit our contractors across the network. The network can also be leveraged to increase the product and scrap metal recycling at our locations.

Two of our distributor brands have successfully reclaimed over 37,000 pounds of refrigerants for recycling or disposal in the first two quarters of this year. The R-22 and R-410a refrigerants collected equate to more than 22,000 metric tons of CO2e avoided, which would equal the emissions from over 57 million miles driven by a typical gasoline-powered vehicle.
 
We also recommend how to best recover refrigerants: it all starts with a quality recovery machine specifically for extracting the refrigerant from an HVAC system, along with larger hoses on the gauges to increase through-put,  a Schrader core removal tool and multiple recovery cylinders.  All of these tactics reduce collection time and allow contractors to recover the various refrigerant types, which minimizes the mixing of refrigerants, thus increasing the usefulness and value of these substances. 

Supporting the Promotion of Sustainable, Efficient Products

Sustainability within HVAC covers many areas beyond just the reclamation of refrigeration. It also includes the promotion of high SEER energy efficiency. Products that use less energy reduce emissions over their lifetime and save homeowners on their utility bills. At RAD we see it as essential to equip our contractors to install and maintain these products for widespread adoption.  

Therefore, we actively support sustainability by providing a comprehensive array of online and in-person continuing education classes designed to keep contractors informed about the latest advancements in energy-efficient technologies. Furthermore, our incentive program has been set up to promote high-efficiency systems through Dealer Cash-back; the greater the efficiency of the system, the higher the cash-back reward that contractors can receive.

RAD’s Approach for Efficient Logistics

The mission of our business unit is to provide access to products for our contractors. To further our sustainability approach, RAD has an initiative to improve efficiency in transportation logistics. This includes monitoring idling times during deliveries in New York City, creating hubs to lower hauling distances and partnering with vendors.

Approaching sustainability through the pillars of products, processes and people amplifies our impact far beyond what we could do on our own. RAD’s unique position with our contractors enables us to create A Greater Degree of Good through their installation of energy efficient products and recovery of refrigerants. We are energized by this progress and are confident that, by partnering closely with contractors, there will be a lot more to come.