Air Conditioning Industry - How they can help phase out HCFC

Some countries have and are in the process of implementing their national HCFC phase out programme. Malaysia is going to follow suit in the near future to reduce out HCFC use and to meet the Montreal Protocol reduction targets.

As a concerned citizen and devil’s advocate to the national program which is to be implemented, I find it difficult to imagine how the government can successfully regulate the air conditioning industry given that the majority of the factories and brands manufactured in Malaysia are foreign owned and are not eligible for funding as part of the Montreal Protocol. On one hand the Government of Malaysia (GOM) has to balance the need to impose tough restrictions to meet these reduction targets while keeping the foreign investments within Malaysia.

Is generating consumer demand for environmental products the only sustainable way to meeting the reduction targets while keeping the foreign investments vested in Malaysia? Taking a step back to look at the broader picture, I feel that we are in some sort of a catch 22 situation where consumers demand influences the production of environmental products. Business decisions are keenly linked to those who matter, in the case of consumer goods, the consumers. If consumers are unable to accept higher prices for environmentally friendly products, what more can an unregulated industry do but to meet these demands. 

As a consumer I ask myself if it is worthwhile changing to an efficient and climate friendly alternative especially if I am the one who has to bear the price of being environmentally friendly. What do I do with my old air conditioner and can I get something back for it is always the question. Unfortunately I have not found a company way to recycle old air conditioning units. The most valuable components of air conditioners are the compressors, copper used and scrap metal value. Could these components be monetized to create an incentive to consumers to trade in for a new and better model? Would companies invest in the manpower and infrastructure to set up establishments to collect old air conditioning units if in return the consumer purchases a new unit? Scrap metal commands a good tariff, it was reported in the Malay Mail on the 21^st of June 2011 (http://www.mmail.com.my/content/75606-gatecrashers) that  the most sought-after item is metal as one can sell metal for RM140 a kg, followed by brass (RM40 a kg), copper (RM27 a kg) and aluminium (RM4.90 a kg).

If the design and manufacturing philosophy of most split unit air conditioners are not meant for repair why hasn’t a company or individual stepped up to tap this seemingly lucrative market? Should the government step in to promote and catalyse the demand for efficient and climate friendly alternatives? If the government through the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water has introduced the SAVE program (http://www.saveenergy.gov.my/about/save-program), I am sure he government consider extending this program to phase out HCFCs.