Subscribe to the daily news Sign in
En
Notre Dame Joins New NSF Center for Sustainable Refrigerant Technology

Notre Dame Joins New NSF Center for Sustainable Refrigerant Technology

The University of Notre Dame has become a key partner in the National Science Foundation’s new Gen-4 Engineering Research Center (ERC), named the Environmental Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH). Led by the University of Kansas, EARTH brings together a consortium of 80 institutions, including the University of Maryland, University of Hawai'i, University of South Dakota, and Lehigh University, to foster a sustainable refrigerant economy.

Currently, most refrigeration systems rely on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases responsible for roughly 8% of global emissions. With international and domestic agreements phasing out HFCs, EARTH aims to develop sustainable solutions to replace these refrigerants responsibly.

“There’s a growing need for sustainable air-conditioning solutions as global temperatures and incomes rise,” said Jennifer Schaefer, Sheehan Family Collegiate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Notre Dame. “We anticipate seeing 10 new air conditioners sold every second over the next 30 years. We must find alternative solutions to meet that demand without exacerbating ecological harm.”

Schaefer will serve as Notre Dame’s lead and the deputy director of EARTH. The Notre Dame team includes eight additional College of Engineering members, focusing on chemical, biomolecular, and mechanical engineering, alongside experts in architecture and environmental law.

Notre Dame will contribute to three main research streams:

  1. Handling Current Refrigerants: Developing economical ways to separate and recycle HFCs.
  2. Creating Safe Refrigerants: Collaborating with the University of Hawaiʻi to predict and develop refrigerants that perform well without harming the atmosphere.
  3. Enhancing Energy Efficiency: Innovating technologies to improve the energy efficiency of refrigeration systems, thereby reducing electricity demand.
Notre Dame’s contributions will also include advancements in refrigerant leak detection, solid-state systems that eliminate refrigerant fluids, and new heat transfer approaches. The team will apply expertise in environmental law and sustainable architecture to ensure successful implementation of the center's technologies.

“Refrigeration might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about protecting the environment, but it is a critical energy sustainability challenge,” Schaefer noted. “We are grateful to the National Science Foundation for supporting innovation in this area. Our partnership with EARTH aligns perfectly with Notre Dame’s strategic framework, which encourages us to connect the social and environmental dimensions of climate change.”

For more information on Notre Dame’s role in EARTH and its sustainable initiatives, visit the Notre Dame College of Engineering website.
Related tags: refrigeration
Share

Related news

HARDI and AHRI Challenge New York HFC Rule in State Court
Industry groups cite procedural flaws and conflict with federal AIM Act. Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) and the Air-Conditioning, Heatin...
10 Apr 2025
Australia marks World Refrigeration Day with focus on Cool Skills
Australia’s HVACR industry celebrates World Refrigeration Day (WRD) on June 26, highlighting the critical role of refrigeration in everyday life. This year’s theme, Cool Skills, recognises the indi...
26 Jun 2025
Arkema to distribute lower-GWP refrigerants under Forane brand
Arkema has announced an expansion of its refrigerant portfolio through a commercial agreement with Honeywell International Inc. The company will offer a range of lower global warming potential (GWP...
20 May 2025
Scientists urge continued use of OECD chemical definition for PFASs
A group of scientists specializing in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has issued a statement supporting the current chemical definition of PFASs established by the Organisation for Econ...
01 Jul 2025
REFCOM registers 9,000th member amid regulatory and market pressures
REFCOM, the UK’s F-Gas certification body, has reached 9,000 members, marking a new milestone in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) sector. The growth reflects increasing dem...
24 Jun 2025
Chemours fined €1 million for HFC-23 emissions at Dordrecht plant
The Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (ILT) has fined Chemours €1 million [approx. USD 1.08 million] for exceeding European Union limits on the potent greenhouse gas HFC-23 at its plant in Dordrec...
02 Jun 2025