New York continues its climate policies in the face of federal deregulation — and the HVACR industry is responding with practical heat pump solutions.
recently the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute’s (AHRI) State Summit in Albany, NY, where I moderated a panel discussion on New York’s decarbonization policy and participated in various other sessions. This year’s summit was especially timely, considering the complex regulatory landscape and industry-led litigation that served as a backdrop.
After hearing fresh insights and diverse perspectives on our most challenging issues — such as the refrigerant and energy transitions and building decarbonization — participants left with a deeper understanding and a renewed focus on working together to achieve meaningful change.
New York is an example of how progressive states are dealing with the uncertainty, deregulation, and, in some cases, removal of federal funds that had previously backed their efforts. Although the shift in presidential administrations has impacted them, they are moving forward in earnest with state-led decarbonization initiatives.
The AHRI Summit, which featured keynote speakers and panelists representing legislative offices, regulatory agencies and environmental organizations, provided opportunities to address the refrigerant and building decarbonization dynamics and discuss potential solutions. Though this was a state-specific summit for New York, it reflected the challenges many states face as they pursue their climate goals and navigate an uncertain regulatory landscape.
Some common themes emerged as key influencers in New York shared thoughts on building decarbonization and refrigerant policies. I was encouraged by the thoughtful ideas being discussed. Michael Reed, acting head of large buildings for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), called for a more measured, balanced approach to decarbonization.
He advocated a shift from the narrow focus on climate change to more pragmatic considerations of consumer affordability and incremental progress. Reflecting on the past five years of market challenges/disruptions — COVID, supply chain issues, workforce shortages, inflation, and now deregulation and trade/tariff challenges — Reed recommended a more moderate approach that moved decarbonization forward without placing too much financial burden on consumers.
For example, when faced with a central AC end-of-life replacement, building owners and homeowners could consider installing a more affordable standard heat pump, rather than opting for a premium, cold-climate-ready option. This strategy would still rely on existing gas furnaces and boilers in a dual-fuel configuration for cold weather, while still making significant steps toward decarbonization and emissions reduction.
Simply put, this strategy would make buying and installing heat pumps easier for consumers. It would lower the burden on first costs and the potential energy cost penalty of immediately switching to an all-electric heating/cooling system. Remember that in New York, electricity rates are significantly higher than the national average: 26.2 cents per kWh compared to 16.41 cents per kWh.
Ecochillers approach: practical ASHP scroll heat pumps designed for the refrigerant transition
From an implementation standpoint, Ecochillers supports a pragmatic pathway to building decarbonization: scalable Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) systems that can be deployed in both:
- All-electric configurations, where the grid and operating economics support it
- Dual-fuel configurations, where natural gas remains an important part of resilience and cost control in cold weather
To support this approach, Ecochillers is developing and integrating an ASHP Scroll heat pump platform based on proven scroll compressor technology, including configurations that use Copeland YVI (Enhanced Vapor Injection) scroll compressors.
It is important to note that Copeland’s published research and product development in areas such as:
- Dual-fuel heat pump decarbonization strategies
- Cold climate heat pump architectures
- Advanced compression and injection technologies
has contributed significantly to the industry’s understanding of how to balance:
- Economics
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Emissions reduction
Ecochillers’ objective is to translate these industry-proven concepts into equipment architectures that remain:
- Manufacturable at scale
- Serviceable in the field
- Compatible with evolving codes and safety standards
- Practical for end users under real energy-rate conditions
Refrigerants: aligning Ecochillers product design with low-GWP requirements
In parallel with the energy transition, Ecochillers is aligning its ASHP Scroll platform with the refrigerant transition through the adoption of next-generation refrigerants, including:
- R-454B (A2L): a lower-GWP refrigerant aligned with the North American transition for new heat pump and air-conditioning equipment.
- R-513A (A1): a non-flammable alternative suitable for specific applications where minimizing flammability-related design constraints is required, particularly in certain retrofit or continuity-driven projects.
This dual-refrigerant approach allows Ecochillers to address different customer priorities while maintaining the engineering discipline required for safety, compliance, and long-term serviceability.
Industry context: why moderate transition strategies are gaining consensus
A key point raised during the Summit — and echoed by many stakeholders — is that progress can be achieved without forcing an all-or-nothing approach.
In many real-world cases, when replacing an end-of-life central AC system, installing a standard heat pump solution (rather than a premium cold-climate “maximum technology” system) may provide:
- Lower first cost
- Faster adoption
- Reduced consumer resistance
- Meaningful emissions reduction
This is particularly relevant in New York, where electricity rates remain significantly higher than the national average.
Copeland’s role in the industry transition
Copeland continues to be an important technology contributor in the HVACR decarbonization transition.
Through its own R&D centers and product roadmaps, Copeland has continued advancing:
- Next-generation heat pump technologies
- Broad compression and control solutions
- A2L refrigerant compatibility
- Cold-climate and dual-fuel system strategies
Ecochillers recognizes these contributions as part of the broader industry effort to electrify heating and cooling while maintaining performance and reliability.
Copeland’s role in the industry transition
The AHRI Summit in Albany highlighted how New York and other U.S. Climate Alliance states are maintaining aggressive climate goals. Reducing direct and indirect emissions from homes, buildings, and supermarkets remains a key target.
A strategy gaining consensus is a more moderate transition pathway — progressing along multiple technical routes rather than enforcing a single “maximum technology” solution.
Ecochillers’ ASHP Scroll platform — including configurations using Copeland YVI scroll compression and refrigerants such as R-454B (A2L) and R-513A (A1) — represents a practical equipment pathway that balances:
- First cost
- Field serviceability
- Code compliance
- Energy performance
- Long-term emissions reduction
Regarding regulatory approaches, many stakeholders continue to emphasize that consistency is critical. While progressive states will continue to chart their own course, the HVACR industry and consumers benefit from predictability through standardized regulatory frameworks. A unified approach reduces compliance complexity, streamlines product development, and helps ensure emissions goals can be met without fragmenting markets or increasing costs unnecessarily.
