WEIRD SCIENCE IN TEXAS HAS BIG RAMIFICATIONS

     Remember when gasoline additives were mysteriously going to provide us with 100 mpg as we roared down the highway? Hold on to your ten?gallon hat. Somebody else wants to take you for a ride.

     A Texas commission, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Engelhard Corporation are trying to convert air conditioning units into ozone-eating mini-scrubbers. Representatives from the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) estimate the proposal would add at least $1,000 to the price of a 3-ton central air conditioning unit.

The Proposal
     The Texas Natural Resources and Conservation Commission (TNRCC), in attempting to meet the Clean Air Act requirements for areas of non-attainment, has proposed a mandate forcing air conditioner manufacturers to use an unproven and potentially toxic substance on the coils of condensing units of air conditioners and heat pumps. The mandate would affect equipment from room air conditioners to units up through 50 tons. Engelhard Corporation, the manufacturer of the "PremAir"^TM coating claims it converts ozone into oxygen, significantly reducing the ground level concentrations of ozone.

The Facts
• ARI commissioned research from independent sources. Here's some of what they found: Dr. David Allen, Beckman professor in chemical engineering and director for the Center for Energy and Environmental Resources at the University of Texas, said that the catalyst coating would have "no, or little impact" for cleaning the air. That's a powerful statement from Allen, who also performs research for the TNRCC. Testing by California's South Coast Air Quality Management District revealed, "While significant ozone reduction is evident in the condenser output plume, it appears unlikely that the ambient ozone in the community would be significantly affected, even with widespread use of the catalyst on air-conditioners."
• The catalyst coating decreases the energy efficiency of air conditioning units by decreasing the airflow through the coils, causing the fan motors to use more energy and resulting in longer run times. Ultimately, this will require more electricity generation (and more pollution) at power plants.
• Citing proprietary reasons, Engelhard Corporation has been reluctant to disclose the composition of the catalyst material. Through patent information and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) obtained by the HVAC industry, some compositions of the catalyst possess palladium and manganese dioxide. Engelhard now claims that palladium is not present in the catalyst slurry, but manganese dioxide is. This raises concerns for the safety of factory workers, installers and service technicians, consumers, and the general public. According to the MSDS, chronic overexposure could bring on Parkinsonian-like symptoms.
• The manufacturer of the catalyst has conducted less than 10 field tests, and none in Texas, according to sources.
• This would be the first time a state would require ozone emission control technology on equipment which is not a source of ozone causing air emissions. Since the EPA has been promoting PremAir^TM to other states, it's expected that once the EPA accepts the TNRCC's mandate, other states with non-attainment issues will follow.

The Rest of the Story
• Texas stands to lose millions in federal highway funds if it can't provide the EPA with additional measures to solve the state's non-attainment of the Clean Air Act requirements.
• How did the EPA wind up pushing this so much? Maybe it's because a current Engelhard employee used to work for the EPA.
• Industry manufacturers rejected Engelhard offers to use the proprietary coating, available only through Engelhard.

     We all want clean air. But this seems to be a ludicrous effort that would penalize our industry and consumers, risk our safety, and not address the problem. The TNRCC might as well put corks in all the cows in Texas to stop the escape of methane gas into the atmosphere.

     Contact www.stopactax.com and find out what you can do to help.