Whirlpool Corporation and Honeywell have announced that all Whirlpool Corporation US-made refrigerators will begin incorporating Honeywell’s Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent (LBA).

This includes future product line-ups from Whirlpool, including the Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, Jenn-Air and KitchenAid brands. The most environmentally responsible blowing agent available, boasting the lowest Global Warming Potential (GWP) available among non-ozone depleting substitutes, Solstice LBA outperforms commonly used hydrocarbons such as C-Pentane, providing better low-temperature insulation performance and higher energy savings.

“No other material identified or discovered to date offers the comprehensive range of advantages – from energy-efficient performance and ultra-low-global-warming-potential to cost-effectiveness and safety – that this new product offering does,” said Sanjeev Rastogi, business director, structural enclosures for Honeywell fluorine products, after Solstice LBA received approval from the US Environmental Protection Agency. “We are looking forward to working with appliance manufacturers and builders who are seeking to improve their energy efficiency and environmental performance through the use of this new chemistry.”

Solstice LBA has a global-warming-potential (GWP) of less than five, significantly lower than hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blowing agents. Blowing agents allow closed-cell foam insulation to expand, and provide the majority of the foam’s excellent insulating properties.

Whirlpool Corporation is the first refrigerator manufacturer in the US committed to incorporating this new class of blowing agents into its products, providing customers with refrigerators that offer the best efficiency and lowest environmental footprint. Honeywell Solstice LBA offers an 8-10 per cent improvement in efficiency over refrigerator platforms tested with hydrocarbon blown foam insulation, and a 2 per cent improvement over 245fa, currently the most widely-used foam blowing agent in the US.

Honeywell’s global headquarters in Morristown, NJ (US)

“Whirlpool Corporation is an environmental leader, developing high-quality products that offer both efficiency and low environmental impact,” said Ludovic Beaufils, general manager, refrigeration and sustainability lead for Whirlpool North America.

“Through this collaboration with Honeywell, we are once again leading the way with the most advanced materials that offer the greatest benefits to consumers.”

Honeywell Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent has a 100-year global warming potential of less than five, a 99 per cent improvement over 245fa, the most common manufacturing solution in the US today. A near drop-in replacement, it also offers cost benefits and is non-flammable providing safety advantages over other hydrocarbon blowing agents.

“Honeywell’s Solstice branded solutions deliver the optimal combined enhancement of environment, performance, safety and cost effectiveness,” said Terrence Hahn, vice president and general manager, fluorine products. “We are pleased to supply Whirlpool with Solstice LBA to ensure those benefits are experienced both in their operations and for their customers.”

Whirlpool will begin production in late 2013.

Whirlpool Corporation is the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances with annual sales of approximately $19 billion in 2011 and 65 manufacturing and technology research centres around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world.

Honeywell is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader.