Congressman Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.) has reintroduced H.R. 1241, the “Cool and Efficient Buildings Act,” to set the depreciation period from 39 to 20 years for HVAC equipment installed on or in nonresidential buildings. It would provide incentive to replace more than 36,000 chillers that use CFC refrigerants still in service in 2004.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more efficient chillers could reduce energy consumption by 7 billion kilowatt hours per year, save $480 million annually and avoid emissions of 4 million tons of carbon dioxide.