JRAIA (The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association) wants to lead the development and placing on the HVAC R market of more energy efficient equipment. For Shotari Ito, the Japanese technology can give an important contribution to solve the environmental problems, common to all Asian nations.

Established in February 1949 as the Japan Refrigerating Machine Manufacturers Association, JRAIA aims to promote and improve production, distribution and consumption of refrigerating machines, refrigerating machine appliances and equipment, contributing to the development of Japanese industry and improvement in people's standard of living.

1- How do you analyze the evolution of the Japanese HVAC market?

The Japanese HVAC&R(refrigeration) market is already saturated, but the steady shipments are projected thanks to the demand for replacement and the increase in floor space of commercial buildings to be air-conditioned. 
Meanwhile, in an effort to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, heat pump water heaters are expected to spread on the market, and at the same time, the HVACR industry is in earnest to develop and put on the market those products with even higher energy efficiency.

2- What's the role of Japan in the Asian HVAC market when comparing with China?

The Chinese market is rapidly expanding, though it has many problems to tackle, such as the energy issue and the rising emissions of greenhouse gases. 
The current efficiency level of the Japanese HVACR equipment is quite high compared with the world’s standards.  When looking at China, however, its technology is still on the way to catch up with the level of the developed countries.  Environmental issues, including energy, are common to all Asian nations, and therefore, Japan is certain to contribute to solving these problems with its technologies. 

3- And what's the role of JRAIA in the Japanese HVAC market?

JRAIA aims at taking the lead in developing and placing on the market the HVACR equipment that has achieved high energy efficiency and that can contribute to energy and environmental issues. In addition, with its advanced technology, JRAIA is hoping to lead the world’s HVACR industry.

4- How is the cooperation between the association and its members?

Member companies are competing with each other on the market.  The competition itself is very keen, though it must be done in a fair manner.  And the products that the members provide for users must be safe and reliable. 
For this reason, JRAIA is committed to ensure the fair competition among the members by preparing various standards for products performance (on a national and industry level) and managing the certification program and committee activities to realize its commitment.   
Furthermore, JRAIA makes an everyday effort to provide its member companies with useful information, for example, rules and regulations as well as measures to be adopted or taken by governments and agencies abroad which have influence directly or indirectly on HVACR. Also, JRAIA collects opinions from its members to submit the JRAIA proposal to the competent authority. As seen from the above, JRAIA is proud of being in good cooperative relationships with its members.

5- In your opinion, what are the main challenges that the HVAC market faces, the Japanese and worldwide?

The biggest challenge the HVACR industry faces is how to cope with an excessive reaction of part of people and nations to possible impact on global warming of HVACR equipment using F gases.
The present heat pump equipment is highly excellent in energy efficiency when compared with the equipment of the same purpose driven by fossil fuels.  Emission of F gases, of course, is not permitted, however, even if F gases were emitted, the heat pump equipment could fully contribute to the social responsibility to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions as a whole. 
In the meantime, the HVACR equipment is in the process of converting from CFCs and HCFCs to HFCs.  This means that the HVACR industry is making in Japan & EU and will make in the rest of the world a great contribution to zero ODS and lower GWP.  CFCs and HCFCs are not only ozone depleting substances but also greenhouse gases, however, they are out of scope in the Kyoto Protocol because they are covered by the Montreal Protocol.  When discussing the actual global warming, only HFC is put on the discussion table as it is covered by the Kyoto Protocol.  It seems to be forgotten that the whole refrigerants used in the HVACR equipment help reduce impact on global warming of GHG emissions.            
Generally speaking, we should say strongly that heat pump equipment is highly friendly to environment.  JRAIA proceeds with the emission reduction of F gases and further contributes to better environment.  And from the world’s point of view, the HVACR industry is urgently needed to convert to HFC and other promising refrigerants, like iso-butane used in domestic refrigerators.  

6- How was this year for JRAIA, would you like to highlight some initiatives and achievements?

2006 was the big year for JRAIA.  Within the country, JRAIA, in collaborative work with the government, accomplished the revision of two important laws.  One is ‘Fluorocarbons Recovery and Destruction Law’ which regulates the recovery of refrigerants from the HVACR equipment, and the other is ‘Energy Conservation Law’ which applies to residential air conditioners.  Outline of these revisions is set out in the newsletter of IEA/HP Center, though the revisions were still in the process when the newsletter was published.
As a remarkable event abroad, ‘Air Conditioning Committee’ was set up within JBCE (Japan Business Council in Europe) in Brussels in order to cope with HVACR-related environmental issues in Europe.