The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), an internationally recognized leader in developing standards for and certifying the performance of air conditioning and commercial refrigeration equipment, is exploring the feasibility of offering members web-based statistical reports.

Currently, ARI produces more than 500 statistical reports that cover bookings, unit shipments, sales volumes, exports and efficiencies. These reports are the authoritative source for HVACR market research, providing information on all aspects of the industry, reveals the association’s press release. For example, recently ARI announced that combined U.S. factory shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for July totalled 637,606, down 3 percent from July 2006 shipments.

ARI is exploring a web-based portal that would allow members to input data directly into a statistical database — data that currently is manually entered by ARI staff. A web-based portal would offer comprehensive, realtime statistical updates and should minimize errors. The General Statistics Committee will discuss and vote on a proposal to implement the web-based portal at its Sept. 20 meeting. If approved, the proposal would be submitted to ARI’s Board of Directors on Nov. 11.