Morristown, New Jersey and Qingdao, China - - Honeywell and Haier Group have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for collaboration in the development of low-emission, high energy-efficiency solutions.

The MOU was signed during the US-China Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum.

Under terms of the MOU, Honeywell - a diversified technology manufacturer - and Haier, which develops, manufactures and sells major appliances, will work collaboratively on new technology that will make household appliances, intelligent home systems, residential heating, building automation, and mass transit more efficient and cleaner.

"More than 50 percent of our product portfolio is related to energy and energy efficiency," said Shane Tedjarati, president and chief executive officer of Honeywell China and India, in a 21 Jan statement.

He added: "We believe we can apply our expertise in energy-efficiency, intelligent buildings systems, and automation and controls to help Haier manufacture products that will benefit both their customers and the environment."

One area of collaboration will be the use of energy-efficient, closed-cell foam insulation featuring Honeywell's non-ozone depleting Enovate blowing agent for Haier appliances. Use of this insulation will help ensure that Haier's household appliances conform to the strict standards of the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star program. It will also meet China's Ministry of Environmental Protection requirements for phasing out the use of ozone-depleting blowing agents by 2015.

The companies also plan to jointly develop air conditioners, refrigerators and solar-power water heater solutions based on Honeywell's low-global-warming-potential refrigerants and blowing agents. It is thought that low-emission technologies will play a large part in helping China reduce its carbon dioxide emission
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