RSES Journal Winter 2025, RETA-RSES

US primary copper mine reserves and resources by status. MMT =million metric tons.

US refined copper imports by trade partner in 2023. Compiled 2/27/24

copper through secure and expanding supply chains ensures manufacturers can effectively respond to increasing market demands. Copper Demand and Supply Trends A significant and sustained increase in copper availability is essential to meet ing the U.S. infrastructure and AI domi nance goals. While headlines often suggest impending challenges, the real ity is more complex. It is not a lack of resources, but improving and streamlin ing our processes within the U.S. Fortu nately, the U.S. can tackle this challenge through an all-of-the-above strategy that taps into its abundant copper reserves, a growing recycling and refining sector, and strong partnerships with reliable trade partners. Accelerating the permitting process and increasing investments in responsible domestic mining could unlock significant untapped reserves, thereby adding mean ingful quantities to the U.S. copper supply. Additionally, enhancing recycling capac ity offers a sustainable and circular econ omy approach to increasing refined copper output without the need for new extraction methods. Imports contribute to supply stability, with nearly all refined copper entering the U.S. coming from reliable trade partners like Chile, Peru and Canada; however, imports currently account for 44% of U.S. refined copper demand—reliance that exists despite the nation's substantial copper endowment, which, if further developed, could signifi cantly reduce this dependence.

As the demand for advanced data centers and AI infrastructure grows, the U.S. federal government should desig nate copper as a critical mineral on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) list as a critical mineral. 2 This designation would simplify the permitting processes and foster investment in domestic mining, refining and recycling. Ultimately, it would help secure a stable and respon sive supply chain to meet the industry's increasing needs. Small Diameter Copper Tubes: The Future of Efficient HVACR Design As infrastructure, data centers and energy efficiency reshape our lives, HVACR systems must evolve to meet higher perfor mance, reliability and sustainability stan dards. Copper, particularly small-diameter tubes, is as integral as ever in furthering these advancements. Small-diameter copper tubing supports the development of compact, lightweight and highly efficient heat exchangers—an increasingly important factor as system designers work within tighter spaces and higher efficiency goals. When these tubes have improved inner-grooved surfaces, they enhance heat transfer by increasing the internal surface area, optimizing system efficiency and reducing overall operational loads. In addition to superior thermal conduc tivity, copper offers exceptional durability. Its natural resistance to corrosion and abil ity to withstand pressure fluctuations help ensure long-term system performance with minimal maintenance. This reliability is crit

ical in high-demand HVACR environments where consistent operation is essential. From both economic and environmen tal perspectives, small-diameter copper tubes offer considerable benefits. Their reduced material usage leads to lighter, more economical installations, and since copper is entirely recyclable without loss of performance, these systems support circu lar economy goals and sustainable building practices. Copper's Future and Small-Diameter Solutions The future of HVACR is clear: systems must continue to be designed to be more intelligent, efficient and built to support end-user needs for today and in the years to come. Copper, with a secure and scal able supply achieved through domes tic resources, enhanced recycling and strong international partnerships, has the potential to drive the next generation of high-performance, sustainable HVACR solutions. Marcus Elmer, Vice President of the Copper Development Association, has over 15 years of experience in the plumbing and mechani cal industries. He leverages his expertise to identify and influence market trends for copper tube and fittings products, driving strategic programs encompassing technical research, codes and standards, advocacy, and education. 1 S&P Global Report, Copper in the U.S.: Opportunities and Challenges 2 https://copper.org/copperiscritical.org/report/CDA_Copper_Crit ica_lMinerals_full_report.pdf

WINTER 2025 RSES Journal 33

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