by Brianna Crandall — July 2, 2014—Facilities managers whose facilities host refrigeration units, whether for a cafeteria, restaurant, retail grocery store or food-manufacturing plant, as well as those who have room air-condition units, may want to keep informed on the latest development from the EPA regarding refrigerants, especially as countries around the world are reducing the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to increase the options for refrigerants in the United States that offer better climate protection without harming the ozone layer. This is the agency’s first action that addresses refrigerants under President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, which calls on EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program to identify and approve additional climate-friendly chemicals.
Under the authority of the Clean Air Act, EPA’s SNAP Program evaluates substitute chemicals and technologies that are safe for the ozone layer. This proposed action would expand the list of SNAP-approved substitutes to include more low global warming potential (GWP) alternatives that can replace both the ozone-depleting substances and high-GWP hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
After receiving input from industry, environmental groups, and others, EPA is proposing to list additional low-GWP hydrocarbon refrigerants in six refrigeration and air conditioning applications:
- Stand-alone commercial and household refrigerators and freezers
- Very-low-temperature refrigeration
- Non-mechanical heat transfer
- Vending machines
- Room air-conditioning units
The proposal also adds one lower-GWP HFC (HFC-32) that has just one-third the GWP of the conventional refrigerants currently being used in room air-conditioning units. These refrigerants are already in use in many of these applications in Europe and Asia.
In addition to adding these climate-friendly alternatives, EPA is also revising the current venting prohibition to account for four of these substitutes, as current evidence suggests that their venting, release, or disposal does not pose a threat to the environment. EPA will accept comment on the proposal for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.
EPA has a related partnership with food retailers created to help reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change. More information on the GreenChill Partnership is available on the EPA Web site.
