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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 12 July 2023
EPA sets stricter limits on hydrofluorocarbons used in refrigerators,

air conditioners

By MATTHEW DALY bipartisan action Congress rule as we prepare for the
Associated Press took in 2020 to approve the next HFC reduction step-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The American Innovation and down next January,” said
Environmental Protection Manufacturing Act, which AHRI president & CEO Ste-
Agency is enforcing stricter phased out domestic HFC phen Yurek.
limits on hydrofluorocar- manufacturing. The AIM WHAT HAPPENS IF INDUSTRY
bons, highly potent green- Act has accelerated an DOES NOT COMPLY?
house gases used in refrig- industry shift from HFCs to The EPA rule includes a
erators and air conditioners alternative refrigerants that range of administrative
that contribute to global use less harmful chemicals penalties, including license
warming. and are widely available revocation and retirement
A rule announced Tuesday throughout the country. of allowances for compa-
will impose a 40% overall The law also averts a pre- nies that don’t comply.
reduction in HFCs starting vious patchwork of state Fines and criminal penal-
next year, part of a glob- laws and regulations that ties also can be imposed.
al phaseout designed to govern HFCs. EPA said it has finalized ad-
slow climate change. The WHAT DOES THE LATEST RULE ministrative consequences
rule aligns with a 2020 law DO? retiring more than 6.5 mil-
that calls for an 85% reduc- The new rule announced lion metric tons of carbon
tion in production and use Tuesday builds on a 10% dioxide equivalent for 2022
of the climate-damaging Ed Newby, owner of All Star A/C and Heating, works on an air conditioning unit on June 26, 2023, and 2023 for companies
chemicals by 2036. in Houston. that misreported data or
Here’s a look at HFCs and Associated Press imported HFCs without re-
what the United States and quired allowances. q
other countries are doing reduction required by the
to limit their use. end of this year. It requires
WHAT ARE HFCs? a 40% overall reduction
Hydrofluorocarbons are from 2024 through 2028.
highly potent greenhouse Companies that produce,
gases commonly used in import, export, destroy,
refrigerators and air con- use, process or recycle
ditioners. HFCs produce HFCs are subject to the
greenhouse gases that are rule. EPA officials said the
thousands of times more rule would help ensure the
powerful than carbon di- U.S. leads the way as coun-
oxide. They often leak tries around the world im-
through pipes or applianc- plement the Kigali Amend-
es that use compressed ment. The HFC phasedown,
refrigerants and are con- “bolstered by domestic
sidered a major driver of innovation to develop al-
global warming. ternative chemicals and
WHAT IS BEING DONE TO equipment, is paving the
LIMIT HFCs? way for the United States
More than 130 countries, to tackle climate change
including the United States, and strengthen global
have signed a 2016 global competitiveness,” said Joe
agreement to greatly re- Goffman, principal deputy
duce use and production assistant administrator of
of HFCs by 2036. EPA’s Office of Air and Ra-
The Senate ratified the so- diation. White House cli-
called Kigali Amendment mate adviser Ali Zaidi said
to the 1987 Montreal Pro- the rule will help develop
tocol on ozone pollution next-generation technolo-
last year in a rare biparti- gies for refrigeration, “en-
san vote. The measure re- suring that American work-
quires participating nations ers reap the benefits of a
to phase down production growing global market for
and use of HFCs by 85% HFC alternatives.”
over the next 13 years, as WHAT DOES INDUSTRY SAY?
part of a global phaseout The Air Conditioning, Heat-
intended to slow climate ing and Refrigeration Insti-
change. tute, which represents air
Scientists said the agree- conditioning, heating and
ment, reached in Kigali, commercial refrigeration
Rwanda, could help the manufacturers, called the
world avoid a half-degree rule a crucial step to imple-
Celsius of global warming. ment the AIM Act.
Ratification of the amend- “Our industry appreciates
ment, signed last year by the work of the EPA and
President Joe Biden, follows the timely issuance of this