SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s Air Resources Board (ARB) has released a proposed strategy aimed at curbing emissions that includes prohibitions on high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants.
The proposal seeks emission reductions to help California meet its 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets. Key measures in the proposed strategy that target HFCs include:
• A ban on the sale of all virgin HFC refrigerants with a GWP above 2,500 beginning in 2020, exempting reclaimed or recycled refrigerants.
• A ban on new stationary refrigeration equipment using HFCs with a GWP of 150 or more, beginning in 2020 for nonresidential and in 2021 for residential refrigerator-freezers.
• A ban on new air conditioning equipment using HFCs with GWPs of 750 or above starting in 2021.
• Financial incentives for installing low-GWP refrigeration systems.
• Potential for an independent California HFC phase-down schedule, if a global agreement is not reached this year.
The proposed strategy is open for public comment and it will be subject to review and consideration by ARB’s board before a final strategy is approved later this year.
More information on the proposed strategy is available here.
Publication date: 4/15/2016
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