The EPA embarked on a rulemaking process that should eventually lead to a new policy regarding HFCs, although many in the HVACR industry hope the agency simply accepts the phase down schedule recommended in the Kigali Amendment.

To recap, earlier this year, refrigerant manufacturers, Honeywell and Chemours, asked the Supreme Court to review an August 2017 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which stated the EPA could not ban HFCs through its Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, because that program was designed only to address ozone-depleting substances. While HFCs are among the greenhouse gases suspected of contributing to climate change, they do not deplete the ozone layer.

Natural refrigerants, including ammonia, CO₂, and propane are considered “future-proof” refrigeration options but are not yet widely adopted by the industry.

Advanced climate technologies include next-generation HFOs and blends and select HFCs with lower GWP compared to previous products. These solutions for refrigerants, propellants, and blowing agents significantly reduce total climate impact, and maintain or improve energy efficiency, affordability, and flexibility to enable use for a wide variety of applications and climates.