The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on October 6 the latest actions to phase down climate-damaging hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act.
This final rule, which is effective December 26, 2023, addresses petitions from companies, industry associations, environmental groups, and state governments that were granted in October 2021 and September 2022 and restricts the use of certain HFCs used in residential and light commercial air-conditioning units and heat pumps, more than 40 types of foams, aerosol products, and refrigeration.
The action builds on the progress of an initial 10 percent reduction and moves toward achieving the goal of an 85 percent reduction by 2036. The first new action is a final rule to accelerate the ongoing transition to more efficient and climate-safe technologies in heating and cooling systems, new refrigeration, and other products by restricting the use of HFCs where alternatives are already available.
The second action is a proposed rule to better manage and reuse existing HFCs, including by reducing wasteful leaks from equipment and supporting a growing American industry for HFC recycling and reclamation.
Under the AIM Act, HFCs are phasing down to achieve a 40 percent reduction starting in 2024 and an 85 percent reduction by 2036. A technology transitions rule will help guide the overall phasedown by accelerating the transition away from HFCs in areas where substitutes are already available or being introduced — a key prong of the bipartisan AIM Act.
The rule bans HFCs in certain equipment and sets a limit on the global warming potentials (GWPs) of the HFCs that can be used in each subsector with compliance dates ranging from 2025 to 2028.
Read the rule in the Federal Register.