Member DashboardOctober ’22 at-a-glance … environment
2024 40% HFC reductions approved
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued 2024 refrigerant allocation rules required under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. As a reminder, the AIM Act directs the EPA to address hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by phasing down the production and consumption of listed HFCs, managing these HFCs and their substitutes, and facilitating the transition to next-generation technologies. According to Helen Walter-Terrinoni, vice president of regulatory affairs with the American Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), when Europe hit its 40% phase-down level, refrigerant prices climbed by 1000%. “Manufacturers must use all the tools in their toolkits to maintain as much refrigerant as possible for new equipment. It can’t be used to address leaks.”
AHRI recommended the following GWP limits in its comments regarding the 2024 phasedown:
| Chillers | AR4 GWP Limit |
| Chillers (designed for chilled fluid leaving temperature >+35˚) | 750 |
| Chillers (designed for chilled fluid leaving temperature ≤+35˚ and >-10˚F) | 1500 |
| Chillers (designed for chilled fluid leaving temperature ≤-10˚ to -50˚F) | 2200 |
| Chillers (<20 lbs. charge) (designed for chilled fluid leaving temperature <+35˚F) | 2200 |
| Exceptions: Chillers <-50˚F, Medical, Scientific and Research Applications |
California further clarifies HFC limits
California Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 1206 that further clarifies the state’s HFC reduction goals. Specifically, a person shall not offer for sale or distribution, or otherwise enter into commerce in the state, bulk HFCs or bulk blends containing HFCs that exceed any of the following global warming potential limits:
- Beginning January 1, 2025, the global warming potential shall not exceed 2,200.
- Beginning January 1, 2030, the global warming potential shall not exceed 1,500.
- Beginning January 1, 2033, the global warming potential shall not exceed 750.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) also has been tasked with establishing a rulemaking for the transition to ultra-low GWP refrigerants, with a GWP of less than 10.
Quebec reclamation/recovery solution soon to be available
SORAC, the Commercial Appliance Recovery Society formed to meet Quebec’s recycling and reclamation requirements, held an information session Oct. 18 to discuss the soon-to-launch program. On Sept. 6, SORAC submitted its plan for an extended-producer responsibility initiative for commercial and institutional refrigeration and freezer equipment in compliance with Recyc-Quebec (R-Q) requirements. The program is designed to address the requirement that every enterprise that markets, acquires or manufacturers products implements a recovery and reclamation program. Exceptions apply for products that weigh more than 300kg or have an effective volume of less than 2.5 cubic feet.
Email info@sorac.ca for more information on the organization and membership.