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The impact of climate change continues to drive change in the HVACR industry. A refrigerant change is underway to reduce the industry’s global warming potential (GWP). Phasing down the production and consumption of HFCs will begin on January 1, 2025, when the refrigerant R454B will be used in newly manufactured air conditioning equipment.

The AIM Act

The AIM Act authorizes EPA to address hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by providing new authorities in three main areas: to phase down the production and consumption of listed HFCs, manage these HFCs and their substitutes, and facilitate the transition to next-generation technologies through sector-based restrictions.

HFCs are used in applications such as air conditioning, refrigeration, fire suppression, solvents, foam blowing agents, and aerosols. HFCs are greenhouse gases with global warming potentials (GWPs) that can be hundreds to thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). Their use has been rapidly increasing worldwide due to the global phaseout of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and increased demand for refrigeration and air conditioning. In many cases, alternatives are available or under development that either non-fluorinated or are HFC and HFC blends with lower GWPs than the HFC or HFC blends they replace.

The AIM Act (American Innovation and Manufacturing Act) was passed December 27, of 2020 but petitions from industry, environmental organizations and state governments intervened until Oct 2023, when a final ruling was declared establishing Global Warming Potential (GWP) limits and compliance dates.

December 31, 2024 is the last date that refrigerant 410A may be used in manufacturing new HVAC systems. Replacement components of existing systems may still be manufactured for the life of those systems. The expectation is that most of the phase down will occur in the next 6 years as the gradual production and consumption is reduced.

Manufacturers are gearing up to begin production of equipment July through December 2024 for introduction on the market 1/1/2025. Now is the time to get service personnel educated and trained to install this new equipment. Sales personnel should also be in the know in order toanswer customer inquiries since misconceptions already abound.

Upcoming Workshops

We will be conducting training classes. Let us know if you are interested in having your staff attend training. Email: [email protected] with number of individuals and best day of the week to attend.