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DISCLAIMER: EPA seeks to promote energy efficiency and the safe
use of ozone- friendly substances, and does not endorse any particular
company or its products.
Background: Ban on Production and Imports of Ozone-Depleting Refrigerants
In 1987 the Montreal Protocol, an international environmental agreement,
established requirements that began the worldwide phaseout of ozone-depleting
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). These requirements were later modified,
leading to the phase out in 1996 of CFC production in all developed
nations. In addition, a 1992 amendment to the Montreal Protocol
established a schedule for the phaseout of HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons).
HCFCs are substantially less damaging to the ozone layer than CFCs,
but still contain ozone-destroying chlorine. The Montreal Protocol
as amended is carried out in the U.S. through Title VI of the Clean
Air Act, which is implemented by EPA.
An HCFC known as R-22 has been the refrigerant of choice for residential
heat pump and air-conditioning systems for more than four decades.
Unfortunately for the environment, releases of R-22 that result
from system leaks contribute to ozone depletion. In addition, the
manufacture of R-22 results in a by-product that contributes significantly
to global warming. As the manufacture of R-22 is phased out over
the coming years as part of the agreement to end prouction of HCFCs,
manufacturers of residential air conditioning systems are beginning
to offer equipment that uses ozone-friendly refrigerants. Many homewners
may be misinformed about how much longer R-22 will be available
to service their central A/C systems and heat pumps. This fact sheet
provides information about the transition away from R-22, the future
availability of R-22, and the new refrigerants that are replacing
R-22. This document also assists consumers in deciding what to consider
when purchasing a new A/C system or heat pump, or when having an
existing system repaired.
Phaseout Schedule for HCFCs Including R-22
Under the terms of the Montreal Protocol, the U.S. agreed to meet
certain obligations by specific dates that will affect the residential
heat pump and air-conditioning industry:
- January 1, 2004:
- In accordance with the terms of the Montreal
Protocol, the amount of all HCFCs that can be produced nationwide
must be reduced by 35% by 2004. In order to achieve this goal,
the U.S. is ceasing production of HCFC-141b, the most ozone-damaging
of this class of chemicals, on January 1, 2003. This production
ban will greatly reduce nationwide use of HCFCs as a group, making
it likely that the 2004 deadline will have a minimal effect on
R-22 supplies.
- January 1, 2010:
- After 2010, chemical manufacturers may still
produce R-22 to service existing equipment, but not for use in
new equipment. As a result, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning
(HVAC) system manufacturers will only be able to use pre-existing
supplies of R-22 to produce new air conditioners and heat pumps.
These existing supplies would include R-22 recovered from existing
equipment and recycled.
- January 1, 2020:
- Use of existing refrigerant, including refrigerant
that has been recovered and recycled, will be allowed beyond 2020
to service existing systems, but chemical manufacturers will no
longer be able to produce R-22 to service existing air conditioners
and heat pumps.
For more information about this phaseout, see fact sheets about
the HCFC Phaseout Schedule and the
Update on HCFC Allowance Allocation
System Regulations.
What Does the R-22 Phaseout Mean for Consumers?
Availability of R-22
The Clean Air Act does not allow any refrigerant to be vented into
the atmosphere during installation, service, or retirement of equipment.
Therefore, R-22 must be recovered and recycled (for reuse in the
same system), reclaimed (reprocessed to the same purity levels as
new R-22), or destroyed. After 2020, the servicing of R-22-based
systems will rely on recycled refrigerants. It is expected that
reclamation and recycling will ensure that existing supplies of
R-22 will last longer and be available to service a greater number
of systems. As noted above, chemical manufacturers will be able
to produce R-22 for use in new A/C equipment until 2010, and they
can continue production of R-22 until 2020 for use in servicing
that equipment. Given this schedule, the transition away from R-22
to the use of ozone-friendly refrigerants should be smooth. For
the next 20 years or more, R-22 should continue to be available
for all systems that require R-22 for servicing.
Cost of R-22
While consumers should be aware that prices of R-22 may increase
as supplies dwindle over the next 20 or 30 years, EPA believes that
consumers are not likely to be subjected to major price increases
within a short time period. Although there is no guarantee that
service costs of R-22 will not increase, the lengthy phaseout period
for R-22 means that market conditions should not be greatly affected
by the volatility and resulting refrigerant price hikes that have
characterized the phaseout of R-12, the refrigerant used in automotive
air-conditioning systems.
Alternatives to R-22 in Residential Air Conditioning
As R-22 is gradually phased out, non-ozone-depleting alternative
refrigerants are being introduced. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA
reviews alternatives to ozone-depleting substances like R-22 in
order to evaluate their effects on human health and the environment.
EPA has reviewed several of these alternatives to R-22 and has compiled
a list of substitutes
that EPA has determined are acceptable. One of these substitutes
is R-410A, a blend of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), substances that
do not contribute to depletion of the ozone layer, but, like R-22,
contribute to global warming. R-410A is manufactured and sold under
various trade names, including GENETRON AZ-20®, SUVA 410A®,
and Puron®. Additional refrigerants on the list of acceptable
substitutes include R-134a and R-407C. These two refrigerants are
not yet available for residential applications in the U.S., but
are commonly found in residential A/C systems and heat pumps in
Europe. EPA will continue to review new non-ozone-depleting refrigerants
as they are developed.
Servicing existing units
Existing units using R-22 can continue to be serviced with R-22.
There is no EPA requirement to change or convert R-22 units for
use with a non-ozone-depleting substitute refrigerant. In addition,
the new substitute refrigerants cannot be used without making some
changes to system components. As a result, service technicians who
repair leaks to the system will continue to charge R-22 into the
system as part of that repair.
Installing new units
The transition away from ozone-depleting R-22 to systems that rely
on replacement refrigerants like R-410A has required redesign of
heat pump and air conditioning systems. New systems incorporate
compressors and other components specifically designed for use with
specific replacement refrigerants. With these significant product
and production process changes, testing and training must also change.
Consumers should be aware that dealers of systems that use substitute
refrigerants should be schooled in installation and service techniques
required for use of that substitute refrigerant.
A Common Sense Approach To Servicing Your System
Along with prohibiting the production of ozone-depleting refrigerants,
the Clean Air Act also mandates the use of common sense in handling
refrigerants. By containing and using refrigerants responsibly --
that is, by recovering, recycling, and reclaiming, and by reducing
leaks -- their ozone depletion and global warming consequences are
minimized. The Clean Air Act outlines specific refrigerant containment
and management practices for HVAC manufacturers, distributors, dealers
and technicians. Properly installed home comfort systems rarely
develop refrigerant leaks, and with proper servicing, a system using
R-22, R-410A or another refrigerant will minimize its impact on
the environment. While EPA does not mandate repairing or replacing
small systems because of leaks, system leaks can not only harm the
environment, but also result in increased maintenance costs.
One important thing a homeowner can do for the environment, regardless
of the refrigerant used, is to select a reputable dealer that employs
service technicians who are EPA-certified to handle refrigerants.
Technicians often call this certification "Section
608 certification," referring to the part of the Clean Air
Act that requires minimizing releases of ozone-depleting chemicals
from HVAC equipment.
A Common Sense Approach To Purchasing New Systems
Another important thing a homeowner can do for the environment
is to purchase a highly energy-efficient system. Energy-efficient
systems result in cost savings for the homeowner. Today's best air
conditioners use much less energy to produce the same amount of
cooling as air conditioners made in the mid-1970s. Even if your
air conditioner is only 10 years old, you may save significantly
on your cooling energy costs by replacing it with a newer, more
efficient model. Products with EPA's Energy Star® label can
save homeowners 10% to 40% on their heating and cooling bills every
year. These products are made by most major manufacturers and have
the same features as standard products but also incorporate energy
saving technology. Both R-22 and R-410A systems may have the Energy
Star® label. Equipment that displays the Energy Star® label
must have a minimum seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). The
higher the SEER specification, the more efficient the equipment.
You should consider energy efficiency, along with performance,
reliability and cost, in making your decision. And don't forget
that when purchasing a new system, you can also speed the transition
away from ozone-depleting R-22 by choosing a system that uses ozone-friendly
refrigerants.
Related Fact Sheets
- Remind me ... why have the U.S. and other countries agreed to
stop the production of CFC and HCFC refrigerants?
-
- CFCs and HCFCs deplete the ozone layer, which acts as a blanket
in the stratosphere that protects us from harmful UV radiation.
- This radiation has been linked to skin cancer, which is now
one of the fastest growing forms of cancer. In the U.S., one person
dies of skin cancer every hour.
- Remember that ozone is "good up high, bad nearby:"
even though it protects us when it is in the stratosphere, ozone
at ground level can be harmful to breathe and is a prime ingredient
in smog. Many man-made sources such as tailpipe emissions from
cars contribute to ground-level ozone.
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