EPA finalizes rule aimed at reducing HFC emissions

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule late last week that aims to reduce greenhouse gas hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions, often used in cooling equipment such as air conditioning and refrigeration, among other applications, by prohibiting certain uses of chemicals.

The agency estimates that the rule will reduce emissions by an equivalent of the current annual use of 5.8 million homes by 2025 – an important step as HFC emissions are set to almost double by 2020. Equipment affected by the rule, including aerosols, foam blowers and vending machines, will be pressured to use climate-friendly alternatives.

“Today’s action delivers on the President’s Climate Action Plan and the administration’s commitment to acting on climate. And it is in line with steps leading businesses are already taking to reduce and replace HFCs with safer, climate-friendly alternatives,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said. “This rule will not only reduce harmful greenhouse-gas emissions, but also encourage greater use and development of the next generation of safer HFC alternatives.”

The rule is part of the EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP), which reviews new technology presenting alternatives to damaging substances and updates the agency’s list of alternatives. The HFCs regulation was developed with input from industry groups, environmental advocates and more than 7,000 public comments.