WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added three hydrocarbons as acceptable alternative refrigerants in small commercial and household refrigerators and freezers through EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. EPA took action after requests from Ben and Jerry’s and General Electric, as well as A.S. Trust & Holdings, and True Manufacturing, a family-owned small business.

“Today’s action is a great example of how businesses and EPA can work together to protect our planet and drive innovation,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “This action increases the options for effective, climate-friendly refrigerants in the U.S.”

Under the Clean Air Act, the SNAP program evaluates substitute chemicals and technologies for ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The three hydrocarbon refrigerants approved as acceptable substitutes, with use conditions, are propane, isobutane, and a chemical known as R-441A. These newly-approved refrigerants can be used to replace the chlorofluorocarbon CFC-12 and the hydrochlorofluorocarbon HCFC-22 in household refrigerators, freezers, combination refrigerator-freezers, and commercial stand-alone units. EPA said SNAP is a globally recognized program designed specifically to evaluate substitutes for ODS and to focus on the industrial sectors that use them.