New EPA Proposal on HFCs Builds on Last Year’s Final Rule
Change of status sought on some HCs, 1234yf in specific end uses
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 29 proposed to expand the list of acceptable substitutes and prohibit the use of certain chemicals in the United States that significantly contribute to climate change where safer, more climate-friendly alternatives exist.
This is another step forward in a series under President Obama's Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The emissions avoided from this proposed rule are estimated to be up to 11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2030, which is equal to the emissions from the energy used by approximately one million homes for one year.