Fluctuating environmental policies in the U.S. tend to obscure the fact that the transition toward refrigerants with a low GWP continues. HVACR manufacturers, researchers, and facility owners worldwide are making significant progress, thanks to consistent public policies but also from recent development of proven technologies.
Technologically, it’s worth looking at recent moves away from refrigerants with high GWPs—like HFC-134a and HFC-404A—and toward low-GWP formulations, like natural hydrocarbons and HFOs with GWPs below 5. The HFOs have a low GWP because they break down in the atmosphere over a few days. Furthermore, HFOs together with HFCs form low-GWP hybrids that have GWP ratings below 150.