The acting administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bob Perciasepe, has signed the final HCFC Allocation Rule covering HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b allowances for 2012-2014.
In conjunction with the AHR Expo, DuPont made an announcement in regards to the ‘No Action Assurance’ letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) setting production and import rights for virgin R-22 at 39 million pounds in 2013 versus 55 million pounds in 2012.
It appears as if the spigot of new R-22 available to HVACR contractors has been tightened even more in 2013. Users of the world’s most popular HCFC could expect close to 30 percent less of new R-22 this year than last, according to some reports.
Contractors have complained for years about consumers holding on to systems that should be replaced. Yet we are falling all over ourselves to come up with ways to keep that equipment operational.
Whether we like it or not, R-22 is going away, and technicians need to look at their best options and solutions to work with the phaseout. One option available to all competent service technicians is to recover and recycle refrigerant.
Fresh on the heels of the announcement of an almost 50 percent reduction in supplies of virgin HCFC-22, the supermarket industry is reacting. What are they focusing on now?