The HVACR industry was initially surprised by a date-of-install requirement, mandating installation of certain equipment by January 1, 2025, but EPA extended sell-through period to January 1, 2026.

Chris Forth, VP at Johnson Controls, navigates the complex challenges in the HVAC industry, which include addressing regulatory, code, and environmental concerns.

Food retailers are concerned over the HFC phasedown, noting that current alternative refrigerants have drawbacks, while others have not yet been fully evaluated.

Compressors in A2L systems are similar to A1 systems, so technicians won't need extensive retraining, especially if they follow best practices.

Some food retailers express concerns over CO₂ refrigeration systems, which they have found to be leaky and less energy efficient than expected.

Manufacturers have been preparing for the transition to low-GWP refrigerants for a number of years and are now introducing a wide range of innovative commercial refrigeration technologies.

Reclaimers are addressing the low recovery rate of HFC refrigerants by offering incentives and eliminating fees. Contractors can benefit by recovering refrigerants and turning them in.

Commercial heating equipment manufacturers are rolling out new systems that are energy efficient, as well as service friendly for contractors.

With the rush to install heat pumps across the U.S., industry experts are concerned that they may not be installed correctly.

HVAC contractors and technicians must invest in new spark-free tools that are compatible with the A2L refrigerants.