To protect our climate, EPA will slowly reduce the production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbon under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) act of 2020
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a greenhouse gas were specifically developed to replace ozone-depleting substances (ODS) in the refrigeration, air conditioning, aerosols, fire suppression, and foam-blowing industries. They can have global warming potentials (GWPs) that are hundreds to thousands of times larger than carbon dioxide, which is a gauge of a GHG's relative climatic influence (CO2).
The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, which was passed on December 27, 2020, contains several provisions that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to implement through regulations.
This rulemaking proposes to;
• To restrict the use of hydrofluorocarbons in specific sectors or subsectors in which they are used;
• To establish a process for submitting technology transitions petitions;
• To establish record-keeping and reporting requirements;
• Address certain other elements related to the effective implementation of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act
AIM Act directs EPA to reduce HFC production and consumption in the US by 85% over a period of 15 years that is around 2036. The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which is a global agreement to phasedown HFCs, includes a schedule that is consistent with the U.S. phasedown. This proposed rule is an example of the United States' aggressive goal to handle HFCs domestically and serves as an example worldwide to combat harmful climate pollutants such as HFCs as the country moves to join the Kigali Amendment. By switching from HFCs to more environmentally safe alternatives and energy-efficient cooling technologies, American consumers are also anticipated to profit. A global phasedown of HFCs is anticipated to save up to 0.5° Celsius of global warming by 2100.
HFC Phasedown Schedule
Year | Consumption & Production Allowance Caps as a Percentage of Baseline |
---|---|
2022–2023 | 90 percent |
2024–2028 | 60 percent |
2029–2033 | 30 percent |
2034–2035 | 20 percent |
2036 & after | 15 percent |
Reach out to our regulation experts on product regulatory compliances