Looking to improve the options building professionals have when choosing a refrigerant, the EPA has approved greener refrigerants that have less of an effect on the ozone layer. The new options, offered under the Significant New Alternatives Policy program, will replace products with a high global warming potential (GWP) such as ozone-depleting substances and hydrofluorocarbons. While the new products have GWP ratings from 3-675, the less climate-friendly options they’re replacing are ranked from 1,400-4,000.
The EPA will also exempt the new substances, except HFC-32, from the Clean Air Act venting prohibition, saying that venting, releasing, and disposing these substances has been demonstrated to pose no risk to the environment. The new compounds will be available for use in a range of air conditioning and refrigeration applications such as:
1.Ethane in very low temperature refrigeration and non-mechanical heat transfer.
2.Isobutane in retail food refrigeration and vending machines.
3.Propane in household freezer, refrigerators, or combination refrigerators and freezers, vending machines, and room air conditioning units.
4.The hydrocarbon blend R-441A in retail food refrigeration (stand-alone commercial refrigerators and freezers), vending machines, and room air conditioning units.
5. HFC-32 (difluoromethane) in room air conditioning units.
Looking for more strategies to cut your cooling costs? Take a look at this guide to give your Vending Machines a Green Makeover.
