EPA’s decision of HFC phase-out: the USA commitment to a more sustainable future

HFCs, also known as hydrofluorocarbons, are the subject of the restrictive measure strongly advocated by Biden. Developed as a more sustainable alternative to CFCs (which have been gradually phased out since 1996 by the Montreal Protocol because of their ozone depleting potential), HFCs are nonetheless powerful greenhouse gases, with the capacity to heat the planet hundreds of times faster than CO2.

The program just launched by the EPA establishes precise restrictions on the use and production of HFCs. The goal of these bans, that will last until 2036, is to reduce HFC emissions by 85% in the next 15 years.

Considering these assessments, the Environmental Protection Agency expects to prevent up to 0.5°C of global warming by the end of the century and to reduce the equivalent of 4.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide by mid-century, which is estimated to be equivalent to almost three years of US power sector emissions.

We are undoubtedly witnessing the Biden administration’s first major regulatory action on greenhouse gases, but more importantly we are in front of the first HFCs standards imposed by the United States. Due to the extremely high temperatures recently recorded in the USA, the use of air conditioning and refrigeration systems has increased dramatically, leading to obvious increases in HFC emissions. A radical decision had to be taken, therefore, and the hope is that these new measures will help the country to successfully transit to more ecological and efficient technologies.

From now on, Errecom’s American customers will also benefit from the sustainability work carried out by our company over the years, then, and will find a reliable partner as far as it concerns to sealants and additives compatible with low gwp refrigerants.