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Responsible Use of Refrigerants

Equipment Manufacturers Responsible Use of Refrigerants

Air conditioning and commercial refrigeration manufacturers take their right to use refrigerants seriously and have proactively taken steps to demonstrate their responsible use of these substances. They phased out their use of CFC refrigerants prior to phaseout deadlines, and continuously develop new generations of highly efficient commercial and residential equipment that use less energy and more environmentally friendly refrigerants.

In their own manufacturing facilities that either produce, use, store, or transport refrigerants, members of AHRI have taken steps to reduce their emissions. Equipment manufacturers have made substantial expenditures to control refrigerant emissions.

According to an AHRI survey, more than 70 percent of manufacturers said they have reduced emissions by 25 percent to 75 percent at their facilities, and more than 50 percent of respondents built new facilities with a zero emissions goal.

U.S. Green Building Council

The USGBC is a non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation. The organization's mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. As part of these efforts, USGBC addresses proper refrigerant management through LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.

Food Marketing Institute

FMI conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its 1,500 member companies — food retailers and wholesalers — in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate approximately 26,000 retail food stores and 14,000 pharmacies. It also provides its members with information on reducing their energy use and environmental impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has provided a page of frequently asked questions on the phase out of HCFCs for the following groups:

  • Homeowners
  • Owners of Comfort Cooling, Commercial, and Other Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Equipment
  • Contractors and Technicians
  • Equipment Suppliers
  • Chemical Manufacturers, Importers, and Exporters