Navigating the Refrigerant Transition With YORK® HVAC

HVAC systems are energy-intensive, and the effort to reduce their impact spans decades. Today, the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act directs the EPA to phase down U.S. HFC production and use by 85% over the next 15 years. This requires a transition from HFC refrigerants like R-410A to a new generation of low-GWP refrigerants.

Local guidelines establish procedures for the proper use of refrigerants. With appropriate safety standards, training, monitoring and maintenance practices established, refrigerants from every classification can be safely and successfully implemented to help ensure the safety of installers, technicians, distributors and occupants.

Currently, there are no “drop-in” HFC replacements, and many low-GWP refrigerant options aren’t viable for use in high-efficiency HVAC systems. Refrigerants selected for YORK® equipment, however, are carefully chosen to minimize environmental impact while providing maximized HVAC system performance and efficiency.

Long-term affordability is critical to our selection of any HVAC refrigerant. And although limited production and distribution may impact pricing, ensuring the full lifetime of an HVAC system, as well as its performance, efficiency, safety and maintenance needs, is highly dependent on use of the correct refrigerants.

For refrigerants, the greenhouse gas effect is measured in terms of CO2 equivalence as indicated by the global warming potential (GWP). Selecting refrigerants with the best long-term outlook based on GWP estimates helps ensure fewer regulations-based HVAC equipment changes with minimal environmental impact.