EPA to aim for demand reductions in climate-warming chemicals used in refrigeration

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Friday that it will take actions that are expected to reduce the demand for climate-warming substances called hydrofluorocarbons for various products. 

It said in a statement that it had accepted petitions from outside groups to take action to restrict the use of hydrofluorocarbons — also known as HFCs — in the  refrigeration and air conditioning, aerosols, and foam sectors.

Last month, the EPA  finalized a rule regulating HFC supply. 

Christina Theodoridi, policy advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Climate & Clean Energy and International Programs, is a proponent of the new action. 

She said that restricting their use in certain industries will cut down on competition for a limited supply of the substances, and save consumers money. 

“Once you start restricting the supply, without any rules on demand, you might see a lot of competition amongst end users and, that, in some cases can possibly drive the price of HFCs up,”  Theodoridi

The greenhouse gases have up to 14,800 times the climate impact of carbon dioxide. 

The now-final EPA rule, aims to reduce their use by 85 percent compared to a baseline number over the next 15 years.

In accordance with its new announcement, the agency is  expected to promulgate regulations that would restrict the use of HFCs in the specific industries.