Refrigeration and Air Conditioning 

SNAP Stakeholder Workshop: 

Stationary Air Conditioning

December 4, 2013

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Introduction

• Why stationary air conditioning, why now?

– EPA is conducting a series of SNAP sector workshops

– Refrigeration and air conditioning is the third sector in series

• Nov. 15: Household Appliances

• Dec. 4: Stationary A/C and MVAC

• Dec. 16: Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration

• Scope of the Meeting

– Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program

– Climate Action Plan 

– Vintaging Model

• Discussion

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Identifying Safer Alternatives

SNAP Program 

• Evaluates substitutes that reduce overall risk to human 

health & environment in industrial sectors

– Aerosols, Foams, Refrigeration and A/C, Solvents, 

Fire Suppression, Adhesives, coatings & inks, etc.

• 400+ substitutes reviewed considering: 

– Ozone-depleting potential

– Global warming potential

– Flammability

– Toxicity

– Local air quality

– Ecosystem effects

– Occupational & consumer health/safety

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Progress Under SNAP

• In CAA Title VI, Congress directed EPA to create listing 

clearinghouse to smooth transition to safer alternatives

– Process seamless from consumer perspective

– regular SNAP list updates promote certainty and stability while 

encouraging continued innovation

• SNAP is an expanding menu of options that:

– Are reviewed for health and environmental protection criteria

– Reduce ODS/GHG emissions

– Promote responsible practices to reduce emissions

• Unique review program supporting global transition

• Sector-focused coordination

– Long-standing cooperation with U.S. stakeholders

– Work supporting national/international standards and codes revisions, 

removing barriers to adoption of alternatives

4
SNAP Listings

• SNAP lists alternatives as acceptable, unacceptable, or 

acceptable with conditions for use

• Alternatives include:

– Alternative chemicals/blends 

– Alternative technologies (e.g., absorption chillers)

• Next generation alternatives

– Many climate-friendly options

• Currently SNAP has approximately 25 active submissions 

– EPA has been getting many more submissions in recent years, 

particularly for foams, air-conditioning, and refrigeration

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6
President’s Climate Action Plan

and HFCs

• Continue International Diplomacy

– Lead negotiations under the Montreal Protocol to phase down HFCs

• Global phase down could reduce over 90 gigatons of CO2eq by 2050, 

equal to roughly two years' worth of current global GHG emissions 

– Work with partners in the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce 

Short-Lived Climate Pollutants to promote climate-friendly alternatives 

to high-GWP HFCs, address standards, & reduce emissions from HFC 

use 

• Address Through Domestic Actions

– Use existing Clean Air Act authority of Significant New Alternatives 

Policy (SNAP) Program to approve climate-friendly chemicals, prohibit 

some uses of most harmful

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– Provide federal leadership by purchasing cleaner 

alternatives to HFCs whenever feasible and by 

transitioning to equipment using safer, more 

sustainable alternatives
What the Climate Action Plan 

Means for SNAP

• Prioritize review of alternatives that are safer for the 

climate

– In the context of SNAP’s broader criteria

– Innovative companies have invested in low-GWP alternatives

– Forward-leaning manufacturers of advanced technologies and 

equipment can provide near-term reductions in emissions

• Support, fit within, broader HFC strategy

– Listing additional low-GWP options positions U.S. industries to 

better meet potential future phasedown steps proposed under the 

Montreal Protocol

– Responds to federal procurement needs to “purchase cleaner 

alternatives to HFCs whenever feasible”

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SNAP & Air Conditioning

• Variety of end uses and applications

– Residential air conditioning and heat pump applications, light 

commercial air conditioning (e.g. PTACs, RTUs), chillers, and 

industrial process air conditioning

• Multiple options available under SNAP for ODS transition

– Currently dominated by HFC blends many with high GWPs

– For some end uses lower GWP options are becoming available

• Recent listings include HFO-1234ze, -1233zd(E)

• Additional submissions under consideration

– E.g., residential and light commercial air conditioning systems with 

R-32

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Standards

UL Standards with Requirements for Flammable Refrigerants

• UL 484: Room Air Conditioners

UL Standards Lacking Requirements for Flammable 

Refrigerants:

• UL 1995: Heating and Cooling Equipment – covers wide variety of nonself-contained stationary AC,; e.g. residential splits, building chillers

• UL 60335-2-40: Safety of Household and Similar Electrical Appliances, 

Part 2, Particular Requirements for Electrical Heat Pumps, Air 

Conditioners and Dehumidifiers

Others

• ASHRAE 15

• Building codes

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U.S. EPA Vintaging Model

• What? Tool to track U.S. types of equipment (“enduses”) of ODS and substitutes

• Where? Major Sectors: Aerosols, Foams, Solvents, Fire 

Protection, Refrigeration/AC

• When? Tracks chemical from when first produced and 

placed in equipment or product (“consumption”) through 

servicing and use until finally recycled/released to 

atmosphere (“emissions”)

• Who? EPA tool developed with input from industry (e.g., 

AHRI AC/HP shipment data)

– Other data sources (some CBI)

• Why? Required reporting and other analyses of 

consumption and emissions of ODS and substitutes

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Vintaging Model – Uses

• Reporting for international regimes

– Consumption and emissions

– Annual Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions

– Biannual National Communications (Climate Action Report)

• Analysis of HCFC phaseout & servicing needs

– Estimated needs and available supplies (MP cap, recoverable)

• Projections of consumption and emissions for 

alternatives (e.g., HFCs)

– What if scenarios

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Aerosols Foam

Solvents Ref/AC

ODS Substitutes

Fire

Commercial Refrig

Industrial Process Domestic Refrig

Refrigeration

Transport Refrig Stationary AC

Mobile AC

Supermarkets

Condensing Units

Stand-Alone Units

Ice Makers

Display Cases

Vending Machines

Systems/Chillers

Cold Storage

Road

Rail

Ships

Containers

Residential

Small Commercial

Reciprocating Large Commercial

Dehumidifiers

Window Units

Central AC/HP

Ground-Source

PTAC/PTHP

Large Unitary

Small Unitary

Scrolls

Screw

Centrifugal

CFC-11

CFC-12

Mini-Splits

Buses

Trains

Light Duty

Cars

Trucks/SUVs

School/Tour

Transit

Wine Fridges

Water Coolers
Aerosols Foam

Solvents Ref/AC

ODS Substitutes

Fire

Commercial Refrig

Industrial Process Domestic Refrig

Refrigeration

Transport Refrig Stationary AC

Mobile AC

Supermarkets

Condensing Units

Stand-Alone Units

Ice Makers

Display Cases

Vending Machines

Systems/Chillers

Cold Storage

Road

Rail

Ships

Containers

Residential

Small Commercial

Reciprocating Large Commercial

Dehumidifiers

Window Units

Central AC/HP

Ground-Source

PTAC/PTHP

Large Unitary

Small Unitary

Scrolls

Screw

Centrifugal

CFC-11

CFC-12

Mini-Splits

Buses

Trains

Light Duty

Cars

Trucks/SUVs

School/Tour

Transit

Wine Fridges

Water Coolers
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions: Sector 

Transitions

• In many sectors, SNAP is receiving an increased number of 

submissions. SNAP currently has a few air conditioning 

submissions and has acted on others in recent years. 

– Do you anticipate sharing new substitutes for stationary A/C with SNAP 

soon? 

– Do you foresee more transitions from existing alternatives?

• What benefits have you seen from transitions? 

– Decreased cost? Improved support for corporate sustainability goals? 

Better for the environment, performance?

• Where a transition has been made, particularly to climate-friendly 

alternatives, what benefits have you experienced from making the 

change? 

• What are barriers to adoption of safer alternatives?

– What transition times are needed to adopt alternatives? 

– What end uses will require continued servicing and for how long?

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Additional Discussion 

Questions

• Under what circumstances/conditions would it make sense for 

EPA to change the listing status of certain high-GWP HFCs?

• What are some ways that SNAP can help “encourage privatesector investment in low-emissions technolog[ies](?)”

• How can EPA provide a degree of certainty for future investments 

while “prohibiting certain uses of the most harmful” alternatives?

• What are appropriate lifetimes to assume for various stationary air 

conditioning equipment?

• Can your company or trade association share additional data to 

inform our understanding of the air conditioning sector? 

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Discussion