Refrigeration and Air Conditioning 

SNAP Stakeholder Workshop: 

Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning

December 4, 2013

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Introduction

• Why motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC), why now?

– EPA is conducting a series of SNAP sector workshops

– Refrigeration and air conditioning is the largest SNAP sector

• 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 

– Other Activities

• 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

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SNAP Listings

• SNAP lists alternatives as acceptable, unacceptable, or 

acceptable with conditions for use

• Alternatives include:

– Alternative chemicals/blends 

– Alternative technologies (e.g., thermoelectric)

• 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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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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MVAC Options

• Three low-GWP options listed by SNAP in 

recent years as acceptable subject to use 

conditions for new MVAC systems

– HFC-152a (R-152a) in 2008

– HFO-1234yf (R-1234yf) in 2011

• New passenger cars and light-duty trucks 

only

– CO2(R-744) in 2012

– SNAP does not require use of any specific 

alternative, instead provides a menu of options 

• U.S. introduction of first MVACs with HFO1234yf in 2012

– Additional models in 2013

Acceptable MVAC

Refrigerants & GWPs

Refrigerant Global Warming

Potential

CFC-12 10,900

HFC-134a 1,430

HFC-152a 124

HFO-1234yf 4

CO2 (R-744) 1

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Other MVAC Activities

• Light-Duty Motor Vehicle rule provides incentives for 

transition to low-GWP alternatives

– Optional compliance credits available through MY 2025

• ~ 14 grams CO2eq for cars

• ~ 17 grams CO2eq for trucks

• CAA Section 609 Activities

– 609 Technician Training and Certification (TT&C) Update

• All existing 609 TT&C programs required to update training and exam 

to incorporate information on new alternatives

– Developing NPRM to include servicing equipment for HFO-1234yf

• EPA intends to propose to adopt SAE standards: J2843 R-1234yf 

R/R/R Equipment & J2851 Recovery Equipment for Contaminated 

Refrigerant

• Point-of-Sale Brochure

– Information on R-1234yf, CO2 and R-152a

– Increase technician and public awareness of alternative refrigerants 10
Petition Status

• NRDC, EIA and IGSD filed three petitions in 2010 & 2012

• First petition requested EPA remove HFC-134a from list of 

acceptable substitutes, find it unacceptable for:

– New motor vehicle ACs

– Non-medical aerosols

– Household, commercial refrigeration, foam blowing agents

• EPA found first petition complete for MVAC for new, lightduty vehicles only

– Agreed to move forward with rulemaking looking at whether and 

when to remove HFC-134a from MVACs

• EPA has not found other petitions complete

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Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions: Sector 

Transitions

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

submissions. 

– Do you anticipate sharing new substitutes for MVAC 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 climatefriendly 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 

private-sector 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?

• Can your company or trade association share additional data 

to inform our understanding of the MVAC market? 

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Discussion