Due to mounting environmental concerns, in 2003 the Environmental Protection Agency passed the Montreal Protocol Act. This piece of legislation has already had a significant impact on the heating and air conditioning industry and will continue to do so in the coming years. Among other things, it laid the groundwork for the phase out of R-22, an ozone-depleting HCFC refrigerant used in most HVAC systems around the world. The refrigerant that has been designed to take its place is R-410a. A new R-410a system is not only better for the environment, it also allows new equipment to run quieter and be more efficient.