The transition to more environmentally friendly refrigerants and foam blowing agents has long been an integral part of the home appliance industry’s commitment to sustainability and to reducing its environmental footprint. Home appliance manufacturers in the U.S. have largely transitioned away from using high-GWP (global warming potential) hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants in refrigerators and freezers and are transitioning room air conditioners, portable air conditioners and dehumidifiers away from the use of very high-GWP HFCs.
AHAM was both a leading advocate for these transitions and for relevant changes to safety standards that allowed manufacturers to incorporate more environmentally friendly alternatives.
The refrigerant transition is complete for most products, but there are specific instances, such as higher-capacity room air conditioners and heat pump dryers, where proposed regulations at the state level may curtail the availability of these products. AHAM is advocating for harmonization of state regulations with U.S. EPA regulations, as the transition to hydrocarbon refrigerants for these products requires additional time to adjust corresponding safety standards.
