R134a Refrigerant

Do you use R-134a refrigerant?

A-Gas RemTec can provide you with R-134a in 30lb, 145lb, 1,000lb, 2,000lb, ISO Truck Tank and 30lb pallet quantities.

The R-134a meets AHRI 700-2006 Specification and we provide a certificate of analysis for every shipment.

Are any of your cylinders out of test date?

A-Gas RemTec is a certified Department of Transportation (DOT) hydrostatic testing facility.
We'll internally wash, hydrostatically test and recertify your tanks.

Other required services (based on cylinder size) and optional services are available.

Do you recover R-22?

A-Gas RemTec will pay you for it if it meets 98% purity.


We'll pay the freight both ways, if you can provide us with our minimum net weight requirement of R-22.

Industry Encourages Cap Use on Refrigerants

Recent Deaths Demonstrate Dangers of Huffing R-22

By Peter Powell

 

This past March, Kristal Salcido, a 12-year-old seventh grader in Victorville, Calif., inhaled HCFC-22 from an air conditioning unit in the backyard of her grandmother’s home. She was later found passed out on the bathroom floor. Rushed to the emergency room, Salcido was pronounced brain dead. Four days later, her family decided to take her off life support.
She had used the R-22 in a ritual called huffing — the intentional inhalation of chemical vapors to attain a mental high or euphoric effect.
Refrigerants such as CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, and propane are just part of that chemical basket of inhalants. Others are gasoline, paint thinners, nail polish, and nitrous oxide. According to the website www.inhalants.org, one in five students has inhaled a chemical to get high by the eighth grade.

The Hazards of Huffing

In the case of the R-22, “When you inhale it, it kills your brain cells — that’s all,” said Ron Postoian, president of AC Plus Heating & Air of Hesperia, Calif., who was interviewed by television station KTLA for its story on a recent huffing fatality in his home state.
“People really don’t realize how dangerous this is,” said Dr. Craig Sanford, Tulsa, Okla., in a news report broadcast by NewsOn6. “Inhaling this substance prevents the body from getting oxygen and you can get frostbite from it, inside the tissues of your nose, mouth, and face.”
Postoian said that he’s serviced a number of condensing units where the refrigerant had suspiciously been used up.
That “missing refrigerant” aspect was echoed by Ryan Rentmeister, who owns Rentmeister Total Home Service of Salt Lake City. A few years ago in his hometown, people were turning on their air conditioners, but the machines were failing to provide cool air, due to absent refrigerant. “We’ve had four cases in the last week,” he said, suspecting huffing as the cause.
Ronda Szymanski of Advanced Air and Refrigeration Inc., Fort Myers, Fla., said a telltale sign is when service techs find a butter knife laying next to a central air conditioning condenser that has been depleted of refrigerant, with its service port visibly damaged.

Curbing the Problem

Regulators and many within the HVACR industry have been working hard to get a handle on this deadly situation. Both the International Mechanical Code 1101.10 and the International Residential Code M1411.6 have mandated that “refrigerant-circuit access ports located outdoors shall be fitted with locking-type tamper-resistant caps.”
Code requirements have been in place since 2009, but these requirements need to be codified by each state, said Gerry Spanger, director of HVACR engineered products for Rectorseal Corp.
So far, at least five states have adopted the codes, said Spanger. However, limiting more widespread acceptance, the codes are only related to new construction. He said eventually the codes will extend into retrofits and existing buildings. “It is not a question of ‘no, this won’t happen.’ It is just a question of how long it takes,” said Spanger.
Once state codes are in place, inspectors cannot sign off on a job until the locking caps are in place.
“The products are a must for companies and technicians to comply with local codes as well as liability concerns connected with refrigerants,” said Oscar Lopez, vice president of sales for JB Industries Inc., Aurora, Ill.
Spanger said that even as all the regulatory aspects eventually fall into place, there is still the possibility of abuse within the HVACR sector. He said he’d even heard of contractors buying the caps, locking them in place when required, and then removing them after an inspection for use in the next project.
“They don’t understand they are laying themselves open to liabilities,” he said.
He also said that even though the caps can only be sold to contractors who are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-certified to handle refrigerants, he had heard of instances of some wholesalers and contractors who sell the caps on websites, even though they may not be able to verify the certification status of the purchaser.
According to Jon Melchi, director of government affairs for Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), “Wholesalers and suppliers strongly believe that these products should not be available online. They should only be sold to licensed contractors. As an industry we must be diligent in making sure that the entire channel is aware of best practices regarding these products.”

Locked and Loaded

While controlling huffing remains a key aspect of locking caps, the devices have long been offered in the HVACR distribution channel for a number of applications. Even as regulations move toward the requirement of locking caps, the devices themselves are being fine tuned.
For example, this past February, Rectorseal Corp. introduced its GasGuard™, a tamper-resistant locking valve cap designed to help prevent refrigerant theft, leaks, and huffing. It screws and locks onto threaded refrigerant Schraeder valves.
“GasGuard restricts unauthorized access because it can only be installed or removed with a unique matching proprietary socket tool,” said Jerry Tomasello, director of marketing for RectorSeal. “It cannot be removed with a core remover or Allen wrench.”
JB’s Lopez also noted that his company is launching a new American-made refrigerant safety cap with greater security under the brand name The Shield.

Contractor Support

Numerous contractors, including Chase Tunnell, president, Dominion Service, Richmond, Va., are strong advocates of locking caps. For a number of years, Tunnell has been involved with the Substance Abuse Free Environment (SAFE) program, which encourages the use of locking caps.
“SAFE is still actively pushing it and Dominion Service is currently doing a public service campaign in the Hampton Roads, Va., area,” he said. “Our Richmond division has had huge success with the program but Hampton Roads has been a little slower to catch on. We are working on fixing that.
“We are currently installing 10-15 caps each week. We’re confident that number will increase significantly as the summer season hits.”

 

 

Counting down to the ban on R22

As the months pass towards the total ban on the use of R22 for servicing air-conditioning equipment, Kevin Groves of Ergro gives his perspective.

The final removal of the HCFC refrigerant R22 from the world’s air conditioning systems has long been heralded and is now upon us here in the UK. Manufacturers of equipment have not included it in new systems since 2003. In 2010 the use of virgin R22 refrigerant was banned, and systems can only now be serviced utilising reclaimed refrigerant for maintenance. Now the final date in the legislative removal of recycled R22 because of its ozone-depleting properties is near. On 1 January 2015, the use of recycled R22 refrigerant will be banned in the EU.

Practically speaking, where R22 refrigerant is in use, there are two main options to make an air-conditioning system serviceable after the ban comes into force. One option is to convert the existing system to enable it to operate using a legal but often less efficient refrigerant or replacing part of or the entire system.

There are two main routes to a conversion solution.

In some cases it will be possible to make a few modifications to the system, such as replacing some gaskets and the oil, which will enable it to run on a new refrigerant such as R422D. This is known as the drop-in refrigerant option, which, in most cases, will lead to a reduction in cooling capacity and increased running costs.

Where another refrigerant cannot be dropped in, there may be the potential to convert the system by installing new fan coils or condensers whilst still retaining much of the building’s existing internal infrastructure such as piping. As well as increasing system capacity, conversion is likely to improve the overall efficiency of a system through the use of modern refrigerants (except when using the drop-in option).

Both solutions are, however, heavily dependent on site, installation conditions and age of the plant.
Systems not suitable for conversion will need to be replaced. Despite the higher installation costs, replacement can lead to greater system efficiencies, lower maintenance requirements and reduced operating costs.

For building-services engineers, the effect of the legislation is likely to mean that air conditioning will take centre stage in many of their operations in the coming years. It’s important that the engineering community understands what is business-critical air conditioning and impresses the importance of preparedness upon facilities managers and business leaders.

Who should act and when, what market forces and liabilities are involved and why it’s becoming the most important news in air conditioning may not be immediately obvious to many business leaders and even facilities managers. In fact, many people who could be affected most acutely won’t even know if R22 is used in their air conditioning or even realise they are responsible for the air conditioning in the spaces they occupy.

At a recent summit in London, held at the Royal Society of Medicine, Ergro assembled a panel of experts to answer some of these questions and to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the ban of R22.

The panel introduced the subject from their various perspectives and took questions from an invited audience comprising building managers, consultants, architects and business leaders.
There were several points upon which the panel was in complete agreement, chief among which was the need for people to gain the knowledge required to properly evaluate their position in relation to a date which, while it seems distant, taken in the context of the financial cycles and business-critical nature of the systems involved, is actually almost upon us.

I represented Ergro on the panel to offer the insight of a contracting engineer who works with air conditioning for skyscrapers, manufacturing, data centres and offices. Also on the panel were representatives of leading air-conditioning manufacturers Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin, legal and liability expertise from property law firm Taylor Wessing and chartered accountants and chartered tax advisors LB Group.

One question concerned the subtleties of supply and demand of the refrigerant itself. R22 is presently trading at around £30 per kilo in the UK, and this price is rising all of the time. When considering the fact that it will become illegal to buy or sell from the end of 2014 it would seem likely that the upward trend in its value will continue.

And what about installing new equipment? If it’s critical to the business that maintenance is possible and downtime avoidable, as it is in many of the instances where an estimated 750 000 systems using R22 exist, then a lot of companies will be looking to replace equipment at around the same time.
Needless to say, where demand outstrips supply in terms of the expertise to fit new systems, there are likely to be delays that could cause unnecessary risk to business continuity.

While it does seem to be a little way off, the R22 refrigerant ban will very soon make its presence felt across the business community. From now and for the next 18 months and beyond, building-services engineers will be at the heart of making business-critical systems compliant and serviceable into the future. But the whole facilities management and building services industry must come together with manufacturers and business services to help the business community to understand how the changes will affect them. Knowledge is power, and a full evaluation of existing systems will equip business leaders with the knowledge to make the right decisions to get ahead of the ban. More information and a countdown to the ban clock is available at the link below.

Kevin Groves is group operations director with Ergro
- See more at: http://www.modbs.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/11893/Counting_down_to_the_ban_on_R22.html#sthash.HbKs8XtY.dpuf

The Future of HFCs in Montreal Protocol

My Peter Powell

April 8, 2013

It’s easy to argue that no single development has impacted the HVACR industry as much as the Montreal Protocol. The international treaty, which was signed 25 years ago, ultimately phased out CFC and HCFC production; introduced refrigerant recovery, recycling, and reclamation; and, essentially, enveloped the HVACR industry under the power of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which now dictates certifications and penalties related to the use and handling of refrigerants.

More than two decades later, the worldwide contract is still strongly impacting many sectors of the HVACR industry, including the decisions of contractors and service technicians. Ongoing discussions are currently underway, examining ways to incorporate HFCs into the protocol in order to phase down their use due to relatively high global warming potential (GWP). And while no changes are expected in the foreseeable future, these continuing conversations, and the potential developments pending, have surely caught the attention of those across the industry.

Good News

But first, the good news: The protocol was designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of substances found to be responsible for ozone depletion, those having ozone depleting potential (ODP).
And, it appears to be working.

“The Montreal Protocol is widely recognized for being very effective in reducing ozone depleting substances including CFCs and HCFCs,” said Robert Wilkins, vice president of public affairs, Danfoss. “Although we do not expect atmospheric chlorine to return to pre-1980 levels until about 2050, it has peaked and has been trending downward for several years.”

The Emergence of HFCs

With the HVACR industry forced to turn away from CFCs and HCFCs, it has moved on to HFCs, which include no ODP. However, many HFCs carried a high GWP due to their abilities to trap infrared radiations in the atmosphere, which does contribute to the greenhouse effect.

The latest efforts to revise the Montreal Protocol include rating gases based on GWP, as well as ODP.
Rajan Rajendran, vice president of engineering services and sustainability for Emerson Climate Technologies, noted, “The U.S., Canada, and Mexico have proposed an amendment to the Montreal Protocol to address global warming with a phase down of HFCs. This effort has been in place for a few years now. While there are 107 other countries supporting it, there are other, more developing countries like India, China, and Brazil who oppose. One barrier that is often mentioned is that the Montreal Protocol has historically had a very clear mission of addressing ozone depletion, but climate change is outside of its charter.”

Danfoss’ Wilkins added, “The EPA and the Department of State jointly held a stakeholders meeting in Washington on Feb. 5 with American industry leaders and others to discuss possible steps forward. With industry representatives expressing support for a well-planned orderly global HFC phase down on a GWP-weighted basis, it is likely the North American proposal will be resubmitted in 2013 for consideration at this year’s annual meeting.”

But what happens after that is uncertain, although many expect minimal action for a few subsequent years.
Mack McFarland, environmental fellow, DuPont Chemicals & Fluoroproducts, said, “The proposed amendment to the Montreal Protocol has not yet been endorsed by all of the developing countries. Amendments are adopted by consensus. Discussions continue with more and more countries voicing their support each year. I think the industry views the predictable process under the Montreal Protocol as preferable to country-by-country command and control regimes.”

Rajendran agreed. “While there are efforts to make some changes in the protocol, I don’t believe we’ll see any changes in the next few years.”

Europe and the US

European leaders are conversationally discussing HFC regulations based on GWP.

According to the website R-744.com, “The debate did advance, with countries discussing HFC amendment proposals in an informal setting, as well as requesting more information on the availability of environmentally sound alternatives to ozone depleting substances.”

R-744.com noted that this debate has spanned four years, without resolution. In his second inaugural address President Barack Obama said, “We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.” He did not specify any specific proposals during this speech.

A Feb. 12 report from the White House, titled, “The President’s Plan for a Strong Middle Class and a Strong America,” revived calls for more reliance on solar and wind energy generation. The only reference to climate change was the statement, “The president has directed his cabinet to identify executive actions from across the administration to help reduce pollution, prepare our cities and nation for the worsening effects of climate change, and accelerate the transition to more sustainable sources of energy.”

But most do not see this as an omen for unilateral action. For one, a divided Congress seems unlikely to act on potentially costly initiatives. And many in the industry see the EPA wanting to work in the framework of a global consensus.

At the same time, Rajendran did suggest, “The HVACR industry in the U.S. should be watching the emerging U.S. state government regulations out of the West and Northeast as well as potential U.S. government actions and regulations on greenhouse gasses.”

DuPont’s McFarland said, “There are a broad range of global activities under way to address greenhouse gas emissions, such as the U.S. CAFE standard for lightweight motor vehicles, renewable fuels, electricity programs in various countries, and cap-and-trade pilots in China. We anticipate that absent of a global agreement such as the Montreal Protocol, the U.S. government will seek ways to reduce HFC emissions under its current authority.”

But, in the context of a global perspective, Wilkins said progress may occur slowly. “Any changes to the Montreal Protocol would take a few years to enact. If India and China could be persuaded to support an HFC phase down, leading to a global consensus, the Montreal Protocol would then undergo negotiations to finalize the amendment and provide specific targets and timetables for phasing down HFCs globally. The amendment would then need to be ratified country by country. In the U.S., that would likely require action by the Senate. Once approved, each country could begin its own process for phasing down HFCs — similar to the phase down of CFCs and HCFCs.”

SIDEBAR: A No-Go for Kyoto

If changes to the Montreal Protocol are slow starters in regards to any additional impact on HVACR contractors, the Kyoto Protocol is a non-starter. Kyoto was to be the document to obligate countries, starting in 2005, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Many countries signed and ratified it. The U.S. signed it, but failed to ratify it and Canada withdrew from it in 2011.

Even then, many ratifiers had problems reducing GHG emissions to promised levels. However, more than 100 nations have pledged support behind the regulation of GHG emissions through the Montreal Protocol, and a growing number of countries are ready to join on, if a draft is ever presented.

Mack McFarland, environmental fellow, DuPont Chemicals & Fluoroproducts, said, “While there are no discussions under the Kyoto Protocol specific to the HVACR industry, there are active discussions under the Montreal Protocol.”

Robert Wilkins, vice president of public affairs, Danfoss, acknowledged that climate change is emerging as an important issue for the Obama administration. “Since the U.S. never ratified the Kyoto Protocol, and nothing has developed regarding refrigerants, there isn’t likely to be any impact on the HVACR industry.”
Rajan Rajendran, vice president of engineering services and sustainability for Emerson Climate Technologies, said climate-change regulations could still surface in the U.S.

“From the Kyoto Protocol point of view, which is focused on climate change, the HVACR industry in the U.S. should be watching the emerging U.S. state government regulations on greenhouse gases.”

Publication date: 4/8/2013

Peter Powell is Refrigeration Editor. E-mail him at peterpowell@achrnews.com.

Refrigerant Updates

Converting Away From R-22

Editor’s Note: The following article was prepared by ICOR International and references some technologies and products specific to the company.


With the impending phaseout of R-22 looming, the price and availability of the product will soon make it impractical to use.

With virtually tens of millions of R-22-designed a/c systems in operation, refrigerant users and equipment owners will need to employ a number of alternative options to satisfy their cooling needs. Due to the special application designs and cooling requirements found in multifamily structures, there are a unique set of challenges in maintaining cooling equipment and fewer practical options.

It is illegal to purposely vent any refrigerant. All refrigerant users must possess an EPA 608 certification (required by law under The Clean Air Act) to recover all refrigerants. Recovered refrigerants are to be recycled or returned to an EPA-registered reclaim service provider (one example of which is Refri-Claim [www.refri-claim.com]).

The law does allow equipment owners to recycle and reuse refrigerants in their own equipment without processing it through a reclaim company. However, this practice adds additional costs in the form of equipment, labor, and energy, and, if done improperly, can create additional service problems and even equipment failures.

Equipment Replacement

HFC-410A is the non-ozone depleting replacement of choice by new equipment manufactures. Since R-410A operational pressures are much higher than that of R-22, R-410A-designed systems incorporate unique materials and components. For this reason users cannot use R-22 in an R-410A-designed system, or use R-410A in an R-22-designed system. The refrigerants must be segregated and used only in systems designed for their unique characteristics.

Even though R-410A is a highly efficient refrigerant and the equipment’s physical footprint does not pose any new challenges, the cost of replacing an existing R-22 designed system with an R-410A system may be impractical. With most multifamily systems, the evaporator (indoor unit) has a much longer lifespan than does the condenser (outdoor unit). However, R-410A pressures require the replacement of the outdoor unit as well as the indoor unit. And since R-410A systems require the use of a product specific lubricant — POE oil — the system piping (line sets) must be flushed with a special solvent to remove any build up along the piping walls.

Refrigerant Conversion

For equipment owners with a restrictive budget, full equipment replacement to R-410A may be impractical.

The simplest and least costly option to maintaining an existing piece of R-22 equipment is to convert the system to a direct replacement refrigerant. For example, HFC-422B (marketed by ICOR International as NU-22B) is a non-ozone depleting, nontoxic, and nonflammable direct replacement that nearly duplicates the operating characteristics of R-22. System conversions to R-422B do not require the use of any product-specific materials or components. Therefore decision-makers can extend the lifespan of both the indoor and outdoor units and avoid any costs associated with flushing or replacing system piping.

The Conversion Process

Here is the conversion process using R-422B as an example:

1. Recover all of the R-22 from the system following EPA regulations.

2. Complete all necessary system services and repairs.

3. Pressurize system and performance leak check.

4. Pull system into a vacuum.

5. With the system off, initially charge R-422B in the system to 80 percent of the original R-22 charge as a liquid. Note: Charging a system with R-422B as a vapor will reduce system performance.

6. Start system and allow pressure to stabilize.

7. To maximize system performance on a fixed orifice system, check compressor superheat; on expansion valve units check system subcooling. Adjust charge as necessary. Note: Refer to the original equipment manufacturer’s superheat and subcooling specifications.

8. Leak check the system and establish preventive maintenance schedule.

A special note: For large-tonnage equipment or unique systems, and or applications, contact ICOR’s Tech-2-Tech department for conversion assistance. Do not use R-422B or any other 400 Series refrigerant in a flooded evaporator application.

International Heating and Cooling Product Distributor Please Guilty

International Heating and Cooling Product Distributor Pleads Guilty and

Sentenced for Illegal Purchase and Sale of Smuggled Ozone-Depleting Refrigerant Gas

        Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Maureen O’Mara, Special Agent in Charge, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Criminal Investigation Division, Atlanta Area Office, and Alysa D. Erichs, Special Agent in Charge, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), announced today that defendant, FSD Group, LLC a Florida corporation with its headquarters in Miami, was convicted and sentenced in connection with the illegal receipt, purchase, and sale of ozone-depleting refrigerant gas that had been smuggled into the United States contrary to the Clean Air Act, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 545.

        FSD Group pled guilty to a one count Information filed against it before United States District Court Judge Joan Lenard, for knowingly receiving, buying, selling and facilitating the transportation, concealment, and sale of approximately 65,592 kilograms of the ozone-depleting substance hydrochlorofluorocarbon-22 (“HCFC-22") which had been illegally smuggled into the United States contrary to the Clean Air Act.  HCFC-22 is a widely used refrigerant for residential heat pump and air-conditioning systems.

        Immediately following the guilty plea, FSD Group was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $100,000.00 criminal fine.  In addition, as a special condition of probation, FSD Group was ordered to implement and enforce a comprehensive Environmental Compliance Plan.  FSD Group was also ordered to forfeit to the United States $180,051.00, which represents proceeds received as a result of the crime and pay owed duties to the United States Customs and Border Protection for incorrectly classified merchandise.

        Federal law prohibits dealing in merchandise that is imported contrary to law.  The Federal Clean Air Act regulates air pollutants including ozone depleting substances such as HCFC-22.  The Clean Air Act and its implementing regulations established a schedule to phase out the production and importation of ozone-depleting substances beginning in 2002, with a complete ban starting in 2030.  To meet its obligations under an international treaty to reduce its consumption of ozone-depleting substances, the United States issued baseline allowances for the production and importation of HCFC-22 to individuals and companies.  In order to legally import HCFC-22, you must hold an unexpended consumption allowance. 

        According to court records, FSD Group which also operates under the name Saez Distributors, is an international supplier and distributor of merchandise for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigerator systems, equipment and products including ozone-depleting substances.  In business for thirty five years, and itself, an original allowance holder under the Clean Air Act, FSD had extensive knowledge regarding the Act’s rules and prohibition against purchasing illegally imported HCFC-22.  During the course of the illegal conduct, in addition to its legal imports, FSD Group made additional purchases of HCFC-22 from various importers, knowing they did not hold the required unexpended consumption allowances, totaling approximately 65,592 kilograms, of restricted HCFC-22, with a fair market value of approximately $733,096.00.  

United States Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “The regulatory program here is intended to protect us all from the harmful effects associated with depletion of the earth’s ozone layer.  By aggressively supporting the investigative agencies in their efforts to enforce federal laws that seek to protect our environment, we are both meeting our country’s commitment and responsibility to our future generations and the international community.”

       

        EPA SAC Maureen O’Mara said, “HCFC’s deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, which is critical to life on earth and protecting people from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, including cancer.  EPA will continue working with ICE and other agencies to combat such criminal conduct, preventing these dangerous smuggling and distribution operations, and curbing the world-wide threat of stratospheric ozone depletion.  This plea and sentence, the first of its kind against an allowance holder, sends a strong message that those who jeopardize public safety in order to make illegal profits will be vigorously prosecuted and punished.”

       

        “EPA realizes that as HCFCs are phased out domestically, smuggling is likely to rise, jeopardizing human health and our atmosphere. This is why EPA is working harder than ever, in cooperation with our federal partners, to seek justice against those that not only illegally import R-22, but also knowingly purchase contraband material,” said Drusilla Hufford, Director of EPA’s Stratospheric Protection Division.

       

        “The unlawful importation of goods poses a significant threat to the national security, public safety, and in this particular case, the illegal importation posed a global hazard to our environment,” said Alysa D. Erichs, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Miami.  “We will continue to vigorously investigate those who are determined to line their pockets with the proceeds of crimes against the environment.”

        This matter and others involving the smuggling and distribution of ozone-depleting substances are being investigated through a multi-agency initiative known as Operation Catch-22.  Operation Catch-22 has, to date, including the successful conviction of nearly a dozen individuals and corporations at every level of the refrigerant gas smuggling and distribution chain. 

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the EPA, ICE-HSI, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Criminal Investigation Bureau, and the Miami-Dade Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi A. Mazer.

        A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Dave Stirpe
Executive Director
Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
2111 Wilson Blvd., 8th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201

phone: (703) 243-0344
website: www.arap.org

The cost of keeping your home cool is rising

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- With the heat we're feeling, many homeowners are discovering that it's gotten a lot more expensive to keep their homes cool.

The cost of cooling homes is rising because the cost of the Freon gas used in most air conditioners is skyrocketing. The reason -- new EPA regulations.

The next time you call someone like Danny Crimmens to come fix your air conditioner, be prepared for sticker shock when you get the bill.

Repairing leaky air conditioners has never been as expensive as it is right now.

The problem is the rising cost of R-22 Freon gas, the most common coolant used in both home and business air conditioners for some 40 years. In 2010, the EPA began phasing out R-22 because of concerns that it damaged the ozone layer.

"So what everybody did is agreed that beginning in 2010, they would start phasing out R-22, and phase it out over a 10-year period through 2010-2020," said Richard Ciresi, president of AireServ Heating and Cooling.

But then, last year, the EPA changed the rules. Instead of phasing out R-22 at a rate of 10 percent per year, the EPA proposed an immediate 35 percent reduction.

"Well, the moment that proposal hit the street, the price of the refrigerant R-22 tripled literally overnight," said Ciresi.

Tripled from about eight-dollars a pound to 25-dollars a pound. And much of that cost is being passed on to consumers.

"Our price just escalated wildly, some of which we tried to absorb to help our customers."

And it's going to get worse before it gets better. The closer we get to 2020, the more scarce and more expensive R-22 gas will become.

So, many homeowners will face a dilemma -- whether to pay the skyrocketing cost of repairing an older air conditioner, or buying a newer model that does not use R-22 gas.

"If someone has an old R-22 unit and maybe it needs a $500-600 repair, it's probably time to start looking at going ahead and replacing it because the next repair may be $1000 or $1200. We don't know what that number is going to be," said Ciresi.

If your air conditioner was installed before around 1997, it's more likely that it uses R-22 gas. The good news is that modern units are more efficient, and you'll save on your energy bill.

Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.

Price of R-22 Air Conditioner Refrigerant Drastically Increases

Written by Jesse Muench

We are quite concerned about the recent drastic price increase of R-22 (also called Freon), a coolant used in many air conditioners, due to a regulation put into place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/downloads/Homeowner.pdf) that will phase out the use of R-22 completely by the year 2020. R-22 has been shown to release Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC’s), which are harmful to the ozone, leading the EPA to gradually eliminate it.

Because of this phase out R-22 refrigerant will gradually be produced less and less, thus diminishing supplies and increasing costs of the coolant. The cost for Freon recently doubled, and is anticipated to eventually triple, placing a major burden on air conditioner owners. The recent spikes in price have put HVAC contractors in a state of frenzy. In the South where air conditioners are used more frequently many HVAC companies are buying as much R-22 as possible thus making it even scarcer and making the price even higher in the North.

If you own an air conditioner that uses R-22 there are two primary issues that will affect you. The first is that as time goes on it will become more and more expensive to add Freon to your air conditioner, and eventually it will be completely unavailable. The second issue is that theft of R-22 from your air conditioner becomes much more likely. As Freon becomes more and more scarce and the prices rise it will become much more valuable, and increase the incentive to steal it.

Most air conditioners 5-10 years or older use R-22. If you are uncertain of what type of refrigerant your air conditioning unit uses don’t hesitate to give us call and we can help you determine if this recent price shift will affect you. We are also available for any questions you have about this change or challenges it may present to you. Feel free to give us a call at 262-677-1037 for any of these questions or for more information. There is also a Frequently Asked Question section on the EPA’s website that can help you better understand what this all means for you. We will keep you updated of any major changes in this matter right here on our blog. Also be sure to watch the video attached below in which our owner Steve Holland briefly discusses what to expect with Freon and how it will affect you.

The information contained in this article have been written for the HVAC industry public or private and are not to copied, reproduced or plagiarized without the written consent of the author. News publications and trade organizations interested in using content contained in this blog/article can contact Steve Holland at Holland Home Services at the Contact Us section of this.

What’s Going on with R-22

By Charlie McCrudden | January 30, 2012
Recent actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding HCFCs have led to uncertainty about the availability of R-22 in the coming months and years. In response, contractors have noticed a ramp-up in the chatter about R-22 and price changes as some manufacturers and importers have amended their sales policies.

This situation is the culmination of several factors, including the continued implementation of the federal government’s policies regarding HCFCs, current market conditions, and delays in the regulatory process.

As most contractors know, the EPA controls the production of HCFCs, including the refrigerant known as R-22, through allowances that limit how much each gas manufacturer and importer can produce or import in a given year. Under the implementation of the Montreal Protocol, the production and use of R-22 is slowly being phased out.

In August 2011, the EPA proposed to adjust the allocations in place for the years 2012-2014. This adjustment was necessary because of a lawsuit filed by two HCFC producers who had completed a legal trade of allocations that EPA had failed to recognize in its allocations released in 2009.

EPA consulted with industry stakeholders before proposing to reduce the annual allocations. In gathering information used to develop the August 2011 allocation adjustment, EPA found that there was an oversupply of R-22 in the marketplace, partly evident by a lack of demand, increased reuse of R-22, and low wholesale prices. In fact, in 2010, producers of R-22 only utilized 86% of their allocations. A trade organization representing the manufacturers and importers of R-22 supported these claims, and advocated for a 20% reduction in allocations for 2012-2014.

By the end of 2011, EPA had yet to finalize its adjustment proposal for the 2012-2014 allocations. But EPA did release a subsequent version of the August 2011 adjustment proposal on December 30, 2011, one that proposed to reduce the allocations for 2012-2014 between 11-47%.

Without a finalized adjustment rule, the producers and importers of R-22 were stuck in a legal limbo – on January 1, 2012, they did not have the authority to manufacture or import R-22. Recognizing this problem, on January 20, 2012, EPA sent “non-enforcement” letters to the producers and importers of R-22, alerting them that they could resume the manufacture and import of R-22 in the interim even though EPA had yet to set the new allocation amounts. The non-enforcement letter advised that production would be curtailed by 45% of their last allocation amount, the high end of the allocation adjustment proposal.

It is expected that the EPA adjustment proposal will take at least until the summer of 2012 to be completed. The end result could be a reduction in R-22 allocations somewhere between 11-47%, meaning it is likely the final adjustment proposal will be less than the interim 45% reduction and that more R-22 may be produced or imported.

ACCA has been following this issue to provide contractors with the most up-to-date and precise information available. We will continue to monitor the allocation adjustment rulemaking process and alert members of any progress or actions taken by EPA.

UPDATE: February 2, 2012

The last two weeks have been like no other in the industry.

As a follow-up to the regulatory alert posted last week, I thought I would try to give some further background on what’s driving the uncertainty in the R-22 marketplace.

Two factors make the R-22 market different from a typical open and competitive marketplace where the rules of supply and demand govern.

First, as everyone knows, the use of R-22 is slowly, but actively being phased out by the EPA under the Montreal Protocol. About every five years, the manufacture and import of R-22 is stepped down under a program http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/hcfc.html designed to phase out the production and use by 2030.

Second, under the phase down, the production and import of R-22 marketplace is tightly controlled through production and consumption allocations granted by the EPA, typically on a five year basis.
In regulating the marketplace and setting the production and import allocations, EPA is making certain assumptions about how much R-22 will be necessary for servicing needs going forward. (Remember that as of 2010, newly manufactured R-22 cannot be used in newly manufactured appliances, only servicing existing equipment.)

During the phase down, EPA has repeatedly tried to make clear that it wants to oversee a smooth transition away from the HCFCs. That’s partly the reason for the allowing the continued manufacture of dry charged R-22 condensing units.

As part of that transition, EPA wants to promote recovery and reclamation of R-22 for continued servicing needs, but also encourage changeover to non-ozone depleting substance alternatives, refrigerants like 410A.

It’s impossible to predict exactly where EPA will decide to set the allocation amounts for 2012-2014. As noted in the regulatory alert, the earliest their decision will come out is this summer. Until then you can expect to see more uncertainty about price and availability.

Charlie McCrudden is ACCA Vice President for Government Relations.

The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy's Response to the EPA's Allocation of HCFC 22