Full Title: Refrigerant Reclamation: Assessing Potential Emissions Impacts of R-410A Refrigerant Reclamation in the United States’ Residential HVAC Sector
Author(s): Ankit Kalanki, Yulin Lou, Ian McGavisk, Raghav Muralidharan, Hadia Sheerazi, and Gareth Westler Shares
Publisher(s): Rocky Mountain Institute
Publication Date: September 1, 2024
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Description (excerpt):
RMI’s Refrigerant Reclamation report highlights the positive climate impact of using reclaimed refrigerant R-410A (the most commonly used refrigerant in residential equipment) for servicing existing air conditioning and heat pump equipment in the residential sector. This analysis found that reclamation of R-410A can cut greenhouse gas emissions from refrigerant production by more than half compared to production of new refrigerant. Maximizing reclamation in place of producing new refrigerant can reduce emissions from the sector overall.
The report also highlights current financial and logistical barriers to recovery, which is foundational to achieving the illustrated emissions impact from reclaimed refrigerant. It also identifies policies and best practices from different regions around the world to overcome those barriers based on stakeholder interviews conducted by the team. Implementing these policies quickly will be crucial to scale the adoption of reclaimed refrigerant in the United States, which impacts not only the R-410A market, but also the success of the broader industry transition to refrigerants that have a significantly lower impact on the climate.