THE US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added isobutane (R600a), propane (R290) and the R-441A blend (of ethane, propane, butane and isobutane) as acceptable hydrocarbon alternatives in household and small commercial refrigerators and freezers.
The newly-approved refrigerants can be used to replace ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-12 and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22 in household refrigerators, freezers, combination refrigerator-freezers, and commercial stand-alone units.

The EPA took action after requests from Ben and Jerry's and General Electric, as well as A.S. Trust & Holdings, and True Manufacturing to use ozone layer-protective hydrocarbon refrigerants in order to facilitate hydrocarbon substitutes being widely used in the United States.

'Today's action is a great example of how businesses and EPA can work together to protect our planet and drive innovation,' said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. 'This action increases the options for effective, climate-friendly refrigerants in the U.S.'

Under the Clean Air Act, the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program evaluates substitute chemicals and technologies for ozone-depleting substances (ODS). SNAP is globally recognised as the only program designed specifically to evaluate substitutes for ODS and to focus on the industrial sectors that use them.

At the recent 23rd Meeting of the Montreal Protocol Parties, EPA and the US Department of State announced that 108 countries signed a declaration to address hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). While HFCs are ODS substitutes, they are increasingly contributing to climate change. The approval of hydrocarbons in the US is significant because hydrocarbons are more environmentally-friendly substitutes than HFCs.

Tecumseh has applauded the US EPA ruling on HC refrigerants, saying that it will provide customers new opportunities to differentiate by offering more environmentally-friendly product solutions.

'Tecumseh has been developing and marketing compressors and condensing units that utilise hydrocarbon refrigerants for more than a decade, primarily in South America and Europe,' said Keith Gifford, Tecumseh director of global marketing.

'Tecumseh was at the forefront of the changeover to R134a refrigerant many years ago,' said Mr Gifford. 'We're now focused on continuing that leadership position with the US EPA approval of HC refrigerants R290, R600a and R441A, including a commitment to help educate and train refrigeration design engineers and technicians on the proper use, application and servicing of hydrocarbon compressors and condensing units.'