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For decades, CFC-12 was used
as the refrigerant in motor vehicle air conditioning systems.
However, scientists have shown that it damages
the ozone layer. In response, the world decided to end
production of ozone-depleting susbtances. Additionally, to make
sure existing CFC-12 is used as much as possible, rather than being
wasted and released to the atmosphere, EPA issued regulations under
section 609 of
the Clean Air Act to require that shop technicians use special
machines to recycle CFC-12.
On December 31, 1995, CFC-12 production essentially ended in the
US. It is still legal to use the existing stockpiles of CFC-12, but
several companies have also developed new
substitutes. These products have been reviewed by EPA's SNAP program.
Since it is illegal to release these substitutes to the atmosphere,
EPA has promulgated standards
for machines that recover them from vehicles, and we are working on
standards for recycling machines.
Numerous fact sheets explain the effects of CFC-12 on the ozone
layer, the substitutes and how they must be used, and the
regulations that govern motor vehicle conditioning in the US.
Recently, EPA helped kickoff a global voluntary effort to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle air conditioning systems
through the Mobile Air Conditioning Climate Protection Partnership.
Members include environmental authorities from Australia, Canada,
Europe, India, and Japan; environmental and industry nongovernmental
organizations; and global vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers.
The work of the Partnership is important because improved mobile air
conditioning will avoid millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions
and will save billions of gallons of fuel each year. Visit the Mobile Air Conditioning Climate
Protection Partnership website.
Fact Sheets
Each of these fact sheets is also available from the EPA
Stratospheric Ozone Hotline at 1-800-296-1996.
Information Related to the December 30, 1997 Final Rule
Governing Substitutes for CFC-12 Refrigerant in MVACs
Information for Car & Truck Owners
Information for Technicians About Substitutes & Retrofitting
Other Information for Technicians
Section 609 Rule Summaries
Other Questions About Cars & Trucks -- Information from
EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ)
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