Stay informed with Forum Five, your source for HVACR news. In this issue, we recap the ongoing industry concerns surrounding the proposed phase-down schedule for F-gases and its far-reaching implications across sectors and around the world. 

1. FETA Chair warns EU F-Gas phase-down risks industry efficiency progress. The Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA) has given lawmakers a stern warning that F-gas phase-downs would cause a serious strain to innovation and productivity for the cooling industry as a whole. Read more.
2. EPA proposes new rule to cut HFCs without clear alternatives. Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has always maintained that contractor and consumer safety be the No. 1 priority when it comes to this refrigerant transition. Barton James, ACCA President and CEO: The alternative substances to HFC refrigerants pose potential hazards that are not present with HFC refrigerants. Read more.
3. Europe risks “shooting itself in the foot”, EPEE warns. As F-gas negotiations intensify, industry voices, led by the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE), express doubts over the feasibility of a complete F-gas ban. EPEE has said that while non-fluorinated refrigerants are a part of the solution, they come with limitations in safety, efficiency, and practicality. Read more.
4. F-gas revision deemed unrealistic according to industry trade associations. The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) states that the European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI) vote is a major setback for heat pumps in Europe and that an accelerated phase-out fails to consider current manufacturing and installation capacity. Read more.
5. F-gas bans not technically feasible. APPLiA, a Brussels-based association representing top home appliance and heat pump manufacturers, cautions against the proposed F-gas bans in the EU, claiming they are not technically feasible for all applications. APPLiA believes that an F-gas ban would stifle consumer demands for renewables and challenge the industry’s long-term planning. Read more.