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CARB Votes to Keep R-134a Auto

California auto enthusiasts and consumers got the news late last month: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted in favor of adopting an alternative regulation that would keep automotive refrigerant-R-134a-available to Californians to recharge and service their vehicles' air conditioning system, wh眉e at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half a million metric tons.

The alternative regulation, proposed by the Automotive Refrigerant Products Institute (ARPI) and supported by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the California Automotive Wholesalers' Association (CAWA), would Eveing dresses allow R-134a to continue to be sold in California and will require a self-sealing can top, enhanced can labeling, a used-can deposit and return program and a consumer education campaign.

"What began more than two years ago as an effort to restrict sales and do-it-yourself use of the refrigerant R- 134a has resulted in CARB working with the leading companies and automotive aftermarket trade associations to craft a new four-tiered 'hybrid' mitigation plan that will allow the continued sale of refrigerants in the California market while ensuring proper handling and disposal," said Tom Brown, president of ARPI.

This effort follows on a previous orderly transition from R-12, the earlier automotive refrigerant, in widespread use until it was found to be an ozone-depleting substance. While the replacement R-134a is not an ozone-depleting substance, it is a high "global warming potential" (GWP) gas, with a GWP of 1300 (where carbon dioxide has a GWP of 1). The automotive industry led the transition then and is on the eve of a new transition as lower GWP refrigerants are prepared for market. Until that time, the industry is committed to the four-tiered program voted on by CARB.