US: EPA approves 3 hydrocarbon refrigerants for household and commercial uses

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added 3 hydrocarbons as acceptable alternatives in household refrigerators and freezers, combination refrigerator-freezers, and commercial stand-alone units through EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy programme, SNAP, which evaluates substitute chemicals and technologies for ozone-depleting substances under the Clean Air Act.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added 3 hydrocarbons as acceptable alternatives in household refrigerators and freezers, combination refrigerator-freezers, and commercial stand-alone units through EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy programme, SNAP, which evaluates substitute chemicals and technologies for ozone-depleting substances under the Clean Air Act.

The 3 hydrocarbon refrigerants approved, with use conditions including refrigerant charge size limits, are R290 (propane), R600a (isobutane), and R441A, a hydrocarbon blend also known as HCR188C.

According to EPA, "replacing refrigerants such as CFC12, HCFC22, or HFCs will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 600 000 metric tons by 2020, equal to the emissions from the annual electricity use of nearly 75 000 homes."