EPEE member companies have already taken initiatives to further limit direct emissions from HFCs, but recognise that new policy measures, developed on a European Union level and implemented evenly in all its Member States, can achieve even more meaningful results.

EPEE participates in the fluorinated gases working group, set up by the European Commission in June 2000 as part of the European Climate Change Programme, in order to develop new policies to limit emissions through their use. EPEE has presented detailed proposals to this forum for a EU level Voluntary Agreement or Directive which would establish a framework for the responsible use of all refrigerants. EPEE also provided detailed proposals to reduce indirect emissions from all refrigerants through improved energy efficiency measures.

Promoting Energy Efficiency in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

Under EPEE's proposals, the EU policy in this area would be applied to all refrigerants. In addition to setting direct HFC emission reduction targets, safety (toxicity and flammability) concerns associated with the use of certain refrigerants such as ammonia and hydrocarbons have also been developed.

Actual implementation of the instrument chosen would be carried out on a national level, where inspection and certification systems would be set up in coordination with the appropriate regulatory authorities.

The proposed system would likely include:

• Technical guidelines for tight equipment (to achieve low emission equipment);
• Criteria and mechanisms for a recovery and recycling system;
• Inspection and maintenance requirements;
• Criteria and mechanisms for emission & operational control;
• Guidelines for refrigerants' administration;
• Criteria and mechanisms for Life-time committed monitoring system: operating instructions and system information; pressure; evacuation and fill certificate; history
• Qualification (i.e. Training and certification) of installers and handling personnel
• Administration guidelines for refrigeration installation (type of refrigeration and type of refrigerant used)

A system that is based on this concept in the Netherlands achieved significant and rapid results. Emissions from equipment dropped in five years from 30 to 10 % and are still diminishing (3 % for new equipment).

Main Brochure
788 kb
also available in

December 2003
Responsible Responses to Refrigirants Regulation
157 kb

November 2003
Benefits of HFC's
Short paper
18 kb

February 2003
Benefits of HFC Products
Paper written by Steven H. Bernhardt, Ph.D.
18 kb

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