Making The Low GWP Transition Simple & Safe
Across North America and beyond, the HVAC industry is converting to refrigerants with lower global warming potential.
It’s a new era in HVAC, and Lennox is here to support your seamless transition. From newly enhanced energy-efficent and climate-friendly product lines to expanded resources, expert training and comprehensive support—we’re with you every step of the way.
Important Regulatory Update
Understand what the recent US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement means for the future of Low GWP refrigerants in the HVAC industry.
BACKGROUND
What's Changing and Why?
Beginning January 1, 2025, new HVAC equipment must use refrigerants with a global warming potential, or GWP, under 700. GWP measures how much heat a gas traps in the Earth's atmosphere relative to carbon dioxide (CO2). A gas with a lower GWP traps less heat, which is better for the Earth.
This means refrigerants with higher GWP, such as R-410A, will be phased out and replaced by more environmentally friendly refrigerants with a lower GWP, like R-454B and R-32. This shift to Low GWP refrigerants will reduce CO2 emissions by 4.6 billion metric tons between 2022 and 2050.
The new Low GWP refrigerants, like R-454B and R-32, fall into the A2L classification and offer a balance between safety and environmental impact. A2L refrigerants are mildly flammable and have a low risk of ignition and spread, so they require some changes to handling and installation practices. These additional steps are important for safety and code compliance.
Sell-Through Dates
To help ease the transition, equipment produced before January 1, 2025, can still be installed for a limited time.
RESOURCES
2025 Refrigerant Transition Guide
Find out what you need to know about the switch to Low GWP refrigerants with our comprehensive transition guide. From identifying A2L equipment and refrigerants to understanding the requirements and best practices for installation and handling. Plus, see how legacy equipment translates to the new Low GWP-compliant versions you need for 2025 and beyond.
IMPACT
How It Affects You
These changes are happening across the industry and affect us all, and Lennox is working diligently to minimize the impact to our customers wherever possible.
Specifying Engineers
The new HVAC systems have been redesigned and optimized for performance with Low GWP refrigerants, and along with specification changes come new safety requirements and protocols. Beyond that, make sure to assess the impact Low GWP refrigerants will have on the building’s sustainability goals.
Mechanical Contractors
Building Owners and Facility Managers
Preparing You for the Future of HVAC
Lennox is with you every step of the way. As you prepare to meet new regulations for commercial HVAC projects in 2025 and beyond , we’re providing you with training and tools you need to stay on top.
- Documentation
Hit the ground running with brochures and product information available at your fingertips.
- Training
Find quick reference guides and technical training that you can easily access on the job.
- Connect
Get support when you need it most with a responsive team and expert advice.
GWP stands for Global Warming Potential, a metric developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to measure the amount of heat trapped in the atmosphere from greenhouse gases. While there is no strict legal definition for the term “Low GWP” refrigerant, it generally refers to refrigerants with a GWP of 700 or less, per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Technology Transition Rule. R-454B has 78% lower global warming potential than R-410A.
2025 EPA Announcement FAQs
Understand what the March 12, 2025 US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement means for the future of Low GWP refrigerants in the HVAC industry.
There is no new impact to your commercial and residential HVAC business based on the March 12, 2025 EPA announcement to reconsider the Technology Transition Rule.
- The AIM Act remains in effect. It is a bipartisan law passed by both houses of Congress and signed into law by President Trump in 2020, empowering the EPA to regulate and phase down higher-GWP refrigerants like R-410A.
- Lennox, along with other manufacturers, has converted their entire residential and commercial product lines to lower GWP refrigerants that comply with the AIM Act.
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