What is happening with refrigerant in air conditioning systems?

A. There have been many reports regarding air conditioner refrigerants and their effect on the earths ozone layer.Refrigerant is the cooling agent used in air conditioning systems.Most all of the air conditioner and heat pump products sold today utilize one refrigerant known as R22, which is from the family of refrigerants called HCFCs. HCFCs have been used for decades in a safe and efficient manner; but government regulation will eventually phase them out of use.The United States congress, acting in response to an international treaty called the Montreal Protocol, provided new direction and authority to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).As a result, the EPA, through the Clean Air Act, is regulating the productions and use of refrigerants in air conditioning systems. These changes will eventually eliminate air conditioning refrigerants containing chlorine due to the concern about ozone depletion.  more