How do regulations, such as the Montreal Protocol and the European Union’s F-Gas Regulation, impact the use of refrigerants in HVAC systems?

Regulations like the Montreal Protocol and the EU’s F-Gas Regulation aim to reduce the use of ozone-depleting substances and fluorinated greenhouse gases in HVAC systems. These regulations phase down the production and consumption of high-ODP and high-GWP refrigerants, encouraging the adoption of alternative refrigerants with lower environmental impact. Compliance with these regulations requires HVAC system designers and operators to select refrigerants with lower ODP and GWP values and implement recovery, reuse, and recycling practices.