United States EPA430-F-94-009
Environmental Protection May 1994
Agency
Office of Air and Radiation (6205J)
This pamphlet was developed by EPA in cooperation with:
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA)
members: Chrysler Corp oration; Ford Motor Company;
General Motors Corporation.
Ge
Association of International Automobile Manufacturers
(AIAM) members: American Honda Motor Company, Inc.;
American Isuzu Motors, Inc.; American Suzuki Motor
Corporation; BMW of North America, Inc.; Fiat Auto U.S.A,
Inc.; Hyundai Motor America; Kia Motors America, Inc.;
Land Rover North America, Inc.; Lotus Cars U.S.A; Mazda
Motors of America, Inc.; Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America,
Inc.; Nissan North America, Inc.; Porsche Cars North
America, Inc; Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Inc.; Rover Group
USA, Inc.; Subaru of America, Inc.; Toyota Motor Sales
U.S.A, Inc.; Volkswagen of America, Inc.; Volvo North
America Corporation.
Office of New York State Attorney General G. Oliver Koppell
Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS)
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)
National Institute of Automotive Excellence (ASE)
International Mobile Air Conditioning Association (IMACA)
American Automobile Association (AAA)
For further information, please call the Stratospheric Ozone
Information Hotline 1-800-296-1996. Hours: 10:00 am - 4:00
p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
This pamphlet was reprinted courtesy of:
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed on paper that contains
at least 50% recycled fiber
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This pamphlet zvas developed to help you - the
aivner or prospective owner of an air conditioned
car or truck - understand hozv efforts to protect the
ozone layer will affect you and your vehicle now
and in the future.
Scientists worldwide have concluded that
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs, also known by the
trade name Freon) deplete the ozone layer.
CFCs have been used in the manufacturing of
many products, such as foam insulation,
electronics equipment, refrigerators and air
conditioners. When allowed to escape, these
chemicals drift some 30 miles above the Earth
to the stratospheric ozone layer - a layer of gas
that screens us from, the sun's powerful
ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation. Once there, CFCs
break apart - a process that releases chlorine,
which then attacks ozone. A single chlorine
atom can destroy more than 100 thousand
ozone molecules.
The ozone layer is being depleted over
Antarctica (the so-called Antarctic ozone hole),
but also to a much lesser extent over North
America, Europe, and other populated areas.
A depleted ozone layer allows more UV-B
radiation to reach Earth, harming human,
animal, and plant life in many ways. Scientists
around the world agree that increased UV-B
radiation could over the long run cause a rise
in cases of skin cancer and cataracts. Also,
increased radiation could damage important
food crops and marine ecosystems.
The United States and over 126 countries are
working together to protect the ozone layer by
phasing out the production of ozone depleting
substances in developed countries by the end
of 1995. In addition, the Clean Air Act of 1990
contains
requirements that
ban the release of
refrigerants during
the service,
maintenance, and
disposal of air
conditioning and
refrigeration
equipment and for
labeling of
products that are
manufactured with or contain CFGs. To
recover the CFC-12 used in vehicles, shops are
required by law to use approved recover or
recycling equipment when servicing air
conditioning systems. Also, the technicians
must be certified in the proper use of the
equipment.
You can help save the ozone layer by getting
professional vehicle service at a shop that uses
recycling equipment and by having leaking
systems repaired. Recycling and leak repair
help to conserve CFCs and limits the release of
the chemicals to the environment.
All automakers are responding to the CFC
production phaseout by producing vehicles
with an alternative refrigerant called
HFC-134a. This refrigerant does not deplete
the ozone layer because it does not contain
chlorine. By the end of 1994, virtually all new
cars, trucks and vans will be equipped with
HFC-134a air conditioning systems.
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The phaseout of the CPCs means that
production of the chemicals will stop by the
end of 1995, but it does not mean that you
have to stop using or having your air
conditioner serviced with CFC-12. While
the available supply will be limited and the
costs will certainly rise (in part due to a
federal tax on CFCs), many vehicle owners
will still be able to have their vehicle air
conditioning units serviced with CFC-12 in
the future. Here are some important points
to keep in mind as the CFC phaseout nears.
Reduce unnecessary loss of refrigerant.
Preventive maintenance, fixing leaks, and
recycling at service are key actions to
minimize the need for additional CFC-12
refrigerant after the phase-out of production
at the end of 1995.
Use only approved refrigerant. All vehicles
that were designed for CFC-12 refrigerant
should continue to use CFC-12 when
serviced, unless the air conditioning system
is modified to accept the HFC-134a
alternative refrigerant. Using substances
that have not been thoroughly tested may
cause performance and safety problems
and void your warranty.
Consider retrofit. You may decide that it
makes sense to have your air conditioning
unit modified to accept the HFC-134a
alternative refrigerant. A good time to
consider this is when you are having major
service performed on your CFC-12
air-conditioner. Since the complexity and
the cost of modifying a CFC-12 system will
vary by vehicle make, model and age (the
O
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range is $100 to over $800), the decision, to
retrofit may make more sense for some
vehicles than others. For vehicles under
warranty, please consult your dealer.
Follow recommended procedures. Vehicle
manufacturers are working diligently to
identify the retrofit procedures for each of their
models that would permit the use of HFC-134a
while maintaining reliability and cooling
performance. If you choose to retrofit, make
sure that your service center uses the
manufacturer's recommended alternative
refrigerant and follows its recommended
procedures. For a list of available procedures,
call the Stratospheric
Ozone Information
Hotline at (800)
296-1996. Also, be
sure the retrofit
includes a label and
newF!FC-134a
fittings.
Buying a vehicle? Ask
if the air conditioner
uses HFC-134a, and if
not, find out about any applicable warranties
covering air conditioning service and repair. If
you buy an extended warranty or service
contract, make sure you find out whether it
covers future air conditioning repairs or
services.
EPA and the automotive industry are
working together to make the transition
away from ozone-depleting chemicals as
smooth as possible, but we need your
support and cooperation to make this effort
a success.
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