Builders get an extra year to install old air conditioners in new buildings
What happened
US environmental regulators extended deadlines for installing certain air conditioning systems that use older, high-polluting refrigerants. This means builders can install systems manufactured before 2026 until January 2027, or even January 2028 if they had a permit before October 2023.
Why it matters
The US is phasing out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a potent greenhouse gas, from air conditioning and heat pump systems. This rule gives builders more time to use up existing inventory of systems that rely on these older refrigerants. It slows down the transition to newer, less polluting technologies for a specific type of large-scale air conditioning.
The signal
Watch for any further extensions or similar adjustments to HFC phasedown timelines, which would indicate continued industry pressure to delay the transition.