California Global Warming Solutions Act: An Introduction
The California Global Warming Remedies Act (AB 32) is explained below at the summary level with a brief introduction to the Stationary Equipment Refrigerant Management Program that will be integrated into the AB 32 legislation.
Information related to existing and emerging legislation on refrigerant gas management, monitoring, tracking and reporting is communicated here to be effective once it is implemented in 2010. As with all other pending legislation, refrigerant management it is still subject to many changes.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act or AB 32 was first passed in 2006 and took effect in 2010, which is a comprehensive directive that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2010 .
This goal is derived from the increase in greenhouse gases in California since 1990. To reverse 16 years of pollution in the United States in less than 14 years, the legislation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to their 1990 levels. .
The Air Resources Board (ARB) approved an early action measure to reduce GHG emissions with high global warming potential (GWP) by defining requirements and relevant new legislation to improve monitoring of AC/HVAC systems, compliance with regulations, reporting on the use of refrigerant gas, including recovery, recycling or destruction of high-GWP GHG gases, being part of the California Global Warming Remedies Act (AB 32).
The greenhouse gases (GHGs) defined by California’s AB 32 are identical to the gases already identified in the Kyoto Protocol and are already being regulated, monitored and managed by many other countries around the world.
In addition to carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the best known GHG, the following gases are also defined as high global warming potential (GWP) carbon equivalent emissions GHGs under AB 32 legislation:
* Methane (CH4): by-product of the decomposition of waste and natural geological phenomena; Natural gas extraction is the main source of methane.
* Nitrous Oxide (N2O): a pollution from exhaust gases from motor vehicles, industrial processes and other industrial air pollutants; Like methane, nitrous oxide can also be a product of the decomposition of waste in nature and agriculture.
* Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) – A gas used for various electrical applications, including gas-insulated switchgear. Sulfur hexafluoride is also being used for experimental applications.
* Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs): A collection of commonly used refrigerant gases and aerosols with a wide variety of other commercial applications.
Some Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) are CFCs and HCFCs, which are identified in Title VI of the US Clean Air Act (Section 608).