HVAC Refrigerant GWP Table: Complete Reference for 2026 Compliance

GWP measures how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specific time period (usually 100 years) compared to CO₂. A GWP of 1 means the substance traps the same amount of heat as CO₂. A GWP of 2,088 (R-410A) means one pound of R-410A traps 2,088 times more heat than one pound of CO₂ over 100 years. All current EPA and AIM Act regulations use GWP values from the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). This distinction matters because GWP values differ slightly between IPCC reports, and the AR5 values are the legal standard.

Here are the most commonly encountered refrigerants in the field, ordered from highest to lowest GWP. R-404A at 3,922 is used in commercial refrigeration and is facing the most aggressive phase-down. R-507A at 3,985 is similar to R-404A and used in low-temperature refrigeration. R-410A at 2,088 is the current residential and light commercial AC standard. R-407C at 1,774 is an older alternative to R-22 for comfort cooling. R-134a at 1,430 is used in chillers and medium-temperature commercial refrigeration. R-32 at 675 is a lower-GWP alternative gaining adoption in new HVAC equipment. R-454B at 466 is the designated replacement for R-410A in new residential equipment. R-1234yf at less than 1 is used in automotive AC, and R-290 (propane) at 3 is a natural refrigerant used in some commercial systems.

The AIM Act requires an 85% reduction in HFC production and consumption by 2036, measured in CO₂-equivalent terms. This means each pound of high-GWP refrigerant consumes more of the national allowance than a pound of low-GWP refrigerant. The practical impact is that high-GWP refrigerants will become more expensive and harder to obtain over time. R-404A (GWP 3,922) consumes roughly 8.4 times more allowance per pound than R-454B (GWP 466). As production allowances tighten, this ratio translates directly to price and availability pressure. Contractors servicing equipment with high-GWP refrigerants should plan for rising costs and potential supply constraints.

The EPA has set maximum GWP limits for refrigerants in new equipment by category. New residential and light commercial AC and heat pump equipment manufactured after January 1, 2025 must use refrigerants with GWP below 700, effectively mandating R-454B or R-32 as the replacement for R-410A. New retail food refrigeration equipment has a GWP limit of 150, driving adoption of R-290 (propane) and CO₂ systems. New industrial process refrigeration varies by application, and chillers are transitioning to lower-GWP options including R-514A and R-1234ze. These limits apply only to new equipment manufacturing — existing installed systems can continue to be serviced with their original refrigerant as long as supply is available.

For HVAC contractors, the GWP transition creates both challenges and opportunities. Existing high-GWP systems (R-410A, R-404A) will need continued service for years, but refrigerant costs will rise. New installations will use lower-GWP alternatives that require updated training, tools, and safety procedures. Having leak rate compliance tracking in place for your existing fleet helps identify which systems are worth maintaining versus replacing. Systems that are already chronic leakers or frequently exceed thresholds may be better candidates for early replacement with lower-GWP equipment, especially as reclaimed refrigerant becomes the primary supply source for legacy systems.