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New Refrigerants
The refrigerant known as R-22 — the longtime industry standard refrigerant used in central air conditioners and heat pumps — contains chlorine. The 1990 Clean Air Act prohibits manufacturers from producing air conditioners or heat pumps using this refrigerant after Dec. 31, 2009, due to growing concern about ozone depletion. In response, manufacturers have developed cooling products that use the new, chlorine-free R-410A refrigerant, instead of the standard R-22 refrigerant currently in use. Because R-410A contains no chlorine, it's ozone-friendly.