Honeywell has announced the commercial availability of its A2L refrigerants in North America, with Heatcraft Refrigeration Products becoming the first manufacturer in the region to offer compatible equipment. The adoption of these refrigerants aims to improve energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and help businesses comply with evolving regulatory requirements.
Heatcraft’s new equipment is designed to work with Honeywell’s Solstice L40X (R-455A), an A2L refrigerant with low global warming potential (GWP). A2L refrigerants are classified as having low toxicity and low flammability, making them a viable solution for retailers, supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, and refrigerated transport operators.
“Offering equipment that is compatible with A2L refrigerants is crucial for retailers in North America as new government regulations take effect and commonly used high global warming potential refrigerants are phased out,” said David Bolaños, director of marketing and product management at Heatcraft. “We recognized the need for this equipment years ago and worked closely to develop a solution that benefits our wholesaler customers, as well as contractors and end-users.”
Honeywell and Heatcraft have collaborated since 2023 to optimize low-GWP refrigeration solutions for condensing units and evaporators used in walk-in coolers and freezers. Given that refrigeration represents a significant share of energy consumption for retailers, the transition from high-GWP hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants such as R-404A and R-507 to lower-GWP alternatives can yield substantial cost savings.
Honeywell’s Solstice A2L refrigerants - including R-455A, R-454A, and R-454C - offer improved energy efficiency and lower maintenance costs. Research from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory indicates that HFO refrigerants can provide greater energy savings compared to CO₂ and hydrocarbon-based systems.
The Solstice product line is the result of over a decade of Honeywell’s research and development in low-GWP refrigeration technologies. According to Honeywell’s Eco-Efficiency model, validated by independent experts, businesses using Solstice L40X have reported lifetime cost savings exceeding $260,000 in certain cases.
To facilitate the transition to A2L refrigerants, Honeywell provides training programs, workshops, and technical support for HVACR professionals.