What Are HFOs?

How are they used and what is their environmental impact?

Hydrofluroolefins (HFOs) and HFO blends are mainly used as refrigerants, blowing agents, propellants and solvents. As a refrigerant, you can find HFOs in heat pumps, air conditioning systems and commercial cooling installations.

Greenhouse gas emissions are being reduced every day as more companies utilize Honeywell Solstice® HFO materials. Scroll down to learn about the dramatic difference being made.

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) are the essential infrastructure from which most every modern industry has developed, and are directly responsible for improving health outcomes, elevating food and vaccine safety, and enhancing quality of life worldwide. While economic, population, and urbanization trends continue to increase demand for HVACR, achieving global emission reduction targets requires minimizing the impact of current HVACR systems by replacing high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants with lower GWP, energy-efficient options.

HFOs and HFO blends are innovative, energy efficient, sustainable heating and cooling options that enable a rapid, cost effective and responsible transition away from high GWP hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Beyond HVACR, HFOs have a broad suite of critical applications that support emissions reduction objectives. From foam blowing agents that provide superior insulation for homes, buildings, appliances, and many other uses, to solvents that are both low GWP and VOC-exempt, HFOs play a critical role in enabling key industries to meet their sustainability goals.

Sustainable HFO Applications

To date, use of Honeywell HFO technology has helped avoid the potential release of the equivalent of more than 326 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, equal to the carbon emissions from nearly 70 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles per year.

Refrigerants (Mobile and Stationary)

Energy-efficient, ultra-low GWP Refrigerant.
Uses: Residential AC, Supermarkets, Cars, Data Centers, etc.

Foam Blowing Agents

Low GWP blowing agents produce superior spray foam that reduces energy usage.
Uses: Residential and Commercial Building Insulation

Heat Pumps

Enables heat pump technology that is more energy efficient than air conditioning units and furnaces.
Uses: District, Residential and Commercial Heating and Cooling

HFOs have a tangible, dramatic, positive environmental impact

The Numbers Speak for Themselves:

329,047,271+

metric tons of CO₂e have been removed from the atmosphere to date. This is equivalent of:

121,369,894,650+

Trees' worth of carbon sequestration (lifetime-to-date)

69,273,109+

Cars' worth of emissions elimination

30,022,325+

Homes worth of energy usage (lifetime-to-date)

65,226,211+

Barrels of oil (lifetime-to-date)

As the use of HFCs is phased down, HFOs can help ensure systems maintain their safety, improve their energy efficiency and provide cost savings.

Learn more about how HFOs are contributing to emissions reductions

We are proud to continue to drive significant progress through our HFO portfolio, which has already resulted in a positive environmental impact. Use of Honeywell HFO technology has helped avoid the potential release of the equivalent of more than 329 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, equal to the carbon emissions from nearly 70 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles per year.¹

¹Calculations are based on actual sales of Solstice products (in lbs) from Jan 2010 through May 2023, and utilize the EPA GHG equivalency calculator for conversion.