R-32 Refrigerant Explained: Comparing R-22, R-410A, and Low-GWP Cooling

• The Montreal Protocol is driving the phase-out of ozone-depleting HCFC refrigerants such as R-22.^[1]
• The Kigali Amendment is accelerating the global phase-down of high-GWP refrigerants and the transition toward lower-GWP alternatives, including HFCs like R-32 in many markets.^[2]
• In the U.S., EPA Technology Transitions rules set a 700 GWP limit for certain residential and light commercial air-conditioning and heat-pump systems, which R-32 meets, and R-410A does not for that category.^[3]
• R-32 is a single-component refrigerant used in LG residential air conditioners, with a GWP of 675 and zero ozone-depletion potential.^[4]
• R-32 is classified as A2L, and its performance is presented by LG as comparable to or better than R-410A in certain applications.^[5]

[1] https://www.epa.gov/ods-phaseout/homeowners-and-consumers-frequently-asked-questions?
[2] https://ozone.unep.org/kigali-amendment-overview
[3] https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/technology-transitions-hfc-restrictions-sector
[4] https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/documents/transitioning_to_low-gwp_alternatives_in_res_and_com_ac_chillers.pdf
[5] https://www.achrnews.com/articles/146639-a2l-terms-you-should-know

An air conditioner’s climate impact depends heavily on the refrigerant inside it. For homeowners and facility managers, refrigerant choice is one of the clearest ways to judge a system's relative climate impact. This guide explains what refrigerants and GWP are, how R-22, R-410A, and R-32 compare, and why LG uses low-GWP R-32. 

A refrigerant is the working fluid that absorbs and releases heat as it cycles through an air conditioner, carrying heat out of a room. Its environmental impact is measured by two indicators, and for both, lower is better: ozone depletion potential (ODP), which measures harm to the ozone layer, and global warming potential (GWP), which measures how much a gas warms the atmosphere compared with carbon dioxide over 100 years. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) draws its 100-year GWP values from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).^[1]

The move toward lower-GWP refrigerants is being driven by regulation. Under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, a legally binding agreement joined by more than 170 countries, HFC consumption and production are scheduled to fall by 80–85% by 2047, a shift the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) projects could avoid up to 0.5°C of warming by 2100. In the U.S., the EPA's Technology Transitions program sets a 700 GWP ceiling for the new residential air-conditioning and heat-pump equipment it covers.^[2][3]

[1] https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/understanding-global-warming-potentials
[2] https://ozone.unep.org/kigali-amendment-overview
[3] https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/technology-transitions-hfc-restrictions-sector

Air-conditioning refrigerants have evolved from ozone-depleting HCFCs to lower-GWP alternatives as environmental regulations have tightened, and technology has advanced. EPA's fact sheet uses 100-year GWP values from the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) for the refrigerants below.^[1]

LG's residential single-split and multi-split air conditioners include R-32 as a key refrigerant option, alongside R-410A models that remain available in some markets. EPA identifies HFC-32 as an acceptable low-GWP alternative for small self-contained, small split, single and multi-split, and VRF systems, which shows that one refrigerant can scale from a single room to multi-zone applications.^[1] For larger central systems such as chillers, LG and other manufacturers deploy a range of low-GWP refrigerants matched to the class; for example, EPA lists R-513A, R-450A, HFO-1234ze, and HFO-1233zd among the acceptable substitutes in chillers.^[1]

Efficiency is measured differently from one product to the next because a room air conditioner and a large central plant serve very different needs, and each is rated by the standardized efficiency metric suited to its type. The key point is that the refrigerant and the system design work together: R-32 keeps the climate impact lower than higher-GWP alternatives while still meeting the efficiency standards that apply to each application.^[1]

[1] https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/documents/transitioning_to_low-gwp_alternatives_in_res_and_com_ac_chillers.pdf

LG uses R-32 for practical advantages in environmental impact, efficiency, safety, and serviceability. These characteristics make R-32 a suitable refrigerant for meeting evolving environmental requirements while maintaining system performance and supporting practical installation and servicing.

4-1. Environmental Impact
R-32 has a GWP of 675, approximately one-third that of R-410A, and zero ozone-depletion potential. This lower global warming impact supports the transition toward lower-GWP air-conditioning equipment.^[1]

4-2. Efficiency
R-32 can provide efficiency and performance comparable to or better than R-410A, depending on equipment design and operating conditions. This allows a lower-GWP refrigerant to be adopted without compromising system performance.^[1]

4-3. Serviceability
R-32 is a single-component refrigerant rather than a blend, making it easier to service and recycle. It can also be charged in either the liquid or gas phase, supporting practical servicing procedures.

[1] https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/documents/transitioning_to_low-gwp_alternatives_in_res_and_com_ac_chillers.pdf

Refrigerant is one of the biggest factors in an air conditioner's climate footprint, and the industry is moving decisively toward low-GWP options as high-GWP refrigerants are phased down worldwide. R-32, with a GWP of 675, zero ozone depletion, efficiency comparable to or better than R-410A in certain applications, and a simple single-component makeup, is today's widely adopted low-GWP choice, and it is a core refrigerant in LG's residential air conditioner portfolio, even as R-410A models continue to be offered in some markets. For anyone comparing new systems, the refrigerant is a quick way to tell whether a unit is built for the low-GWP era or relies on refrigerants that are being phased down.