TLDR

• LG and SK Enmove are partnering to develop new refrigerants with very low global warming potential (below 150) and no harmful PFAS chemicals, aiming to improve cooling for homes, businesses, and data centers.
• New environmental rules in Europe and North America are pushing faster adoption of these safer refrigerants, which will require updated equipment, training, and service practices.
• Homeowners, contractors, and property managers should prepare for changes in system choices, maintenance needs, and compliance to ensure smooth transitions to the next generation of cooling technologies.

LG and SK Enmove announced a new partnership on September 23, 2026, to develop refrigerants with a global warming potential (GWP) below 150 and free of PFAS chemicals. These next-generation refrigerants will serve residential, commercial, industrial, and AI data-center cooling needs. The collaboration also includes new refrigeration oils and immersion cooling technologies designed to improve energy efficiency and meet tightening environmental rules in Europe and North America. This change will affect homeowners, contractors, and property managers by shifting equipment compatibility, service practices, and compliance requirements starting now.

Policy drivers: EU F‑gas and North American rules

Tighter environmental rules in Europe and North America are pushing the HVAC industry toward refrigerants with a global warming potential (GWP) below 150. GWP measures how much heat a gas traps in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide. For example, R‑32, a commonly used refrigerant today, has a GWP of 675. The new target is less than a quarter of that, meaning a big cut in climate impact. These rules are coming with shorter compliance deadlines, so manufacturers and service teams need to act soon. At the same time, efficiency standards like SEER2 are being introduced. These set higher energy-saving requirements for cooling systems. Together with refrigerant rules, expect tighter codes, more detailed labeling, and stricter recovery and recycling requirements. This combination ensures new HVAC products not only use greener refrigerants but also consume less energy and handle refrigerants safely during service and disposal.

Who’s affected: homeowners, contractors, property teams

Homeowners should plan ahead for HVAC systems that use next-generation refrigerant blends. Asking about the refrigerant roadmap before you buy helps avoid last-minute equipment swaps due to new regulations or compatibility issues. Contractors need to check the compatibility of oils and components with these new refrigerants. They should also review their tool requirements, such as gauges and recovery machines, and schedule training for handling A2L refrigerants, which are mildly flammable and require special care. Property managers and commercial buyers should write equipment specifications that allow for both current and next-generation refrigerants. This helps protect uptime and aligns warranties with transition timelines. They should also consider immersion cooling options, especially for high-density IT environments, where this technology can improve efficiency and reduce HVAC loads.

How sub‑150 GWP and immersion cooling change the stack

Global warming potential, or GWP, measures how much heat a refrigerant traps compared to carbon dioxide. R‑32, a common refrigerant, has a GWP of 675. Moving to a refrigerant with a GWP below 150 cuts that climate impact by more than three quarters. The new refrigerants aim to be PFAS‑free, meaning they avoid persistent chemicals that can harm the environment. These next‑gen refrigerants may fall into the A2L category, which means they are mildly flammable. That requires extra leak detection and ventilation to keep systems safe. Immersion cooling is another innovation in this pact. It involves submerging servers in a safe, non‑conductive liquid that pulls heat away quickly. This method can reduce or even replace traditional HVAC cooling loads, shifting some of the work to fluid coolers and chillers. Together, these advances can lower environmental impact and reshape how cooling systems are designed and serviced.

Action plan: compliance, training, and spec readiness

Start by building a clear transition checklist. Label equipment by refrigerant type, map out which refrigeration oils work together, and set dates to recover and use up existing stock. This helps avoid confusion and ensures smooth changeovers. Next, book A2L refrigerant training early. A2L refrigerants are mildly flammable, so technicians must learn safe handling. Update your service standard operating procedures (SOPs) to include new safety steps. Confirm that your tools and leak detectors meet the latest requirements for these refrigerants. For projects planned in 2026 and 2027, request bids that include both current refrigerant options and the new low-GWP, PFAS-free blends. Ask suppliers to provide life-cycle energy use data and information on available rebates. Taking these steps now prepares your team, protects compliance, and supports a smooth transition to next-generation refrigerants and cooling technologies.

Key Takeaways

• LG and SK Enmove are developing new refrigerants and cooling tech with a global warming potential (GWP) below 150 and no PFAS chemicals. This means much lower climate impact compared to common refrigerants like R-32, which has a GWP of 675.
• Tighter environmental rules in Europe and North America are pushing for these low-GWP, PFAS-free refrigerants. This will affect HVAC systems across homes, businesses, and data centers, requiring updated compliance and equipment choices.
• Contractors and service teams must prepare for new refrigerants that may be mildly flammable (A2L classification). This means updating tools, training, and service procedures to handle these safely and efficiently.
• Property managers and commercial buyers should plan for dual-spec equipment options and assess immersion cooling for high-density IT spaces. Early planning helps avoid downtime and aligns warranties with refrigerant transitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of the LG and SK Enmove collaboration on refrigerants?

LG and SK Enmove aim to develop new refrigerants and cooling technologies with a global warming potential (GWP) below 150 and no PFAS chemicals. This means they want safer, eco-friendlier refrigerants that reduce climate impact and meet upcoming environmental regulations.

How will these new refrigerants affect homeowners and contractors?

Homeowners may get more efficient, regulation-ready HVAC systems with fewer unexpected replacements. Contractors will need to update their knowledge and tools to handle new refrigerants, especially those that are mildly flammable, and follow new service and safety procedures.

Why is a GWP below 150 important compared to current refrigerants?

GWP measures how much a refrigerant traps heat compared to carbon dioxide. Current common refrigerants like R-32 have a GWP of 675, so lowering it below 150 cuts climate impact by more than 75%. This helps meet stricter environmental rules in Europe and North America.

What is immersion cooling and why does it matter for data centers?

Immersion cooling involves submerging servers in a safe, non-conductive liquid to remove heat more efficiently than air cooling. This can reduce the load on traditional HVAC systems, saving energy and improving cooling for high-density data centers and industrial applications.

Related Topics: PFAS-free refrigerants, low-GWP refrigerants, HVAC refrigerants, LG refrigerants, SK Enmove, sub-150 GWP, eco-friendly HVAC, data center cooling, HVAC compliance, EU F-gas regulations, North American refrigerant rules, refrigeration technology