Price to stay cool freezing bottom

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The price to stay cool just went through the roof, and we're not talking about your energy bill.

The price of the coolant used in air conditioners has skyrocketed over the past 6 months, jumping from $30 per pound to more than $80 per pound.

Newer air conditioners run on a type of freon called 410A.

R22 is for air conditioners 2 years and older, but the government is phasing it out over the next 18 years.

"It's ozone depleting.  So it's not environmentally friendly," said Todd Day of Standard Supply.

R22 production came to an end this year, because it is classified as a greenhouse gas.

The EPA's Clean Air Act is intended to limit the production of pollutants that emit greenhouse gases as a byproduct, such as R22.

Pound for pound, these gases that are used in air conditioners contribute to global warming thousands of times more than carbon dioxide, the standard greenhouse gas.

The EPA proposed a cut in R22 production by half in 2012, which is leaving suppliers in a bind.

"Since we're unsure how much R22 that we can buy, we limit how much we can sell to our customers."

With demand high and supply low, R22 has become liquid gold.

The price of a pallet?  $96,000.

It used to be $36,000.

"The basic service call has gotten to be about $150-200 more expensive than last year," said Jeff Stewart.

The only other choice is buying a new air conditioner that uses 410A freon.