The paper discusses EPA research projects relating to the dual-circuit and Lorenz refrigerator/freezers (RFs). EPA is interested in not only phasing out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in RFs, but doing so in a way that will maximize energy efficiency and minimize subsequent impacts on the greenhouse effect. An early decision was made to concentrate on replacing fully halogenated CFCs in RFs during the first year of EPA's research. RFs were chosen because they are small, require small quantities of refrigerants, are relatively easy to modify and test, and are the most energy-consumptive appliances in most U.S. households. In the future, other applications are expected to receive more attention. The first year of EPA's program has concentrated on implementing two alternative configurations of RFs which are believed to have the potential to make RFs more energy efficient: the dual-circuit and the Lorenz RFs. Research has included modeling alternative refrigerants and Non-azeotropic Refrigerant Mixtures (NARMs) in the dual-circuit and Lorenz configurations and experimental testing of modified RFs and refrigeration components in test stands.