The Senate has passed U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy's amendment to increase federal usage of recycled refrigerants in federally-owned buildings. He said it would greatly reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons.

Murphy said HFCs are a super pollutant and significant driver of climate change. "Don't look now, but the Senate just unanimously passed a climate change measure," said Murphy, who added he pushed for the amendment because it's a cost-free way to combat climate change.

Murphy, along with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), introduced the Super Pollutants Act of 2015 – the Senate's only bipartisan climate change bill – in Sept. 2015.

In announcing the amendment's passage, Murphy said refrigerants are factory-made gases that are used to cool homes, cars and refrigerators. HFCs are the most widely used refrigerants globally, and the production, consumption, and emissions of these gases are growing at a rate of 10 to 15 percent per year.