In response to environmental concerns raised by the use of high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) launched an industry-wide cooperative research program, AHRI Low-GWP Alternative Refrigerants Evaluation Program (Low-GWP AREP), to identify and evaluate promising alternative refrigerants for major product categories. These categories include air conditioners, heat pumps, chillers, water heaters, ice makers and refrigeration equipment. This paper provides an overview of the program, including the program's scope and procedure. A series of alternative refrigerant candidates being evaluated in the program will be introduced. The refrigerant candidates' thermodynamic cycle calculated performance and real testing results for various applications are presented up to the current status of the program.