THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF REFRIGERATION
As we all know, most of the refrigerators and air conditioners today contain chemical refrigerants that absorb and release heat to enable chilling. These equipment used to contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) or potent greenhouse gases (GHGs); all of which have now been prohibited. They have been replaced by hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have no impact on the ozone layer but still are potent green house gases.
Refrigerants, specifically CFCs and HCFCs, were once the major culprits in depletion of the ozone layer. HFCs, the primary replacement, spare the ozone layer, but have 1,000 to 9,000 times greater capacity to warm the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
Refrigerant management means the proper handling of refrigerants in your HVAC/R equipment. The most common refrigerants used today have ozone-depleting and/or high global warming properties.
With all these substances, a refrigerator, when thrown in the garbage, releases up to 3.7 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent, which is the same amount emitted by a car that travels 17,500 km!
THE ABOVE PIE CHART SHOWS THAT 26% OF OZONE LAYER DEPLETION IS CAUSED BY REFRIGERATION |
The environmental impact of refrigeration appliances that are not recycled responsibly is enormous like the depletion of the ozone layer, acceleration of climate change and mercury contamination of the environment.
As a result, regulations and sustainability initiatives around the world have placed the responsibility on the system owners to take control over refrigerants and manage their use throughout the life-cycle of the equipment. When you properly manage refrigerants, not only you reduce the adverse environmental impact but also save energy, improve operations, and mitigate risk.
The United States, Canada and Mexico are lobbying to reduce HFC use. Also, UN Environment, the Implementing Agency of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, has proposed Ozone Action which strengthens the capacity of governments - particularly the operational focal points known as National Ozone Units - and industry in developing countries to elaborate and enforce the policies required to implement the Protocol and to make informed decisions about alternative technologies.
All these measures have to be implemented properly to solve the problem of ozone depletion. A collective effort from this whole world is what it is needed to fight this battle against global warming
WRITTEN BY - SOHAL
( NET IMPACT MEMBER )
CURATED BY- POOJAN SEHGAL
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