>Refrigerants, specifically CFCs and HCFCs, were once culprits in depleting the ozone layer. Thanks to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, they have been phased out. 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.
They seem to suggest that this is an unintended side-effect, but fail to mention that CFCs were no better in this regard (falling into that same range). R-12, the most common CFC, has a global warming potential of 10,900, or 10,900x that of CO2.
>Through an amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the world will phase out HFCs—starting with high-income countries in 2019, then some low-income countries in 2024 and others in 2028. Substitutes are already on the market, including natural refrigerants such as propane and ammonium [sic].
Propane and anhydrous ammonia are considered "first generation refrigerants." They were phased out in favor of CFCs ("second generation refrigerants") because unlike propane and anhydrous ammonia, CFCs don't explode or chemical burn your lungs if your household refrigerator leaks.
There are better options, the imaginatively named "fourth generation refrigerants." These include HFO-1234yf (nearly a drop-in replacement for R-134a; incidentally this is used in the Tesla drivetrain chiller/air conditioner), HFO-1234ze, and ironically enough CO2 (aka R-744, which is much cheaper than the other two and runs more efficiently, but requires a system redesign due to higher operating pressures).
For instance, the #1 most effective method listed is refrigerant management. http://www.drawdown.org/solutions/materials/refrigerant-mana...
>Refrigerants, specifically CFCs and HCFCs, were once culprits in depleting the ozone layer. Thanks to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, they have been phased out. 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.
They seem to suggest that this is an unintended side-effect, but fail to mention that CFCs were no better in this regard (falling into that same range). R-12, the most common CFC, has a global warming potential of 10,900, or 10,900x that of CO2.
>Through an amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the world will phase out HFCs—starting with high-income countries in 2019, then some low-income countries in 2024 and others in 2028. Substitutes are already on the market, including natural refrigerants such as propane and ammonium [sic].
Propane and anhydrous ammonia are considered "first generation refrigerants." They were phased out in favor of CFCs ("second generation refrigerants") because unlike propane and anhydrous ammonia, CFCs don't explode or chemical burn your lungs if your household refrigerator leaks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Midgley_Jr.#Synthesis_o...
There are better options, the imaginatively named "fourth generation refrigerants." These include HFO-1234yf (nearly a drop-in replacement for R-134a; incidentally this is used in the Tesla drivetrain chiller/air conditioner), HFO-1234ze, and ironically enough CO2 (aka R-744, which is much cheaper than the other two and runs more efficiently, but requires a system redesign due to higher operating pressures).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HFO-1234yf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-744