From Guest Blogger Gioietta Kuo-Petravic: HFCs AND FLUORIDES – GREENHOUSE COOLANTS HARMFUL TO GLOBAL WARMING
ABSTRACT: The world found that the use of chlorofluorocarbons CFCs used in refrigerants and air conditioners was causing the depletion of the atmospheric ozone layers which protect us from harmful ultra violet rays from the sun. In 1987, 24 countries met to produce the MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER to phase out the use of CFC’s. It is one of the rare successes of international cooperation. However, in doing so the world replaced CFC’s by hydrofluorocarbons, HFCs, which though do not harm the ozone layer but stay in the atmosphere for a very long time having a large effect on global warming. In July 2016, countries of the Montreal Protocol met in Vienna to try to replace HFC’s. Fortunately alternatives exist such as Hydrofluoroolefins – HFOs which break down in the atmosphere in some days instead of years.
Progress is being made and in October 2016 amendment to the Montreal Protocol to phase out HFCs has been reached in Kigali, Rwanda.
At least there are acceptable alternative gasses which can be used as refrigerants. A gradual switch to them shouldn’t be a serious hardship.
Frank yes there are some solutions here this should not be disruptive.
I will check with my ASHRAE Rep Wed and see what the new one is and the pro and the cons if any.
It slips my memory right now.
The interesting part is the World leading Nations have gotten together in agreement 3 times Now on refrigerant gases.
But trying to get definitive meaningful agreements with real metrics and realistic plans to attain them concerning GHG and Climate Change has been Elusive and our Domestic political division has hampered our efforts. Sad consequence of things.
later