Protecting the Environment is of paramount importance. Various agreements have been reached, for example the Montreal Protocol, Kyoto and the latest agreement on climate change signed in Bali. All have been drawn up to limit the harmful effects of Global Warming.
Refrigerant Gases are harmful to the environment, one being ODP (Ozone Depleting Products) and GWP (Global Warming Potential). The earlier refrigerant gas used in Motor Vehicles (and fridge/freezers) was called R12, this had significant Ozone Depleting Properties, so this was phased out about 1993-1995 and its production was banned in 2000.
Its successor HFC134a was used in vehicles from about 1995 on. Although its ODP was zero its Global warming potential still remained high, actually about 1300 times more GWP than CO2 (carbon Dioxide). So lets put this into context the average car if it loses its refrigerant gas will put into the atmosphere the equivalent of a 1000 Kg of Carbon Dioxide GWP thats 1 Tonne !!! That's one hell of a Carbon Footprint. !!
But what does the future hold? The F-Gas MAC Directive for Mobile Air-Conditioning (MAC) systems set the first binding legal constraint on the GWP of refrigerant fluids for any application. From 2011 all new model cars with air-conditioning must use a refrigerant having a GWP of less than 150!! The Motor Industry has been been working on alternatives R744 (Carbon Dioxide) or HFO-1234yf.
The Industry consensus is now that the marginally flammable refrigerant HFO-1234yf- is the best solution at the moment.
To conclude then, with the new less GWP Refrigerant, the additional training for refrigerant handlers, the phase out of disposable refrigerant cylinders, the control of hazardous waste and the general ‘tightening’ of supply of refrigerant (only to the registered and certified companies), can only be good for our industry and of course our ENVIRONMENT !!
