Surviving the scorching summers and freezing winters seems impossible without proper heating and cooling appliances. Thus, most of the commercial settings have HVAC systems installed. However, the major component that is responsible for maintaining the cooling effect is the refrigerant. And people often lack proper information about it.
Choosing a refrigerant must be considered responsibly because it leaves a toll on the environment. It releases toxic elements which are hazardous to the environment. It is mostly responsible for ozone layer depletion.
The most widely used Freon is discovered to be detrimental to the environment, even though it is a refrigerant on which we have been reliant for many years. However, Environment Protection Agency is implementing practices that would prohibit the use of Freons completely by 2030.
Hence, a shift towards natural and eco-friendly alternatives would be soon expected for every HVAC installation. Such natural refrigerants are available and being discovered and produced with proper research. So, here in this guide, you can find out all the features that you must look for while installing an HVAC system without harming the environment.
How do Refrigerants Make a Lot of Difference?
If you are concerned about the environment and how your air conditioning unit might be deteriorating the environment, choosing an eco-friendly refrigerant to come in handy. Hence, irrespective of the types of refrigeration, adopting an environment-friendly approach is a must to save the planet. Refrigerants like hydro fluoro-olefins (HFO) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are considered the most eco-friendly.
The refrigerant which is responsible for providing cooling effects to you also leaves a negative impact on the environment. Hence, two major factors which are considered while measuring the refrigerant’s impact on the environment are ODP and GWP.
Let’s have a deeper look at both these criteria as explained below:
1. Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)
The ozone Depletion Potential of a refrigerant refers to the relative measure of the extent to which a refrigerant degrades the ozone layer. The value of ODP varies from 0 to 1. And the closer the ODP value is to 1, the more detrimental the refrigerant is to the ozone layer.
CFCs have a substantial ODP value because they include chlorine, which is attributed for significantly contributing to the depletion or thinning of the Ozone layer. As a result, CFCs are presently being phased out of use.
2. Global Warming Potential (GWP)
Another significant factor while deciding the eco-friendly refrigerants is their global warming potential. It is defined as the extent to which the mass of a particular gas contributes to the global warming of the earth.
Hence, the value of GWP is considered a relative value. It corresponds to the amount of heat trapped by greenhouse gases to the amount of heat trapped in the same mass of carbon dioxide. So, the higher the GWP value the more impact it leaves on the environment and raises global warming. And HFOs also have lower GWP values as compared to other refrigerants.
Hence, considering these factors before buying an efficient HVAC can make a huge difference.