The Climate Menace Hidden in Plain Sight A primer on refrigerants and their impacts on climate change
Refrigerants are everywhere. They’re in our air conditioners and heat pumps, in our fridges — even in our cars! Yet, despite this ubiquity, refrigerants are an oft-neglected subject within electrification strategies despite their major contribution to the greenhouse effect.
I’ll start with some refrigerant basics, then dive into a few big-picture questions, including: How has the refrigerant industry evolved over time? How common are leaks and why are those leaks problematic? And, lastly, how much do refrigerants contribute to building sector emissions?Refrigerants are fluids that can be easily heated into a vapor and then cooled back to a liquid over and over again.
Ideally, refrigerants are also low- or non-flammable, low- or non-toxic, don’t deplete the ozone layer, and aren’t horrible for the climate . There areRefrigerant leaks are never a good thing. At best, they’re a pain for building owners and a potential indication of a faulty system. At worst, they can severely damage the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.
Luckily, ozone-depleting refrigerants have largely gotten the ax. In 1987, in an inspiring example of countries coming together to solve a human-caused problem with the climate, world leaders agreed to. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons , a group of refrigerants with weaker ODP, were finally phased out as of 2020. Popular HCFCs like R22 can no longer be produced or imported to the U.S., but may be used from recycled or stockpiled capacity.
Visualization created by the author. Data from the California Air Resources Board and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.agreed to constrict HFC production through the 2016 Kigali Amendment. While this pact is a great first step, implementation and enforcement at the country-level is still necessary. The U.S. is leading by example through the
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hidden players in climate change: How microscopic proteins could shape our futureIn the narrative about climate change, we often focus on the big and visible—like shrinking glaciers and churning hurricanes. But there's another world, microscopic and hidden, that's just as crucial and the focus of a new study by Amy Gladfelter, Ph.D., a cell biologist at Duke University School of Medicine.
Read more »
The Hidden Costs of Climate Change on the WorkforceAs companies prepare for climate change, many overlook the critical impact on employee health from events like wildfires, extreme heat, and flooding. This oversight can lead to significant financial costs due to increased healthcare expenses, reduced productivity, and decreased labor availability.
Read more »
Global Study Reveals a Powerful Hidden Way Trees Are Fighting Climate ChangeThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »
Climate advocacy groups call Harris-Walz pairing a ‘winning ticket on climate’Walz has supported major climate legislation in Minnesota.
Read more »
Will The Changing Political Climate Turn The Heat On Climate Change?I am Chairman and CEO of ReNew, the first Indian renewable energy company to list on Nasdaq. ReNew was founded with a vision to accelerate the net zero energy transition in a just and inclusive manner.
Read more »
Scientists Find Nitrogen Emissions Cool the Climate – Could This Really Help Solve Climate Change?Science, Space and Technology News 2024
Read more »