Ozone Depletion and Your Air Conditioner:
Protecting the Earth from Harmful Emissions
The modern air conditioner doesn’t look anything like its industrial predecessor, which was invented in 1902 to cool large, glass and steel high-rises during construction. It didn’t take long for the humble air conditioner to transform into a unit suited to fit modern homes. It seemed like a perfect solution to muggy summer air saturating buildings around the world. What developers didn’t know at the time was that the refrigerants A/C units used to transfer heat outdoors would have a detrimental effect on the earth’s ozone layer.
Early Refrigerants and Global Impact
In the formative years of air conditioning, the options for refrigerants were limited. Chemicals such as ammonia, methyl chloride and Sulphur dioxide were used in abundance until the 1920’s discovery that methyl chloride and Sulphur dioxide were both toxic. Afterwards, they were replaced by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and were used for decades before anyone realized it is dangerous to release unmitigated, man-made substances into the atmosphere.
It wasn’t until the 1970s that scientists discovered a shocking, overall reduction in ozone concentration at a rate of 4% per decade. Also, they noticed a severe annual springtime depletion over the polar regions. In 1885, the British Antarctic Survey conducted an ozone measurement and thought their equipment was broken. This is after the levels of ozone were recorded to have dropped so dramatically.
After that scare, efforts to trace the cause of ozone depletion increased and the cause was identified as man-made chemicals used by refrigerants and aerosols. In short, CFCs break down in sunlight to release chlorine and bromine, which destroy ozone molecules.
The Montreal Protocol and Why It’s Important
After more discoveries of harmful ozone depletion surfaced, efforts to prevent more ozone “holes” from forming spread worldwide.
The term ozone “hole” comes from the Polar Regions, which are more susceptible to ozone depletion because of the formation of “polar stratospheric clouds.” These clouds are caused by cold temperatures in these regions. Because of these unusual temperatures, these clouds provide the ideal conditions for the chemical reactions that break down ozone molecules. When the ozone levels drop lower than the rest of the globe, these reactions are called “holes.”
On September 1987, the Montreal Protocol treaty was introduced to outline the phasing out of ozone-depleting refrigerants. This treaty defined the timeline for introducing alternatives that would not affect the ozone layer. A total of 197 states signed it, making it the most successful international treaty to date.
Since then, HVAC technicians and distributers have moved away from refrigerants containing ozone depleting substances. And, more recently, refrigerants that contribute to global warming.
Ozone Depletion vs Global Warming
With technology constantly evolving, it’s important to be mindful about what substances your appliances are putting into the air. In this article, you will hear terms such as “Ozone Depletion” and “Global Warming”, but how do they really differ?
The earth’s ozone layer acts as a big, invisible filter. It allows some energy in and some energy out, which ultimately protects our skin from harmful, cancer-causing UV rays. Ozone depletion is simply the thinning and loss of this protective layer.
Global Warming refers to the heat trapped within the earth’s atmosphere due to greenhouse gases. Also known as “climate change,” Global Warming has been ascribed to drastic and unusual patterns of weather that are a result of the chain reaction caused by greenhouse gases.
What Refrigerants are in Your Air Conditioner?
You may have already heard of R-22, an older refrigerant that still exists in many older, residential HVAC units. R-22, otherwise known as chlorodifluoromethane, has high Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) and high Global Warming Potential (GWP). This is why it is being phased out of commercial use in more developed countries.
What You Can Do to Reduce Ozone Depleting Chemicals
There are several solutions if you believe your system still uses outdated refrigerants. One solution is to make the switch to R-410A, which has less Ozone Depleting Potential. However, it still has high Global Warming Potential. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are another “low ozone depleting” alternative to CFCs. Unfortunately, they are still considered greenhouse gases.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) do not contain any ozone depleting chlorine and have very low Global Warming Potential. Because they are still a greenhouse gas, they are targets of the Kyoto Protocol. With all these options, consulting with an HVAC technician you trust will help you stay up to date on new developments in the industry.
Help!! Air Conditioning is committed to providing families across the Greater New Orleans area quality HVAC equipment that is safe and reliable. We want your environmentally gentle system to keep you and your loved ones comfortable for many years. If you are still using a unit that requires destructive refrigerants, give us a call so we can upgrade your system! We want to get you back to living a healthy, happy lifestyle.
