A Global Problem
We are witnessing today the genesis of arguably the most important technological shift the global HVACR industry has ever experienced. Even a cursory review of research and development efforts will confirm that both global industry and the U.S. military are aggressively moving toward introduction of super efficient systems that utilize carbon dioxide and other natural refrigerants. See www.R744.com.
Heating, cooling and refrigeration are so pervasive in our world that we rarely consider how necessary they are for our survival. We heat and cool our homes, vehicles and businesses, we refrigerate our food and medicine for storage and distribution, and we require thermal energy for countless industrial processes. In an age of high energy costs, these fundamental needs represent an indispensable and ever increasing expense line item for household and business budgets alike. Adding to the enormous economic cost of operating and servicing heating and cooling systems is the costly logistical burden of handling, storing, recycling and disposing of regulated synthetic refrigerant gases.
An equally pressing problem is the significant, negative environmental impact of these systems. The result of burning fossil fuels to generate electrical power, coupled with the use of toxic hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, endangers the atmosphere with the buildup of harmful, long duration global warming gases. HFCs are a collection of greenhouse gases up to 12,000 times more noxious than base line carbon dioxide (CO2), spawning a colossal worldwide regulatory system with no foreseeable end to ever widening and rigorous governmental restrictions.
There is no question that the HVACR industry is under tremendous pressure from many sources, including regulatory agencies in the United State and the European Union (EU), to further restrict and possibly eliminate the production and/or use of HFC refrigerants. In fact, the EU has already begun the process of banning some HFCs. The uncertainty concerning refrigerant acceptability and expectations of increasing governmental regulation along with escalating refrigerant management costs underscore the acute need for a long term refrigerant solution.
Energy consumption, synthetic refrigerant gases, and cost of refrigerant management are enormous global problems. These challenges have been historically addressed by an industry development effort focused on achieving incremental improvement in the performance and energy efficiency of conventional FC-based HVACR products, and by the development of new synthetic refrigerant compounds that have less harmful environmental impact.
However, the ability to achieve continued improvements in conventional systems is limited by the physical properties of the HFC refrigerant blends and the mechanics of the equipment in which it is used. Today’s HVACR industry is in the throes of economic, political, and environmental change whereby incremental improvements in this industry are insufficient and short-term and can be readily displaced with successful CO2 technologies.
EcoThermics CO2 technologies will play a key role in establishing CO2 as the refrigerant of choice for a smarter and greener future.