The changes in air conditioning unit refrigerants

Everyone is aware of the importance of the earth’s ozone layer, located about 35 miles above the surface of our planet. However, not many people know about the amount of damage to the ozone and how it has occurred. During the mid 1980s, scientists discovered a hole in the ozone and it was also discovered that the widely used air conditioning refrigerant had played a part in this damage.

Phasing out of ozone depleting refrigerants:

CFCs and HCFCs were the refrigerants used at that time so it was decided that these should be banned from further production and use. The Montreal Protocol which was an agreement signed by 180 nations in 1987 was the first step in the phasing out of these ozone depleting refrigerants. It was decided by this agreement that CFC production would phase out by 1995 and HCFC by 2030.

Replacement of ozone depleting refrigerants:

Air conditioning refrigerant manufacturers have fortunately found better and more eco-friendly refrigerants to replace CFCs and HCFCs. This refrigerant is called R-410A and is a refrigerant blend of zeotropic and azeotropic. These do not have ozone depleting properties. There are already air conditioning systems that have been manufactured with this ozone friendly refrigerant, but current prices of these units are slightly higher than regular units.

However, the good news is that as more and more air conditioning system manufacturers begin to develop the same systems, prices are sure to reduce. This means that there will be affordable, eco- friendly air conditioning units available for everyone.