Even if chlorofluorohydrocarbons – CFCs / hydrocarbons for short –are no longer in use in many industries nowadays, many old refrigerators, via which harmful compounds are able to reach the atmosphere and weaken the ozone layer, are in use. There is an urgent need for action here, particularly with regard to
climate protection. CFCs / hydrocarbons damage the ozone layer, which is responsible for protecting us from dangerous short-wave UV rays. The more this layer is damaged, the more UV radiation reaches people, animals and plants.
SEG’s resource-preserving refrigerator demanufacturing process contributes to protecting the ozone layer.
The main approach to climate protection is reducing man-made greenhouse gas emissions. SEG’s activities make an important contribution to this. Steam, CO2 and methane are natural greenhouse gases. Their increased presence in the atmosphere bears significant responsibility for global warming. This increase is primarily caused by burning fossil fuels. Then there’s the impact of CFCs / hydrocarbons and modern substitute coolants. CFCs / hydrocarbons have more than a 10,000 times greater influence on the greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide. Despite the comparably low amounts of CFCs / hydrocarbons in the atmosphere, these substances account for 22 percent of the greenhouse effect.
Recently developed substitute materials in cooling technology, refrigeration technology and climate technology have a much lower potential for damaging the ozone layer. For the second generation of substitute materials, such as the propellant and coolant R-134a, this potential is reduced to zero. However, these substances have an extremely high global warming potential.
R-134a exceed CO2 by a factor of 1430. Other substances can have a value up to 12,000 times greater than
CO2.
Today, household refrigerators contain hydrocarbon gases such as pentane or butane as coolants and in the insulating foam.
Today, household refrigerators contain hydrocarbon gases such as pentane or butane as coolants and in the insulating foam.
These freezers and refrigerators are known as VHC appliances (VHC stands for non-fluorinated hydrocarbons). Pentane and butane have a three times higher global warming potential than
CO2.
Comparison
1 refrigerator per year
2.8 t CO2 eq.
(Containing CFCs / hydrocarbons)
1 car per year
6.9 t CO2 eq.
1 house per year
3.7 t CO2 eq.
This comparison makes it clear why every gram of CFCs / hydrocarbons must be extracted and destroyed. Demanufacturing, such as that done by SEG, is an important stepping stone in the pursuit of CO2 reduction.