Refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) system contribute to climate change through their greenhouse gases emission by two means.
First, they emit refrigerant gases from leak and losses in charging/discharging processes. Some of these refrigerants are not only ozone depleting substances regulated in Montreal Protocol, but also greenhouse gases listed in Kyoto Protocol. For example chlorofluorocarbon, CFC. CFC-11 and CFC-12, which are phased out under Montreal, have Global Warming Potential, GWP 1400 and 4100, respectively. These GWPs are based on CO2 which GWP is defined as 1.
However this contribution is relatively low. The bigger contribution for climate change, accounts for 80% of their contributions, come from carbon dioxide emissions which are released from their energy uses. These emissions are associated with the amount of greenhouse gases emission from the sources of power to run the RAC systems, generally from electric power generators for industrial and domestic uses, and some from combustion engines for automotive air conditioning and local uses.
So, the RAC industry roles in curbing the climate change issues should be focused on reducing the energy consumption of their equipments and systems. It can be achieved through increasing their systems’ energy efficiency and developing new technology.
The research and development of alternative refrigerants as the replacement of phased out refrigerants are still needed to be done, due to their importance on keeping the ozone layer safe. However there should be considerations that the replacement should also be associated with maintaining or increasing their systems’ energy efficiency. Reducing RAC systems’ efficiency is simple not an option.
Finally, as an RAC engineers, these are the challenges we need to face today, and these are the ways you can do to contribute for the solution of climate change.
