Why R22 Refrigerant Gas is Being Phased Out

You might notice that we at East Coast Refrigeration talk about CO2 refrigeration quite a bit. It's an exciting new development that is changing the world of commercial and industrial refrigeration. We used to rely on R22 refrigerant gas -- a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). Unfortunately, this man-made refrigerant was found to release greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. That's just one reason it's not commonly used anymore. Let's take a closer look at why R22 refrigerant gas is being phased out:

Ozone depletion

For decades, R22 was the refrigerant of choice. "Unfortunately for the environment, releases of R-22, such as those from leaks, contribute to ozone depletion," reports the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Manufacturing of R22 will therefore be phased out over the next few years. According to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, by the year 2020, R22 will no longer be produced.

Global warming

Another reason why R22 refrigerant gas is being phased out is that it's a greenhouse gas. Furthermore, the manufacturing of R22 creates a byproduct called HFC-23, which contributes to global warming, according to the EPA. Take a look at the chart below, courtesy of the EPA, which compares the global warming potential (GWP) and ozone depletion potential (ODP) of popular refrigerants:

To learn more about what makes CO2 refrigeration systems a cleaner alternative to those that run on R22 refrigerant gas, visit East Coast Refrigeration on the web. You can also get in touch with us by dialing (631) 249-4556. Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ as well!