What Daikin is Doing

Protecting the Ozone Layer

1. Daikin First to Mass-Produce HFCs in Japan

Daikin has worked to develop and spread the use of HFCs by being the first manufacturer in Japan to mass-produce these zero-ozone-depletion-potential refrigerants.

2.Converting Air Conditioner Refrigerants to HFCs

Daikin is phasing out the HCFC (R-22) currently in use and replacing it with HFCs, which have an ozone depletion potential of zero.

Further Steps to Prevent Global Warming

1.Searching for HFC Refrigerants with Minimum Global Warming Potential

Daikin is looking at HFC32, a refrigerant that is highly efficient yet has little environmental impact and minimum global warming impact. Although HFC32 is slightly flammable, Daikin is working to overcome this problem and achieve practical application of this refrigerant.

2.Using Natural Refrigerants

Natural refrigerants are substances that exist in nature that can be used as refrigerants. The main natural refrigerants are ammonia, hydro carbon (propane), and CO2. It's our policy to use natural refrigerants in whatever fields possible with consideration for efficiency and safety. Daikin products currently on the market include an ammonia absorption chiller and chilling unit using ammonia, and a heat pump water heater using CO2.

For more on candidate refrigerants.

3.Measures in the Development and Other Stages

We're taking all possible measures to prevent refrigerant leaks, including developing air conditioners that don't easily leak refrigerants and that allow easy refrigerant recovery, and recovering refrigerant during the manufacturing and air conditioning repair processes.

Reducing fluorocarbon emissions

Recovery and destruction of fluorocarbons post-shipment

Recovery of Refrigerants from All Manufacturers’ Air Conditioners

1.Daikin Established Nationwide System for the Recovery and Destruction of Fluorocarbons

Fluorocarbon destruction facilities
(Kashima Plant)

In Japan, Daikin has built a system for collecting refrigerants from used air conditioners and then breaking these down into environmentally harmless substances. The system went into operation in April 2002.

Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, the Daikin Contact Center takes requests to recover air conditioner refrigerants. There are currently 1,500 refrigerant recovery teams all over Japan, which recover refrigerants and send them to Daikin's Kashima Plant and to fluorocarbon destruction plants around Japan, where they are properly broken down.

Fluorocarbon recovery and destruction business