Air-conditioner Environmental Program



			Preventing Ozone Layer Depletion and Global Warming Due to Refrigerants (fluorocarbons)

Air-conditioners use refrigerants to carry heat from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit. Conventional refrigerants like CFCs and HCFCs deplete the ozone layer if released into the atmosphere. Even HFCs, new refrigerants that do not deplete the ozone layer, contribute to global warming.

• How Does Ozone Layer Depletion Occur?

• What will Happen if the Ozone Layer is Destroyed?

• What Restrictions Protect the Ozone Layer?

• What's the Relationship Between Refrigerants (fluorocarbons) and Global Warming?

• HFCs Currently the Main Refrigerants

			How Does Ozone Layer Depletion Occur?

The stratospheric ozone layer above the Earth’s atmosphere protects us by absorbing the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. However, a little more than 20 years ago, it was discovered that the ozone layer above the Antarctic had become thin. Scientists pointed out that this was the result of the ozone layer being broken down by CFCs (designated fluorocarbons) used as refrigerants in air-conditioners and refrigerators.
To prevent refrigerants from entering the atmosphere, Daikin takes great care to ensure that air-conditioners and refrigerators that have reached the end of their useful life are properly handled by retail outlets.

			What will Happen if the Ozone Layer is Destroyed?

The ozone layer will be unable to absorb strong ultraviolet rays, which will reach the Earth’s surface and cause skin cancer. It’s also believed that these ultraviolet rays will negatively impact ecosystems.

Depleted ozone layer above the Antarctic

This image was made by the Japan Meteorological Agency based on TOMS data from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). (From the home page of the Japan Meteorological Agency. )

			What Restrictions Protect the Ozone Layer?

HFCs are substances that do not harm the ozone layer. Developed countries around the world banned the use of CFCs and converted to HCFCs, which have one-tenth to one-fiftieth the ozone depletion potential of CFCs, and are converting to HFCs, which have no ozone depletion potential. These efforts are based on the Montreal Protocol.

Montreal Protocol (September 1987)

Restricted substances	Ozone depleting substances (CFCs, HCFCs, halon, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, ethyl bromide, etc.)
Restrictions	Reduce and stop manufacture
Schedule	CFCs	Developed countries: Manufactur stopped as of 1995
	HCFCs	Developed countries: Stop manufacture by 2020

			What's the Relationship Between Refrigerants (fluorocarbons) and Global Warming?

The conventional ozone depleting refrigerants, CFCs and HCFCs, and the new refrigerants, HFCs, all contribute to global warming. CFCs, of which manufacturing was stopped in 1995, contribute three to 10 times (varies according to type of CFC) as much to global warming as the HFCs currently replacing CFCs. So the switch from CFCs to HFCs also has a significant effect in preventing global warming.

The Kyoto Protocol on the prevention of global warming specifies HFCs, which do not harm the ozone layer and are being phased in as refrigerants. Between 2008 and 2012, emissions of HFC, CO₂ and four other greenhouse gases must be 5% less than 1990 emissions. The Kyoto Protocol does not cover CFCs and HCFCs since the manufacture of these was eliminated under the Montreal Protocol.

			HFCs Currently the Main Refrigerants

HFCs are currently considered the best refrigerant for air-conditioners since they do not harm the ozone layer yet offer the same refrigerant performance. For the time being, the best way to reduce environmental impact is to reduce damage to the ozone layer by switching to HFC while at the same time reducing global warming by recovering refrigerants and making products more energy efficient.

See what Daikin is doing to protect the ozone layer and prevent global warming.