TALK ABOUT IT: Air conditioners and cooling appliances, like refrigerators and freezers, are the largest residential drain on our energy system. The manufacturing of these things adds to the release of greenhouse gases. By far the biggest part of the refrigeration footprint is the refrigerant chemicals.
Hydrofluorocarbons were developed to replace the chlorofluorocarbons that were eroding the Ozone Layer. Ninety percent of refrigerant emissions occur at the end of an appliance’s life, according to Project Drawdown.
GET ACTIVE: Homeowners can take steps to protect the environment when it comes to their air conditioning systems. Regular servicing will ensure that your system is performing efficiently, reducing energy consumption. Replacing equipment that is more than 10 years old with Energy Star labeled systems will save money, save energy and help protect the environment. Proper disposal of appliances containing refrigerants that follows best practices will prevent stored gases from escaping old devices.
RESOURCES:
You can see some of the EPA rules here: https://www.epa.gov/ods-phaseout/homeowners-and-consumers-frequently-asked-questions
More solutions: http://www.ahrinet.org/Resources/Research
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