UK not quite ready to ban HCFCs

Nov. 5, 2008 - PRLog -- In 2000, the European Commission enacted regulations that to make the use of new HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment illegal. Companies were given a 10-year window period in which to make the transition. The window period ends on the 31st December 2009, and according to an Aberdeen-based sustainable energy firm, Active, many companies in the UK may have left the move until too late.

Ian Nicol, Active’s managing director, says that even though the deadline is still over a year away, the fact that a large number of companies have left it to the last minute to do anything about it, means that it is now impossible for everyone to make the necessary changes in time. Nicol adds that this is a good time for businesses to invest in renewable systems as far as their air conditioning and portable air conditioning needs are concerned. Not only will this be beneficial to the environment, but will also be of benefit to budgets struggling to accommodate business needs in these economically uncertain times.

HCFCs were originally intended to serve as an environmentally-friendly alternative to CFCs, which owing to their low toxicity, flammability and price were widely used in refrigerants (air conditioners, domestic fridges and cold storage in supermarkets). When it became clear that CFCs also had the power to severely damage the ozone layer, they were phased out and replaced by HCFCs. Because HCFCs contain hydrogen, they are less stable than CFCs and disappear more quickly into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, even though HCFCs have an ozone depletion potential that is only 2-15% of CFCs, they will still cause major damage, which will only become apparent within the next few decades.  

To ease the cost of the transition, companies have the option to convert their existing portable air conditioner or air conditioning system so that they will operate on recycled HCFCs. But according to industry professionals, once the December 2009 deadline passes, the cost of recycled HCFCs will skyrocket along with demand. This is why Nicol advises businesses to start planning for the future now, to weigh needs against budget and to perhaps integrate the conversion of existing units with the gradual phasing in of new machines.

Businesses that are struggling to map out a transition plan that meets their needs are advised to consult with their equipment suppliers or qualified refrigeration engineers.

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