A recent article featured in the News Tribune discussed the rising cost of R-22 refrigerant, better known as Freon. The article states that prices are rising due to a “phasing out of R-22 as part of the international treaty on protecting the ozone layer called the Montreal Protocol.” Due to an increasingly limited production of [ more ]
Following meetings earlier in the year the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has recommended that Russia bans the use of disposable refrigerant cylinders in line with the EU, USA, Canada and other developed countries.
The North American Proposal establishes provisions for developed and developing country phasedown reductions of HFC production and consumption as follows below.
According to the Final Adjustment Rule, R-22 allowances for 2013 will rise by about 13% relative to 2012, and decrease by 20% in 2014 relative to 2012. These allocations became effective on April 3, 2013.
With the single stroke of a pen, the EPA has placed 28 Million more LBS of R-22 in the market. What does that mean?
Most reclaim companies operate with around 70% efficiency when it comes to being able to separate good gas from bad. Depending on how many dollars you’re getting for each pound of refrigerant, that un-reclaimable gas can really start to add up.
A Florida corporation was convicted and sentenced in connection with the illegal receipt, purchase, and sale of ozone-depleting refrigerant gas that had been smuggled into the United States.
While refrigerant tracking may seem like something to keep compliance happy, it ends up lowering refrigerant-related expenses, protecting asset inventory, saving time and providing insight to system maintenance.
Government regulations aside, refrigerant tracking and monitoring are more good ideas that insure a healthy bottom line. In an effort to understand the rapidly changing refrigerant industry, Polar Technology recently published a new white paper titled “Managing a New Dynamic in Climate Control”.
There are a number of companies promoting 100% hydrocarbon based refrigerants to replace R-22 as direct drop ins for HVAC and commercial refrigeration. Do they work? Yes. Are they legal? No: not for replacing R-22 in existing HVAC and commercial refrigeration systems! They are highly flammable and can be dangerous.