Greenpeace - HFCs Factsheet

WHY USE HFCs WHEN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFER ALTERNATIVES EXIST ?

Environmentally acceptable alternatives exist for all uses of HFCs. These utilize natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, ammonia , air and water, as well as alternate technologies.

Greenfreeze refrigerator prod. line, DKK Scharfenstein GmbH in Germany Greenfreeze Domestic Refrigerators: In 1992 Greenpeace inspired the development of Greenfreeze. Unlike most household refrigerators, Greenfreeze contains neither HCFCs nor HFCs. Greenfreeze technology employs naturally occurring hydrocarbon substances in the foam insulation and as the coolant. This planet-friendly technology has spread rapidly. It is estimated that by the year 2000, 40 million Greenfreeze fridges will be produced in Europe alone. Greenfreeze will soon be produced in China, India, Australia and Latin America.

Greenfreeze Supermarket Refrigeration: Numerous environmentally concerned supermarkets throughout Europe are using HCFC/HFC-free 'Greenfreeze' technologies, using secondary systems for both chilling and freezing capacity. Secondary cooling systems use coolants such as water, brine, glycols, silicon oils or a new product called Flo-ice TM, to circulate through refrigeration cabinets. The coolant itself is chilled, through a heat exchanger, by a primary refrigeration circuit using ammonia or hydrocarbons. The primary circuit is usually located in a safely isolated plant room in the back of the store.

Diagram of Supermarket Cooling Systems

Examples of European supermarkets using Greenfreeze technologies include: Cactus Store in Bereldange, Luxembourg; Migros Store in Wohlen, Switzerland; Edeka Store in Hildesheim, Germany; and Sainsbury's in Horsham, UK.

Suppliers of Greenfreeze alternative supermarket refrigeration systems include multinational companies such as Linde, Elektrolux, Sabroe, ABB Stal, York, Integral.

Hydrocarbon-Based Home Air Conditioners: The large Italian manufacturer De'Longhi is launching a new line of propane cooled portable air conditioners called Pinguino ECO in 1995.

HFC Free Automobile Air Conditioner: Researchers at Sintef Refrigeration Engineering, the Norwegian Institute of Technology have successfully tested a Mobile Air Conditioner (MAC) using CO2 as the refrigerant. Other researchers are successfully testing hydrocarbons.

Hydrocarbon Drop-In Replacements For CFCs And HCFCs: Calor Gas of the UK is marketing a line of hydrocarbon refrigerants as drop-in replacements for CFCs and HCFCs. Iceland, the large British retailer of frozen foods is presently testing the Calor products in domestic freezers, delivery vehicles and commercial plants.

Flo-Ice TM is another drop-in replacement in supermarket refrigeration.