DEVELOPMENT OF GREENFREEZE

In the spring of 1992 Greenpeace brought together scientists who had extensively researched the use of propane and butane as refrigerants, with an East German company DKK Scharfenstein.

The meeting between the scientists and DKK Scharfenstein resulted in the birth of 'Greenfreeze' technology for domestic refrigeration.

Greenfreeze uses a mixture of propane (R290) and isobutane (R60Oa), or isobutane as a pure gas for the refrigerant. The energy efficiency of the propane/butane refrigerators has proved to be as good as, or better than those cooled with CFCs or HFC-134a.

Hydrocarbons are flammable but their flammability can be easily mitigated through adequate safety measures in production and product design. The content of propane or butane in a domestic 'Greenfreeze' refrigerator equals roughly the content of two cigarette lighters.

When DKK Scharfenstein (renamed Foron) announced their intention to mass produce "Greenfreeze", Greenpeace gathered tens of thousands of pre-orders for the yet-to-be-produced new refrigerator from environmentally conscious consumers in Germany. This overwhelming support from the public secured the capital investment needed for the new 'Greenfreeze' product.

The major European household appliance manufacturers, who had already invested in HFC-134a refrigeration technology as the substitute for CFCs, were at first resistant to the hydrocarbon technology. However, once DKK Scharfenstein proceeded with its plans, the major manufacturers also began to convert to hydrocarbons. Within two years Greenfreeze has become the dominant technology in Europe.

Many models of 'Greenfreeze' refrigerators are now on sale in Germany, Austria, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Britain. All of the major European companies, Bosch, Siemens, Electrolux, Liebherr, Miele, Quelle, Vestfrost, Whirlpool, Bauknecht, Foron, AEG are marketing Greenfreeze-technology based refrigerators.

There are over 10 million hydrocarbon refrigerators in the world today. 100 percent of the German market has converted to Greenfreeze technology. Greenfreeze refrigerators are available in many sizes, and a wide variety of models, including no-frost freezer compartments.

In countries like Germany and Denmark, there are over 100 different Greenfreeze models.

There has not been one reported accident from the use of hydrocarbons as refrigerants.

Hydrocarbon refrigeration technology has also spread to other continents. Most significantly, as a result of joint Greenpeace and GTZ initiatives in China, Haeier company has almost completed its conversion of at least one line to Greenfreeze. Other Chinese companies are expected to follow suit. Similarly, four projects in Argentina have been approved by the Multilateral Fund for conversion to Greenfreeze.