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Experts & media recommend R744 in refrigeration |
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The natural refrigerant CO2 (R744) is emerging as the sustainable long-term solution for commercial refrigeration worldwide. Industry experts, scientists and public authorities are recommending its use which has sparked rising interest from the media.
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2007-06-26
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The impact of high global warming chemical substances leaking from supermarket cabinets, and rising energy consumption caused by their use, is increasingly taking center stage of public attention, in the search for solutions to the current climate crisis. The natural refrigerant CO2 is emerging as the most viable solution for the refrigeration industry, featuring high energy efficiency and a Global Warming Impact that is 3.300 times less than that of R404a, the chemical blend currently used in most supermarkets.
An international UN conference, the German Environment Agency, and German media have put CO2 refrigeration into the spotlight within the last couple of weeks.
German Environmental Agency calls for CO2 in supermarkets
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Following the recent international conference "CO2OL Food" in Berlin, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has issued a clear commitment to the use of R744, calling CO2 the "future technology in modern supermarkets". By using CO2, the UBA expects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from supermarket cabinets by 50% through improved energy efficiency and less direct emissions. In Germany alone leaking chemical blends from supermarkets account for 3.3 million tons of CO2 equivalents every year, the UBA confirms.
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The German media, among them WELT ONLINE, have picked up this issue to support UBA's view that CO2 is already now highly competitive in low temperature applications, and that using R744 in supermarkets is one of the most cost-effective ways to contribute to climate protection, starting from today.
UNEP conference with focus on CO2 Technology
On occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol and the 10th anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) held an international conference on "The Necessary Technological Changes to face Climate Change" in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry. During 8-9 June in Milan, Italy, policy makers, international organizations and business leaders discussed the phase-out of high global warming substances and their replacement by sustainable alternatives. R744 emerged as a preferred substitute, with many experts focusing on its use in different applications, including commercial refrigeration.
More specifically, Petter Nekså from SINTEF Energy Research gave an overview of the current status and future developments of CO2 Technology in refrigeration and air conditioning, whereas the global industry leaders Embraco and Dorin presented latest results in developing light-commercial and semi-hermetic CO2 compressors. Representatives from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and from UNEP reconfirmed their support for natural refrigerants and announced more focused research efforts on their development.
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More information:
 Federal Environment Agency - Press Release 15 June, 2007 (76 KB) - GERMAN
› Article WELT ONLINE, 18 June, 2007 - GERMAN
SINTEF Energy Research - Petter Nekså, Abstract, May 2007 (1.2 MB)
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