Need to Know: Servicing Your Air Conditioner

HCFCs and the Ozone Layer

The stratospheric ozone layer shields the Earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. Emissions of certain synthetic chemicals – including CFCs, halons, and HCFCs – destroy the ozone layer, and have created an “ozone hole” over the South Pole.

Through the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the United States committed to a collaborative, international effort to regulate and phase out ozone-depleting substances. While the US phased out of CFCs and halons in the mid 90’s, we now must first limit HCFC consumption to a specific level and then reduce it in a step-wise fashion.

Phaseout of R-22 and R142b

HCFC-22 (also called R-22) and HCFC-142b are the next two HCFCs that the United States will phase out. The schedule to phase out HCFCs is:

• January 1, 2010
  Ban on production and import of HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b except for continuing servicing needs of existing equipment
• January 1, 2015
  Ban on sale and use of all HCFCs except for certain uses, including continuing servicing needs of refrigeration equipment
• January 1, 2020
  Ban on remaining production and import of HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b

After 2020, the servicing of systems with R-22 will rely on recycled or stockpiled quantities.

Real Estate Plays A Key Role in Energy Efficiency

The real estate sector plays a key role in energy efficiency and conservation.

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change determined that cost-effective energy efficiency measures in buildings could reduce building emissions by 30% from the 2020 estimated baseline.

Basic improvements include improved building insulation, greater heating and cooling efficiencies, energy-efficient lighting, and energy-efficient appliances.

Learn more about the United Nations’ Sustainable Building & Construction Initiative here.