The possibility for refrigerants to leak from air conditioning and refrigeration systems is one of the key issues. When this occurs, the refrigerant may leak into the air and contribute to the ozone layer's thinning. The gas ozone, which is found in the Earth's upper atmosphere, acts as a natural shield against the sun's harmful UV rays.
The effect that refrigerants have on the ozone layer is gauged by their ozone depletion potential (ODP). R-22 and R-12, which were once the most widely used refrigerants, have high ODPs, which means they can have a major impact on ozone depletion.
Newer refrigerants with lower ODPs have been created to overcome this problem. R32, which is becoming more and more common in air conditioning and refrigeration systems, is one of these refrigerants. R32 is thought to be more environmentally friendly than R-22 and R-12 since it has a much lower ODP.
R32 has been discovered to have a reduced global warming potential (GWP) compared to other refrigerants, making it better for the ozone layer as well. A refrigerant's global warming potential (GWP) is a measurement of how well it can trap heat in the atmosphere and cause climate change. When compared to other refrigerants like R-410A (GWP = 2088), R32 has a lower GWP of 675.
Overall, using more modern refrigerants like R32 can lessen the impact of air conditioning and refrigeration systems on the environment. Both the risk of ozone depletion and the effects of climate change can be lessened with their assistance. Utilizing R32 and other comparable low GWP refrigerants is a good way to move towards more environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions as the globe tries to do.