Properly Dispose of Refrigeration Units

By Jacob B., 10th year

Did you know that the refrigerant chemicals used in air conditioning and refrigerators are one of the primary contributors to global warming?

Many people are surprised to learn about the huge impact that the air conditioning in their cars and homes can have on the climate. Hydrofluorocarbons have been used in air conditioning and refrigerators since 1987. They are used in place of chlorofluorocarbons, which had been burning through the ozone. However, hydrofluorocarbons do not come without their own set of problems, namely that they have a global warming capacity that is 1,000 to 9,000x greater than that of carbon dioxide.

So, what can be done to combat this? In a city as hot and humid as Houston, it is difficult to convince people to keep their AC at anything other than full blast. However, as 90 percent  of refrigerant emissions happen near the end of appliance life, it is crucial to dispose of refrigeration units properly.

According to the EPA, the first step should be to check with your utility company and see if a bounty program (program to turn in your old appliances in return for a “bounty”) is offered in your area. If this is unavailable, several retailers also offer refrigerated appliance disposal services or bulky item collections. More information on responsible appliance disposal (RAD) is available through the EPA’s RAD program.

If you would like to learn more about refrigerants and their impact on climate change, come see AC student Sarah L. at the "From Knowing to Acting" climate change symposium on May 3rd!