health
Harmful effects of refrigerators on the planet
Refrigerators have become an indispensable part of our lives, and the satisfaction of getting a cold drink on a hot summer day is irreplaceable! However, did you know that while the refrigerator keeps the drinks and food cold inside, it has a massive carbon footprint that heats up the planet? Let us understand how refrigerators contribute to global warming and see if any preventive measures can be taken to lower its effects. How does it work? The refrigerator has refrigerants which are liquid cooling agents that change their state of matter in a continuous cycle that sucks in heat from the environment inside the room and releases this heat outside in the form of gas. Refrigerants Chlorofluorocarbons or CFC were the most common type of refrigerants used in fridges and even ACs, however, after extensive study and research, it was understood that these CFCs are responsible for breaking down the ozone layer. Two other new forms of less potent refrigerants were then used, called HFCs or hydrofluorocarbons or HCFCs hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which are still in use today. While these are not as harmful to the ozone layer, they are strong, intoxicating greenhouse gasses. According to a report by BBC, the cooling industry accounts for about 10% of global CO2 emissions, making refrigerators a climate calamity.
