R-410A RefrigerantAll
portable air conditioners use a substance called a refrigerant. Refrigerants
are liquids which take warm air and quickly cool them down. The conventional
refrigerant in most air conditioners is known as R-22. Since the advent of
global warming, research has found that R-22 emits dangerous compounds known as
hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). HCFCs are dangerous because they have been
found to deteriorate the Earth's ozone layer.New Industry Standard: R-410A
A new refrigerant called R-410A has entered the market, free of toxic
byproducts. Since the scientific evidence against R-22 is so compelling, the
U.S. and the European Union have banned its use. Under the Montreal Protocol,
the industry is currently shifting from using R-22 to R-410A. The plan is to
outlaw the production of air conditioners using R-22 and R-22 itself by 2010. The
ultimate goal is for R-22 to completely phased out by 2015.
Benefits of R-410A
R-410A portable air conditioners have some added benefits:
- More Efficient: R-410A is more efficient than R-22 at cooling.
- Greener: Since R-410A does not produce dangerous byproducts, it's an
environmentally friendly option.
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