National energy impacts of CFC alternatives in heating, air-conditioning and refrigerating equipment and foam insulation.

摘要

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are used extensively throughout modern society as the working fluids in high-efficiency refrigeration equipment and as blowing agents in manufacturing high R-value foam insulations. CFCs contribute to the destruction of stratospheric ozone and are a significant threat to the global environment. Future production and emissions of CFCs will be controlled under the provisions of the Montreal Protocol and the use of these compounds will be phased out. The US Department of Energy is concerned about the energy efficiency impacts of alternative chemical compounds and technologies that may be used as substitutes for CFC-11 and CFC-12 as refrigerants and blowing agents. This paper discusses the possible increase in national energy use resulting from the replacement of CFCs with alternative compounds. Significant increases in energy use could occur, particularly in refrigerator/freezers, freezers, water heaters, and commercial buildings. 15 refs., 3 tabs.