Coolants that don’t contain F-gases

Air conditioners have become ubiquitous in many parts of the world due to rising temperatures and demand for comfortable living conditions. However, these devices pose a significant problem in the form of the refrigerants they use, known as F-gases. These gases contain fluorine and leak out over time, contributing to climate change in a significant way. Despite representing only 3 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, F-gases are thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of their warming effect over a century.

To address this issue, in 2016, representatives from 197 countries made a commitment to reduce the production and use of certain F-gases by more than 80 percent by 2045. Various companies are developing new approaches to air conditioning that replace F-gases with less harmful coolants. While these ideas are still in the early stages of development, they offer hope for keeping people cool without contributing to climate change. However, the cost and accessibility of these new cooling technologies may be a concern for some, especially in developing countries where air conditioning is becoming increasingly popular.

Gates, Bill. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (p. 152). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.