RMI expert Ian McGavis discusses the scale of global direct greenhouse gas emissions resulting from refrigerants with host Shayle Kann.
Insight
McGavis: Refrigerant venting happens because contractor labor costs exceed reclamation value
“Today, the primary Driver for a lot of the venting is economic. It, the technician or the contractor's time is worth worth more than actually collecting the refrigerant and selling it into the reclamation market.”
Assertion Supported
McGavis: 80% of cooling equipment emissions come from energy use, 20% from refrigerants
“80% of the of the CO₂ impact from a piece of equipment is that energy efficiency or the energy that's created to run the equipment. The only, the other 20% comes from the refrigerant.”
Assertion Contradicted
McGavis: Data centers are currently the largest consumer of cooling
“Today, the biggest consumer of cooling is data centers. So as we talk about AI and all the AI applications, all that doesn't exist without a significant amount of cooling to keep those servers warm and keep those data centers operating.”
Opinion
McGavis: Montreal Protocol Is Probably the Most Effective Global Environmental Treaty
“The Montreal Protocol is probably the single most effective global treaty that's been put in place you know, through U.N. Sponsorship, and that's been the basis now for, you know, kind of next generation, the Kigali Amendment, and as you go through, you know, …”
Assertion Supported
McGavis: Refrigerant reclamation is an economic problem, not a technological one
“The technology exists. Nothing has to be developed to be able to successfully recover, reclaim, and refrigerants. It is more of a, frankly, it's more of an economic problem right now.”
Insight
McGavis: Flammability is the primary barrier for ultra-low GWP natural refrigerants like propane
“What I'd say is we move to these ultra low GWP refrigerants, the primary issue is flammability, and so they are slightly flammable, and so those issues have to be addressed. You know, what some of the best natural refrigerants are R two 90, which is propane, a…”