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The history of artificial refrigeration dates back to 1748 although the first refrigerator was invented by Oliver Evans in 1805. Throughout its development the refrigerator has trialled the use of various toxic gases such as ammonia, methyl chloride and sulphur dioxide, which resulted in several fatal accidents due to leaks. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were eventually selected due to their odourless, non-flammable and non-corrosive properties, however, these were soon discovered to have a damaging effect on the ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol successfully phased out the use of CFCs in many products including refrigerators and the new replacement was HFCs. Many modern refrigerators use HFC-134a because it is non-toxic and does not harm the ozone layer as CFCs do. However, what many people do not realise is that HFCs are a greenhouse gas, and although they are not as powerful as carbon dioxide and methane, their greenhouse gas effect is still measureable. Luckily Greenpeace has developed alternatives to HFC fridges since the early nineties and their Greenfreeze solutions now contribute to around 35-40% of annual global fridge freezer production with over 400 million Greenfreeze fridges currently in use around the world. Some of the natural alternative refrigerants include hydrocarbons, CO2 and propane, which have proved to be effective in reducing the carbon footprint of many large multinational corporations. Pepsi has over 8,000 vending machines around the world that make use of this technology and by 2009 Unilever had placed over 400,000 hydrocarbon ice cream coolers around the world that boast a 9% energy savings when compared to HFC refrigerators. In the UK, Waitrose currently has propane-based refrigeration in seven of their stores and they aim to introduce this technology to all of their stores by 2020. It is estimated that using HFC-free refrigeration will enable Waitrose to reduce its carbon footprint by an impressive 20%. If you are thinking of purchasing a new fridge freezer then consider the potential environmental effects and look for an HFC-free model. You should also ensure that your new fridge freezer is energy efficient by comparing the energy ratings as awarded by Trading Standards. This has been made easy by a simple labelling scheme that awards the product a grade between A++ and G, enabling you to make a quick comparison. Choosing an energy efficient model will not only make you feel good that you have taken an environmentally conscious decision but will also have a direct impact on your bank balance too through savings on your energy bills. For A++ rated products and the best fridge freezer deals deals search online where you will also find the best washing machine deals and offers on other household appliances.
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