Now, scientist Jaka Tušek, assistant professor at University of Ljubljana’s faculty of mechanical engineering in Slovenia, and his team are testing a technology that is aimed at replacing toxic refrigerants with metal tubes. Tušek’s study is in extension to a EU research project titled SUPERCOOL which was conducted at the university from 2019 to 2023.
Outdated cooling systems come with a hidden climate cost
Tušek points out that if just 2.2 pounds of certain refrigerants escape into the atmosphere, the environmental impact is comparable to driving a car for about 18,600 miles. Because of this, hydrofluorocarbons are now being phased out. However, natural alternatives like ammonia and isobutane come with their own set of challenges, including toxicity, flammability, and reduced efficiency in hot climates.