Today many industrial refrigeration services install and service R-717 systems. However, some systems use other refrigerants that don’t have a great track record with environmental issues. R-717 is one of the best refrigerants you can use for several reasons. For example, it’s very efficient and saves on energy usage. R-717 is the right choice for ecological reasons too and here are some reasons why.
Ozone
Ozone depletion is a major problem in the world today. In fact, it’s disappearing at an alarming rate thanks to things like CFCs in solvents, propellants, and refrigerants. The ozone layer protects the planet from dangerous ultraviolet light from the sun. Ozone depletion can increase the chances of sunburn, skin cancer, plant damage, and cataracts. In fact, ocean plankton populations are down due to ozone issues. When industrial refrigeration services have to release R-717 refrigerant, they cause no ozone problems
Global Warming
If you think global warming is not an issue, take a look at the polar caps now and compare them to a few decades ago. Climate changes like warming and cooling happen naturally, but greenhouse gasses are accelerating the process. If man-induced global warming continues, it could lead to catastrophic results. For example, as the polar caps melt, they release more fresh water into the ocean, and this affects the Atlantic Conveyor Belt which delivers warm water to many parts of the world. If they conveyor stops, the planet could enter an ice age. Industrial refrigeration services and companies using ammonia refrigeration can rest easy knowing that R-717 has no negative effects on global warming.
Renewable Energy
Ammonia (NH3) has no carbon compounds. In fact, it’s often produced with renewable energy sources. For example, instead of using natural gas to produce hydrogen, manufacturers can use electric current from solar generators to produce hydrogen from water with electrolysis.
