QUEBEC AUTHORITIES INCLUDE HFCS IN AN ARENAS REFRIGERATION UPGRADE BUDGET
For the modernization of arenas refrigeration systems still using HCFC-22 (and a few CFC-12) in Quebec (Canada), the "Ministère de lÉducation, du Loisir et du Sport » (MELS) has decided to subsidize projects based on ammonia, CO2 or new fluorocarbons refrigerant blends with a GWP lower than 700.
Retaining fluorocarbon refrigerants, despite their rather high GWPs, resulted from taking into consideration the efficiency of leakage control of new modern systems, and because HFC systems are by far less expensive : the Ministry presented investment figures of 0.4-0.75 M CAD for fluorocarbons refrigeration systems, vs up to 2.3 M CAD for ammonia and 0.7-1.3 M CAD for CO2.
According to the Quebec arenas inventory, there are 420 arenas and 75 curling centers, of which more than 300 have HCFC-22 refrigeration systems and a small number still CFC-12 systems. The renovation program will eliminate the arenas ODS emissions, and should reduce by 97-100 % their greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: Journal de Montreal.com