Your furnace breaks down in the middle of the winter, and you have already done every check that you know of in an effort to get the unit back up and running. Once you have given up, you give in and decide to call an HVAC contractor to lend you a hand. Flipping through the phone book, you see many large ads that make various promises, but how are you going to pick one? No one has the time or money to spend on a technician who doesn’t know what they are doing. So, you should look for a company that promotes NATE certified technicians.
Posts Tagged ‘EPA’
NATE Certified Technicians Only!
September 27th, 2010R-22 and R410A: What You Need to Know About Refrigerant
August 27th, 2010Refrigerant, or Freon, is the substance that your air conditioning unit uses to provide cooling in your home. An air conditioner is a closed system, so adding refrigerant to your unit should be a onetime thing. However, if your unit springs a leak, you may want to know a little more about the type of Freon your unit uses before you decide on a costly repair.
The Old Standard
Air conditioning units used to use a compound called CFC’s or chlorofluorocarbons. This is a combination of carbon, fluorine, and chlorine atoms that when put together create a compound that is a destroyer of the ozone. These types of compounds have been banned by the EPA since 1996, and therefore have pretty much disappeared from the market. » Read more: R-22 and R410A: What You Need to Know About Refrigerant
Ozone Air Purifiers: Harmful or Helpful?
August 25th, 2010Every air purifier is not created equal. In the world of air purifiers, there are several options to choose from. From HEPA to ionic to ozone air purifiers, the process of choosing the right unit for your home can become confusing and maybe even a little overwhelming. But, you can check ozone air purifiers off your list right now! Contrary to what you may have heard about ozone air purifiers, these units are in reality very dangerous and most don’t even effectively purify the air.
What is Ozone?
Many of us have probably already heard about ozone. This is the gas that is commonly associated with our atmosphere. It is made up of 3 oxygen atoms. We normally breathe oxygen in its most stable form that consists of only 2 oxygen atoms. The third atom of oxygen that is present in ozone makes the molecule unstable. This instability is what allows that third oxygen atom to break off and combine with other organic molecules in the environment. The combination of the lone oxygen atom will alter the chemical make-up of the molecule it binds with. » Read more: Ozone Air Purifiers: Harmful or Helpful?
EPA Phase Out Schedule for HCFC-22
October 8th, 2009Also known as R-22, the EPA phase out of HCFC-22 will happen on the following schedule.
- 2010 = 75% reduction (25% of 1996 level)
- 2015 = 90% reduction (10% of 1996 level)
- 2020 = 99.5% reduction (0.5% of 1996 level)
- 2030 = Total Phase Out (Zero production)
For more information go to www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/hcfc.html
How they are calculating this from there web site.
Consumption is calculated by the following formula: consumption = production plus imports minus exports. The cap is set at 2.8% of that country’s 1989 chlorofluorocarbon consumption + 100% of that country’s 1989 HCFC consumption. The cap on production is set at the average of a) 1989 HCFC production + 2.8% of 1989 CFC production and b) 1989 HCFC consumption + 2.8% of 1989 CFC consumption. (Quantities of chemicals measured under the cap are ODP-weighted, which means that each chemical’s relative contribution to ozone depletion is taken into account.)
I will open this up for discussion on how any of us are planning on addressing this. Either as a contractor or as a consumer.
