Imagine a 1000 m2 refrigerated logistics center. The required cooling capacity of such a typical facility will be around 250 kW. As a result of leaks and energy consumption, the F-gas installation will emit an annual average of 550 tons of CO2 to the environment, and the one on R744 – by 280 tons less. 280 tonnes of CO2 corresponds to driving 1,400,000 km with a typical passenger car. By covering the entire roof of the considered facility with photovoltaics, we will produce approximately 190,000 kWh of electricity without any emissions annually, avoiding the emission of 161 tons of CO2 into the environment.

This means that R744 refrigeration is more than 70% more eco-friendly than photovoltaics.

Other “green” solutions that can be used in our imaginary logistics center are cogeneration, CO2 absorbing cube, birdhouses, electric cars, waste reduction, etc. All very right and highly recommended by me! But still none will have the eco-impact of installing the R744.

A socially responsible and rational market should therefore do its job – but it will not do it itself.

We have to realize that our industry is little known to the majority of society, and talking in the public about eco-refrigeration is unlikely to guarantee success in the opposite sex. Little is said about refrigeration in the media, during CSR committees and eco-talks on breakfast TV. For the benefit of our industry and the environment, this should be systematically changed.

In my imagination, I see the near future, in which our magazine is on the desks of CEOs of companies from all industries, and my colleagues talk about ecology in refrigeration during casual conversation in the media.