Refrigerants are substances that are common in air conditioners, HVAC, refrigerators, and freezers. The natural ones are water, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and natural hydrocarbons. They have the potential to become alternatives to synthetic refrigerants like hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), and chlorofluorocarbon (CFC).

Many companies are concerned with the environmental impacts of synthetic refrigerants, and they found that organic ones are more sustainable in nature. With the current technologies developing today, many believe that the air conditioning sector will switch and convert into natural refrigerants for more eco-friendly systems. This is a must today since the use of HVAC systems is prevalent around the world.

A Background about Refrigerants

Synthetic coolants like HCFCs and CFCs have been around since 1929, and they were used in various ACs and fridges to cool a specific area. However, when they leak out of the older systems, they go to the atmosphere, and they thin out the ozone layer. Hence, they contribute largely to the global warming that everyone feels today.

CFC contains fluorine, carbon, and fluorine. For years, it has contributed significantly to the amount of inorganic chlorine in the earth’s stratosphere, where they are decomposed by ultraviolet radiation. The released chlorine in the environment is becoming active when it comes to the destruction of the ozone layer and the melting of the polar ice caps.

The HCFCs generally have a shorter lifetime while in the atmosphere because there’s added hydrogen in the mix. However, they still contribute to the adverse effects of chlorine elements with their CFC counterparts. The HFC, meanwhile, may not contain any chlorine, but their abilities to absorb the infrared radiation can become a contribution of the greenhouse effect. Learn more about HFC on this site here.

In the year 1987, it’s the Montreal Protocol that had first acknowledged and banned the use of CFCs. Many homeowners are encouraged to get newer appliances, and manufacturers are searching for other ways to give them a coolant that won’t harm the environment.

Many of the brands before are now phased out because amendments are being in place to eliminate HCFCs by 2020 and CFC production in 2010. On the other hand, the negligible impacts of HFC on the ozone layer made them viable candidates and ideal as a replacement. However, know that these too have implications in the world’s global warming, and there are calls for amendments that the use should be cut back by around 80% for the next three decades.

Potential options, as mentioned, were carbon dioxide, water, and other refrigerants as a replacement for HFCs. This industry is growing, and it’s expected that it will become a billion-dollar niche in 2027.

Metrics of Sustainability

The refrigerants are typically measured with their potential in contributing to ozone depletion and global warming. The global warming potential scales or GWP is standardizing the carbon dioxides. The value of a specific refrigerant is multiplied by the heat it would absorb by the same mass of CO2 gases in a given amount of time. The period is usually measured in a century.

It was found out that CFC has over 10,900 potential in global warming while ethane only has 6. You can view the results of HFC, water, and ammonia on many websites that offer these pieces of information in detail.

About the Hydrocarbons

Pure hydrogen compounds are now being moderately used in refrigeration systems. Know that these hydrocarbons are viable options. This is because aside from providing cooling properties, they are efficient in energy use and plentiful. When harnessed and used correctly, it was found out that they have more than 50% energy efficiency compared to synthetic ones. They are very environmentally friendly, and they have lower ranks on the GWP scale.

In the past, the hydrocarbons were primarily seen as a refrigerant in an industrial-scale of cooling. Know more about hydrocarbons on this site: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/hydrocarbon. However, with the current trends today, many start to look for a more environmentally friendly option in the residential setting.  

Some of the hydrocarbons used in many refrigerants include ethylene, methane, propane, pentane, isobutane, and cyclopentane. One of the primary disadvantages of using hydrocarbons is their high flammability. They can cause fire when exposed to extremely high pressures. Before, this same risk was mitigated by turning the hydrocarbons into other forms like HFC and CFC. Still, with the companies decreasing the use of such substances, being too flammable should be fixed.

Today, the use of hydrocarbons as refrigerants is under EPA guidelines. Particular pressurized levels are limited when it comes to hydrocarbons. The level of caution is essential, and for the hydrocarbons to combust, they should be mixed with a correct air proportion. The EPA has guidelines that prevent hydrocarbons from causing sparks and ensure the highest levels of safety for companies and consumers.

Having a garden is a great thing, but tending to it is another thing. Do you love gardens? Are you shopping for a home with a garden? Whether you plan to plant flowers or simply cactus or some kales, the point is you need to plan on insuring your yard.

A lot of time and money usually goes into tending your garden and the equipment you need also need money. In the case, your equipment breaks down does your homeowners’ insurance cover the repair or replacement costs?

When shopping for home insurance, you need to talk to your agent for the tiny bit details you think you need to address. Ask them if the insurance covers gardening equipment. In most cases, your garden is considered a permanent feature in your home and is, therefore, part of the coverage area.

In most cases, home insurance covers occurrences that are out of your control, such as floods. Maintaining your garden is not just about tending to it but ensuring it is covered together with the equipment you use.

Most equipment you use in your garden should be covered in your insurance. They are under personal property coverage. The limit set is usually between 50% -70% of your dwelling coverage limit. However, if they are not, you’ll need to take a home warranty to cover the costs of repair and replacement when your garden tools spoil. If you are taking a home warranty, you need to check if garden equipment is included if not, you need to add it to your home warranty.

The Type Of Insurance You Need To Protect Your Garden

Contents insurance

Contents insurance is sold hand in hand with homeowners insurance. It covers the items in your garden that are not permanent structures. In this case, your garden equipment falls under this category.

For such items to be covered, they need to be included in the contents list in your homeowners’ insurance policy. Talk to your agent about adding them in this cover.

General homeowners insurance

As mentioned, some policies will term your garden as a permanent feature in your home; hence, it will be included in your homeowners’ coverage.

Mostly, this coverage applies to when ‘acts of God’ occur, such as floods, winds, storms, and earthquakes. Such occurrences may lead to damages of your garden and equipment which may need replacement or repair.

Liability insurance

What happens when somebody trips on your rake or lawnmower and gets hurt? If you don’t have proper insurance, you’ll be forced to get money out of your pocket and pay for their hospital bills.

They could even sue you for the damages which could see you immerse yourself in debt. Homeowners insurance helps you get through such incidences.

In the case that you hire somebody to tend to your garden, you’ll need liability insurance to cover any of your workers.

There are two types of liability insurance: personal liability and medical payments coverage. For personal liability, it will help cover court costs in case the affected person sues you. Medical payments coverage covers the costs incurred on medical bills in case your worker gets injured by any of your equipment when working in your garden.

Always know what is and what is not covered in this particular cover because you have to disclose any hazardous items that could cause accidents.

Home Warranty

Aside from insurance, you may need a home warranty. Home warranties are annual contracts that cover the repair or replacement costs of appliances that are susceptible to wear and tear. Regardless of whether the specific items are new or not, they qualify for a home warranty.

Some companies give you the freedom to customize your plan to include only the things you need to be covered. It’s quite essential to include your gardening equipment in the warranty. If you are somebody who takes gardening seriously and you plant produce commercially, you may want to take a home warranty.

Some necessary gardening tools may include a coil garden hose, shovel, pruners, rakes, etc. Sometimes, these items may eventually give way and may not be up to the task again. They may not be repairable. If you have a home warranty, it’s easier to get a replacement depending on your service provider.

Just as you cover indoor appliances such as microwaves and refrigerators, you need to cover the risks involved in your gardening equipment as they are equally as important. Many companies offer home warranties you just have to look into what suits your needs.

Gardening is exciting, and you should be able to enjoy every bit of it. Getting options to cover some gardening costs is a great idea to reduce the weight of having to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars replacing or repairing.