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The CFC phase out is already producing benefits for the environment,
businesses, and individuals. This fact sheet explains some of
these benefits. Several case studies of successful conversions
to alternatives are listed also.
Protection of the Ozone Layer
The chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) production phase out is an important
turning point in the recovery of the ozone layer. Currently, we
are experiencing depletion of approximately 5 percent at mid-latitudes,
but if no action had been taken to limit CFCs, ozone depletion
at mid-latitudes would eventually have reached 20 percent or more.
Because of the CFCs are no longer accumulating in the atmosphere
at an accelerating rate. Scientists predict that maximum CFC levels
will occur before the turn of the century. If international agreements
are adhered to, the ozone layer is expected to recover around
2050. Much more information on the science of ozone depletion
is available online.
Reduced Health Risks
The phase out of CFCs is expected to have direct health benefits
over the next century, including reduced incidence of skin cancer
and cataracts, decreased risks to human immune systems, and increased
protection of plant and animal life from excessive UV exposure.
A United Nations Environment Programmer (UNEP) study shows that
a sustained 1 percent decrease in stratospheric ozone will result
in about a 2 percent increase in the incidence of non-melanoma
skin cancer, which can be fatal. With the successful phase out
of CFCs, however, EPA expects 295 million fewer cases of this
form of skin cancer over the next century.
New Technologies
The CFC phase out prompted research into alternative methods
for cleaning applications in electronic assemblies and precision
parts. Users often found that the need for chemicals during cleaning
processes was reduced or even eliminated, while maintaining product
quality and reducing costs. Precision ball bearings, medical devices,
and sophisticated electronics components are now being produced
using aqueous cleaning. New "no-clean" technologies
eliminate the cleaning process altogether for printed circuit
boards.
Energy Savings
The CFC phase out provided an impetus
to develop and invest in a new generation of energy efficient
air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Electric utilities
have acknowledged this benefit by providing financial incentives
for installing energy-efficient equipment. Aside from substantial
lifetime energy and dollar savings, equipment upgrades also improve
occupant comfort, system reliability, and operation and maintenance.
The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) reports
that by 1998, 44 percent of existing chillers (large scale air
conditioning units for buildings) will be converted or replaced
with equipment that uses non-CFC refrigerants. This conversion
to more efficient equipment is anticipated to reduce energy use
by almost 7 billion kilowatt hours per year, amounting to $480
million annual savings for new equipment owners by January 1998.
Pollution Prevention
The energy savings from equipment
upgrades mean that less fossil fuels are burned at the power plant,
leading to reduced emissions of air pollutants including carbon
dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2).
These pollutants are responsible for global warming and acid rain.
By 1998, chiller conversions and replacements are estimated to
avoid emissions of 4 million tons of CO2, and 34,000 tons of SO2.
The reduction in SO2 represents the annual emissions of one and
a half large coal-fired power plants.
Written by EPA's Stratospheric Protection Division
Last updated on May 6, 1996
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/geninfo/benefits.html
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