Live data from Hacker News

Ozone: The Earth's protective shield is repairing

bbc.com

1–10 of 127 posts

Re: Ozone: The Earth's protective shield is repairing

#6
post #3

But the BBC reported earlier this year that somebody is cheating and making CFC-11 - banned by the Montreal Protocol. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44138984

Now that I've read both articles (mistaking yours as the OPs for a second and getting really confused)... I think this paints a pretty clear picture in my head, ignoring the spin, that while yes the ozone layer has been improving, there are still risks, and potentially bad players we need to continue to be vigilant for.

Re: Ozone: The Earth's protective shield is repairing

#7
Ok, now that refrigerates are ozone safe can we get all the regulations removed from them? At least for the safe ones?

Right now if you don't reclaim the R-134A from your car AC or fridge it is a $27k fine while you can buy cans of it to blow out your keyboard. Same goes for propane. This makes the new fridges that use propane almost impossible to work on since nobody has the reclamation equipment for R290.

Re: Ozone: The Earth's protective shield is repairing

#8
post #7

Ok, now that refrigerates are ozone safe can we get all the regulations removed from them? At least for the safe ones? Right now if you don't reclaim the R-134A from your car AC or fridge it is a $27k fine while you can buy cans of it to blow out your keyboard. Same goes for propane. This makes the new fridges that use propane almost impossible to work on since nobody has the reclamation equipment for R290.

[deleted]

Re: Ozone: The Earth's protective shield is repairing

#9
post #3

But the BBC reported earlier this year that somebody is cheating and making CFC-11 - banned by the Montreal Protocol. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44138984

How are these incompatible stories? Worldwide ozone destroying chemical production is way down, which is allowing the ozone layer to regenerate back to pre-industrial levels. Meanwhile, some polluters are cranking out banned CFCs and freeriding on the worldwide reduction efforts.

Much like CO2 production, some level of emissions are well within the ability of the biosphere to deal with without harm. But if everyone emits willy nilly then we'll end up well past those limits.

Re: Ozone: The Earth's protective shield is repairing

#10
post #7

Ok, now that refrigerates are ozone safe can we get all the regulations removed from them? At least for the safe ones? Right now if you don't reclaim the R-134A from your car AC or fridge it is a $27k fine while you can buy cans of it to blow out your keyboard. Same goes for propane. This makes the new fridges that use propane almost impossible to work on since nobody has the reclamation equipment for R290.

Anecdotally, the techs that I've seen servicing AC are pretty casual about venting excess pressure or purging lines into the air.
Post reply on HN