There are 14 major types of insulating foams produced globally that are primarily used for appliance insulation, residential and commercial building insulation and specialty applications such as refrigerated stor- age, transport and pipe insulation. These products have used chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), are now using hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and are expected to use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), as technology is developed and the Montreal Protocol is implemented across all nations.
As of March 1999, fluorocarbons (HCFCs and HFCs) have accounted for 60% of all approved CFC-11 replacement technology projects in insulating foams.
Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund Project Summary| CFC-11 Tonnes Replaced |
Replacement Technology (expressed in M. Tonnes of CFC-11 substituted) |
||||
| Sector (Number of projects approved) |
Impact M.Tonnes |
HCFCs | HFCs | HCs | Others |
| Rigid Foam (238) | 10938 | 7144 | 58 | 3003 | 733 |
| Foam Insulation conversion only (34) The data does not include refrigerants |
1998 | 636 | 0 | 849 | 513 |
| 12936 | 7780 | 58 | 3852 | 1246 | |
Commercially available throughout the world, HFCs are energy efficient, low in toxicity, cost-effective and can be used safely. They are truly useful compounds to manufacturers providing insulating foams that help save energy and reduce CO2 emissions.
The following graph shows the past and predicted global use of fluorocarbons in insulating foams.
Insulating foams save energy and reduce CO2 emissions. In 1995, the building sector consumed approximately 34% of global energy, equating to 31% of global CO2 emissions. An average increase in global building energy efficiency of 1% would reduce CO2 emissions by 50-80 million metric tonnes annually.
Foam energy efficiency is heavily influenced by the choice of blowing agent, HFCs can currently produce 10-20% more efficient foams compared to other alternatives. Foams produced with HFCs also show superior LCCP. LCCP is the overall contribution to global warming of the manufacture, use and life of a blowing agent in a particular application. Energy efficiency considerations favor HFC use in most insulating foam applications.
LCCP of Foam Boardstock Insulating Sheathing for Residential Wood Walls1| Greenhouse Gases, million metric tonnes CO2 Equivalent |
U.S. | Canada | ||
| Extruded Polystyrene Foams |
Polisocyanurate Foams |
Extruded Polystyrene Foams |
Polisocyanurate Foams |
|
| Plastic mfg - energy Plastic mfg - blowing agent |
28 41 |
37 55 |
1.8 2.8 |
2.6 4.1 |
| Avoided from annual energy savings | 22 | 28 | 1.1 | 1.4 |
| Greenhouse gas payback period, years | 3.18 | 3.27 | 4.35 | 4.89 |
| Avoided from 30-yr. energy savings | 648 | 848 | 31.7 | 41.3 |
| Net greenhouse gases saved | 580 | 756 | 27.1 | 34.6 |
Manufacturing foam insulation consumes energy. However, these results show that energy saved far exceeds HFC manufacturing energy consumed, plus the direct blowing agent contribution.
The foam industry supports the following responsible stewardship for HFC technology:
The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy is a leading industry voice that coordinates industry participation in the development of reasonable international and U.S. government policies regarding ozone protection and global climate change.
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