Posted on 04/15/2014 6:23:23 AM PDT by TurboZamboni
The clock is ticking for Minnesota's indoor ice rinks.
By 2020, the refrigerant chemical now used at half the state's 240 arenas to make ice no longer will be manufactured or imported into the U.S. as part of a global effort aimed at ridding the world of greenhouse gases linked to depletion of the ozone layer.
The phaseout of the odorless gas R-22 is expected to be costly for arenas -- most of which are publicly owned -- because of an anticipated rise in its cost. After the deadline, arenas still will be able to use the refrigerant gas for existing cooling systems, but the supply will be limited to what is left over and reclaimed and recycled.
To what extent cities will be affected financially will depend on the R-22 market after the deadline, as well as the age of their ice-making equipment and if they plan to upgrade it, said Craig Flor, president of the Minnesota Ice Arena Manager's Association.
"This isn't impending doom for us," Flor said. "But there is a lot of concern because the big unknown is cost and funding."
Cities with decades-old cooling systems could swap them out with ones that use an environmentally friendly chemical, but at a cost that could push $2 million.
Some, such as Hastings and West St. Paul, say they plan to roll the dice and budget for the cost of leaks that could spring up from time to time until there is money to upgrade.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
It never ends.
The Fun Police.
Gee, isn’t R-22 what the eco-nuts told us we had to use to “save the planet”?
Probably a company with heavy stock ownership by Pelosi,Reid and Algore.
Can’t wait until they ban CO2
it’s a greenhouse gas, yaknow. SCroTUS agrees
Who’s patents are running out on R-22 ?
Well considering how many years so many have been banned from use as refrigerants and propellants and the time it takes to dissipate in the atmosphere, they already know this is BS. But it sure makes a lot of money for some like certain scientists and companies that make the new units to replace all of those old, now non compliant units. Wait until they ban 134a like they did R12, remember how poorly the AC units in cars worked until they finally used all the undersized evaporators and condensers they had on hand?
Chinese maybe?
I don’t believe a damned word any of those FOOLS in Washington DC utter anymore...
I believe almost ALL of them along with their suited and armed minions to be completely corrupt...
WE need to ban the EPA.
Will be again......................in your car AC, Refrigerator, Home HVAC, etc.................
I haven't seen it used, but that doesn't mean it isn't used anywhere.
Most of the propane refrigeration units were in facilities separating out natural gas liquids from a raw natural gas stream. They usually provided their own source of propane. I have also seen it in refineries as well.
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