Archive for March 9th, 2011

When the oil embargo of 1973 and the resulting energy crisis in the years that followed occurred (if you’re over a certain age, you’ll remember the long lines for gasoline and “even” and “odd” license plate number days), it was like a stone thrown in a pond that sent out concentric rings that affected many areas of industry and manufacturing, both in the U.S. and abroad. Read the rest of this entry »

The U.S. EPA has issued final approval for HFO-1234yf, a new refrigerant developed for use in motor vehicle air conditioning systems. The new chemical, which does not deplete the ozone layer, may now be used in air conditioning for new cars and light trucks. It is estimated that when used appropriately, it has a global warming potential that is 99.7 percent less than the current chemical (HFC–134a) that is currently used in most car air conditioners. Read the rest of this entry »