Super Eco

Hydrocarbons are compounds of hydrogen and oxygen atoms, the foundation for organic chemistry. Simple hydrocarbons, used for fuel, are common in natural gas—methane, ethane, propane, butane and others. Propane and butane are gases at normal temperatures, but are easily liquified by cooling and compression. This makes them transportable as liquids, which can be converted to gases when needed. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Propane Gas (LPG) are an important portable heart and energy source.    

Hydrocarbons are taking over for CFCs and HFCs, those fluorocarbon greenhouse gases that destroy the  ozone. Already in use as the propellant in aerosol spray cans, hydrocarbons are now being tested for use as refrigerants too. Most small freezers in the US use CFCs or HFCs as refrigerants. Over time these gases are leaked into the atmosphere. In the stratosphere, they destroy ozone. They are highly reactive and they have a long life, so a little goes a long way in destructive potential. Closer to the earth, before they reach the ozone layer they are greenhouse gases contributing to global warming.

Ben & Jerry's ice cream company started testing hydrocarbon cooled freezers for use in the US this fall (2008), while they wait for EPA approval. They have replaced their ozone unfriendly freezers with hydrocarbon cooling in more than twenty stores in the eastern United States. The success of these field tests will help the EPA to certify hydrocarbons as an environmentally friendly alternative to the fluorocarbon refrigerants.