Output Explorer

continued from page 1
Eventually, these costs will be passed on too early to determine the price of these
further, particularly in 1996 when all pro- to consumers in one form or another.
new refrigerators, at least one introduc
duction ends.
Of course the phaseout will impact tory model is priced $100 higher than
As a result, recharging an air-condi-
consumers in other ways as well - for comparable CFC refrigerator, most o
tioner low on refrigerant, which cost be-
instance, in the cost of refrigerators. There which range from $500 to $1,500, de
tween $20 and $40 as recently as 1991 are approximately 150 million refrigera pending on the brand name and features
(and just a few dollars for do-it- tors in domestic use in the U.S. Nearly
Assuming a $50 to $100 increase pe
yourselfers), currently averages
refrigerator, the nearly 10 million
about $100. This figure will in-
domestic refrigerators (and stand.
crease, possibly doubling by 1996,
if CFC-12 costs continue their
ESTIMATED COSTS ON
alone freezers) sold each year will
cost an additional $0.5 to $1.(
present trends.
REFRIGERATION
billion. Assuming HFC-134a re
Retrofitting vehicle air con-
AND AIR-CONDITIONING
frigerators predominate beginning
ditioners to use refrigerants other
1994 through 2003
in 1996, the cost over the next
than CFCs is possible, but also
(figures in $billions)
decade will be $4.0 to $8.0 billior
expensive. Changing a CFC-us-
Cost
Range
nationwide. Further, there are
ing air conditioner to use HFC-
134a (thus far the leading CFC
Vehicle Air-Conditioners
28.0 - 42.0
doubts whether these new refrig.
erators will last as long as their
substitute) requires the replace-
Increased Energy
CFC-using predecessors
ment of several components, as
Consumption
0.0 - 32.1
These costs are only the be-
well as a thorough flushing of the
ginning. The CFC phaseout is
system to remove all traces of
Domestic Refrigerators
4.0 - 8.0
Commercial Refrigerators
also likely to increase energy con-
CFC-12 and mineral oil. The
3.0 - 5.4
4.4 - 5.0
sumption, and impose significan
average cost of a retrofit is over
Chillers
HCFCs and
costs on the use of residential air
$400, and there are unanswered
5.1 - 6.9
conditioning, commercial refrig.
questions about their reliability
HCFC Equipment
eration, chillers, and the like. Ther
and performance. It is unlikely
TOTAL
44.5 - 99.4
there is the loss of CFCs and re
that many consumers will choose
lated compounds for a myriad o:
the retrofit option, unless CFC-
Note: The following are not included in the above analysis:
refrigerated transportation, industrial refrigeration, medical and
other applications from agricul
12 becomes prohibitively expen-
laboratory equipment, dehumidifiers, vending machines, water
ture and medicine to dry cleaning
sive or totally unavailable.
coolers, drinking fountains.
and fire suppression. These non-
The costs for existing vehicles
cooling costs are not included in
will be obvious to most consum-
the estimate that the phaseout could
ers. The costs for new vehicles will be every household has at least one. They are cost Americans nearly $100 billion. CFC
much less so. New car and truck air-
reasonably priced and extremely reliable, have improved the lives of nearly every
conditioners are now designed to use
often providing 15 or more years oftrouble- American, and doing without them wil
HFC-134a. Introduced in a few models in free service. Until recently, nearly all not come cheaply.
1992 and 1993, HFC-134a air-condition-
used CFC-12 as their refrigerant. The
ers will predominate in 1994 models. The phaseout will have relatively little effect Ben Lieberman is an environmental
auto industry has spent several hundred on existing refrigerators, as less than 5 research associate at CEI. This article
million dollars to redesign vehicle air- percent ever require servicing due to re- is adapted from the just-released study,
conditioning systems and retool assem-
frigerant leakage.
The High Cost of Cool: The Economic
oly lines to accommodate the changes.
As with vehicle air-conditioners, the Impact of the CFC Phaseout in the
Some also question the long-term reli- alternative of choice for new domestic United States. Copies of this study are
ability of HFC-134a air conditioners.
refrigerators is HFC-134a. Although it is available from CEI for $4.00.
Hot Off the Pre
REINVENTING SUPERFUND: The Clinton Reform Proposal and An Alternativ
#Everyone agrees that Superfund is broken. Ideally, the program would be scrapped. More likely, it will be reformed and
updated by a Congress unwilling to challenge premises of bad environmental laws, In Reinventing Superfund, Kent Jeffreys.
explains Superfund's key failings, dissects the Clinton Administration's meager reform recommendations, and outlines a
"reform proposal that would be a vast improvement over the status quo.
Copies of Reinventing Superfund are available from CEI for $4.00. Mail a check to CEI, 1001 Connecticut Avenue NW,
"Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20036, or call (202) 331-1010..
6 UpDate . July 1994
Source: https://www.industrydocuments.ucsf.edu/docs/tyhk0228

Answer the question using only the OCR text from a single document page. Return only the answer, with no explanation. Preserve the answer wording from the OCR text when possible.