Which refrigerant has the highest global warming potential (GWP)?

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Multiple Choice

Which refrigerant has the highest global warming potential (GWP)?

Global warming potential measures how much heat a refrigerant traps in the atmosphere over a set time, relative to carbon dioxide. R-12 has the highest GWP among these because it’s a chlorinated CFC with a very long atmospheric lifetime, so it continues to affect the climate for many years. Its GWP is much larger than the others listed—R-22 and R-410A are in the low-to-mid thousands, while R-1234yf has a GWP around a few units. This is why R-12 stands out as the refrigerant with the greatest potential to contribute to global warming.

Global warming potential measures how much heat a refrigerant traps in the atmosphere over a set time, relative to carbon dioxide. R-12 has the highest GWP among these because it’s a chlorinated CFC with a very long atmospheric lifetime, so it continues to affect the climate for many years. Its GWP is much larger than the others listed—R-22 and R-410A are in the low-to-mid thousands, while R-1234yf has a GWP around a few units. This is why R-12 stands out as the refrigerant with the greatest potential to contribute to global warming.

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