Reduction of potential greenhouse gas emissions of room air-conditioner refrigerants: a life cycle carbon footprint analysis

There are two ways to reduce the GHG emission of RAC refrigerants. One approach is to avoid direct GHG emissions during the disposal process. When the refrigerant recycle rate was improved from 5% to 15%, 30%, and 50%, the reduction of GHG emission of the refrigerants increased by 5%, 12%, and 20%, respectively. The second method is to substitute middle and low GWP refrigerants for high GWP refrigerants. This method can lead to a GHG emission reduction of at least 45.57%.