Page 27 - Towards A Sustainable Future , Phase 3 2025, E-Book_Neat

Environmental Aspects

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are potent greenhouse gases
which are commonly used as refrigerants in commercial and
residential refrigeration and air conditioning applications.
Air conditioning refrigerants like R410A, R22 and R32 are
the highest greenhouse gas emitters among all emissions.
R410A, R22 and R32 have high GWP of 1725, 1810 and 675,
respectively.

Fig 1.5. Possible root cause of the refrigerant leakages
In the industry, there are a few common types of refrigerants
(i.e. R22, R410A & R32). R22 and R410A are already phased Chart 2.2. NEA Household Energy Consumption Study
out and banned in Singapore; however, there are R22
and R410A aged air conditioning systems still operating in According to the 2019 US EPA report, the leak rate for
residential air conditioning is 15% annually. Air-conditioning
Singapore. These old air conditioning systems are consuming refrigerant contributes to one of the highest greenhouse gas
more energy and emitting higher carbon emissions into the emissions among all emissions. The Daikin servicing team
environment. Each refrigerant has different minimum pressure reports about 20% malfunctions due to low refrigerant.
requirements. Table 1 below shows the minimum pressure
requirements for each type of refrigerant given by BMS. Based on a SingStat 2023 report, there were about 1.125
million HDB flats and 351,000 condominiums in 2023. Ninety-
nine per cent of private residences and the majority of public
housing units are equipped with air-conditioners due to the
warm and humid climate in Singapore. According to statistics,
there is about 15-20% annual refrigerant leakage to the
environment. This amount is a very significant carbon emission
and is equivalent to a million tons of carbon emissions.
Table 1: Different types of refrigerant gas operating pressure BMS and Daikin in FY2022 alone distributed and sold an
estimated 24,600 units of air conditioners. The total resultant
carbon emission is about 22,474,483 Kg CO2e or 22,474 Tons
CO2e. If we tabulate and include other brand air conditioner
sales figures, the carbon emissions will be multiple times
higher. (See Table 2.3)

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