News Analysis

Low Climate Impact of New Blowing Agents Confirmed

The IPCC has deemed Honeywell’s Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent, an HFO that can be used to produce insulation, to have extremely low global warming potential.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has confirmed in its latest climate report that fourth-generation hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) blowing agents and refrigerants have extremely low global warming potential (GWP).

Honeywell, which markets HFO-123zd as Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent, previously estimated its GWP to be around 7 (see “New Chemical to Reduce Climate Impact of Foam Insulation”), but IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report on climate change notes a 20-year GWP of 5 (meaning that, in a 20-year period, the substance traps five times more heat than carbon dioxide) and a 100-year GWP of 1 (equal to that of carbon dioxide).

Published March 3, 2014

Melton, P. (2014, March 3). Low Climate Impact of New Blowing Agents Confirmed. Retrieved from https://www.buildinggreen.com/news-analysis/low-climate-impact-new-blowing-agents-confirmed