Climate change poses a fundamental threat to the places, species and peopleâs livelihoods WWF works to protect. To adequately address this crisis we must urgently reduce carbon pollution and prepare for the consequences of global warming, which we are already experiencing. WWF works to:
How does your air conditioner manage this? In a similar way to how your refrigerator manages to stays cold, but minus the insulated box. A nonflammable gas, known as Freon, undergoes an evaporation process again and again within most refrigerators in order to keep the temperature low. The same cycle is used for air conditioners. This is how it works: First, a compressor in your air conditioner compresses cold Freon gas. A small amount of oil is combined with the Freon gas to lubricate the compressor. When the Freon gas is compressed, its pressure rises, making it very hot.
window air conditioner image by Aaron Kohr from Fotolia.com. Freon is the trade name for a group of man-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). CFCs contain chlorine, fluorine and carbon and are often found in air conditioners and refrigerators. The manufacturing and use of Freons is restricted and is gradually being phased out. People are usually exposed to Freon by accidentally or deliberately breathing it in.