GETTING BY WITHOUT CFA's

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An interesting development under way that could greatly reduce the necessary size of auto air conditioners (and the amount of CFC refrigerant required) involves photovoltaic-powered (solar electric) ventilation systems. When cars are parked in the sun, a PV panel built right into the car roof could power a ventilation fan, pulling hot air out of the car. Because most of the air conditioner's capacity is required solely for rapid cool-down when the car has been parked in the sun, such systems could save the auto industry millions in cost for such large air conditioners while reducing CFC use considerably.

Foam Packaging Materials

Amid a lot of fairly discouraging news about CFCs and the lack of currently available alternatives, foam packaging provides a bright spot. Already, the food packaging industry has eliminated the use of CFCs. That means when you pick up your burger and fries and a hot cup of coffee at your favorite fast-food spot, you're no longer using a product containing CFCs. (Of course, you're still adding to the solid waste problem, but that's another story.) The food packaging industry deserves tremendous credit for moving so quickly and effectively to eliminate CFCs from their products.

Similarly, most other foam packaging materials no longer contain CFCs. Dow Chemical, which manufactures Pelaf-PanPac, the so-called "plastic peanut" used in packaging, will have eliminated their use of CFCs in the product by the end of 1989, according to company spokesman Doug Draper. With another product, Ethafoam — the molded solid white foam used for packaging electronic equipment-the company has already eliminated 75% of the CFC use and will eliminate it altogether by mid-1990.

Flexible Foam Padding

Some flexible foam padding used in cushions, mattresses, and other consumer products is made with CFCs. This accounts for about 5% of CFC use in this country. Unfortunately, just by looks alone it's very hard to tell which flexible foam is made with CFCs and which is not. In general, the CFC padding is softer and cheaper than, and generally inferior to, non-CFC padding. You're likely to find it in bottom-of-the-line chairs and sofas, for example. In fact, the flexible-foam industry refers to CFC-based flexible foam as "junk foam." CFC foams don't last as long as the quality products, so in a way it's a service to consumers to get rid of CFCs, according to Andersen of the EPA.

Eliminating CFC use in flexible foam is relatively easy, and it's happening naturally as the cost of CFCs goes up. Within a few years, even without further regulations, CFC use in padding is likely to all but disappear.

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