Recent development in green buildings

Because of the environmental concerns about some materials used in buildings, particularly chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) fluids used as the blowing agent for insulation materials and as refrigerants used in the air conditioning systems have led to a search for environmentally safe alternatives. For insulation materials, new non-CFC blowing agents are still under development. However, the old insulation materials in the buildings will stay because they do not pose any further environmental damage. It is a different story for refrigerants used in air conditioning systems. This study reports that the change-over from CFC to non-CFC refrigerants in the existing and future air conditioning equipment could be a chance not only to take care of the environmental concerns, but to save energy as well. Alternative air conditioning technologies, such as the desiccant dehumidification and absorption systems, and the potential of some natural substances, such as carbon dioxide, as the future refrigerants are also discussed