As a forward-thinking business, Thirsty Work is always exploring ways to lessen its impact on the world in the current climate emergency. Reducing our carbon footprint to help offset ozone depletion and lessen the effects of global warming is crucial to this. And the upcoming ban on certain gas refrigerants means we can go further to make our water coolers as eco-friendly as possible.

New gas for a greener future

Back in the 1980s, the public didn’t know too much about ‘global warming’. Along with a distinct lack of proper recycling, we all carried on in blissful ignorance. It was only when the widening hole in the ozone layer became newsworthy that it was brought to the public’s attention.

Harmful gases, known as CFCs, had and continued to leak into the atmosphere, depleting the ozone layer that protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. And many of these CFC gases were found inside everyday items including aerosol sprays, solvents, and more importantly, refrigerants used in fridges and freezers.

Fortunately, we’ve come a long way in 30+ years and during that time CFCs have rightly been phased out and banned. But as data and science improve, the replacement HFC gases have also needed to change and adapt to be more environmentally friendly.

One of those newer HFC gases – R134a – which is commonly used as a refrigerant in water coolers is now being phased out. By 1st January 2022, regulation changes mean the use of the R134a gas will be banned for use in any new water cooler and all types of domestic and commercial refrigeration units. It will be replaced by a cleaner, greener gas, R600a with the aim of eliminating the use of damaging greenhouse gases to reduce further environmental damage.

What is R600a?

R600a (Isobutane) is a high-grade, hydrocarbon refrigerant gas that will be used as a highly effective replacement for R134a. Because R600a is a naturally occurring gas, it’s non-toxic and proven to have zero ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) and very low GWP (Global Warming Potential).

These properties alone make it an ideal replacement gas for water coolers. But on top of that, its superior thermodynamic (cooling) properties mean it’s even more energy-efficient for your water cooler, making it perfect for helping to reduce the carbon footprint of your company – and ours.

What does this mean for Thirsty Work customers?

The good news is that the R600a gas is already being introduced to the entire range of Thirsty Work mains fed water coolers and bottled water coolers. Very soon, every new unit supplied by us to all our customers will be manufactured using the R600a gas that won’t contribute to ozone depletion or global warming.

Any Thirsty Work units with the R134a gas that are currently in use by any of our customers will still be perfectly usable and will not need to be replaced. However, if you want to change your water cooler to a new version with the zero ODP R600a gas, please contact us.

Find out more

The introduction of the R600a gas is a fantastic – and much welcomed – move to make our water coolers as clean, green, and eco-friendly as possible for you, us, and the planet. To find out more, replace your unit, or start your free 10-day water cooler trial, contact our team on 01392 877 172 or email hello@thirstywork.com today.