Goodbye Most Potent Greenhouse Gas Within Four Years?

Posted September 6, 2006 in News

Sulfur Hexaflouride 6 (SF₆) is used in a wide range of applications and forms including electricals, electronics, research, aluminium smelting and even in practical medicine.

Yet SF₆ has been assessed as having a global warming potential 22,000 that of CO2 over a 100 year period. Yet this potent greenhouse could be a thing of the past in as little as four years.

Technology news reports that a cooperative effort led by the EPA's SF6 Emission Reduction Partnetship for the Magnesium Industry which includes companies and researchers from Australia, Canada, Japan and the US have "conducted tests and emission measurements for cutting-edge, climate friendly melt protection technologies that promise signficant environmental benefits".

The EPA have prepared an excellent cover page with hyperlinks to basic information about SF₆ emissions; accomplishments from the partnership; identifying the partners; documents, tools and resources on measurement and reduction strategies; international activities, and upcoming technical conferences.

This is the kind of activities that need to be acknowledge and encouraged. It is yet another example that solutions can be found if there is the motivation, commitment and faith to transcend the existing technologies and paradigms.

LINKS: Wikipedia Technology News EPA

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