16,000+ tons of emissions avoided, thanks to your support
We’ve successfully completed our first refrigerant destruction project with A-Gas!
Just the gist
Short on time? Here’s what you need to know for this update:
- 💨 16,000+ tons of emissions avoided — We’ve successfully completed our first refrigerant destruction project with A-Gas!
- ❄️ Introducing our next phase with A-Gas — Our next A-Gas partnership will destroy more HCFC-22, plus other ozone-depleting substances like HCFC-408A and HCFC-409A.
For more project updates, follow Wren on Twitter and Instagram.
16,000+ tons of emissions avoided
When A-Gas joined our Wren Climate Portfolio, we made a plan to destroy HCFC-22, also known as R22. One pound of HCFC-22 is almost 2,000 times more potent than one ton of carbon dioxide; it’s also classified as an ozone-depleting substance (ODS). Due to its climate-damaging status, it can no longer be made or brought into the US, but millions of pounds of it are still being used in industrial sites, businesses, and homes.
This means that the gas still has thousands of risky points of entry to leak into our atmosphere. To avoid these harmful emissions, HCFC-22 needs to be carefully destroyed.
Unfortunately, destroying and replacing HCFC-22 with a cleaner option is usually less profitable for businesses, so not many companies have set out to do the work. But it’s important for the planet, so A-Gas put in the effort to be one of the first HCFC-22 destruction projects utilizing a proven methodology.
And it worked! The refrigerant destruction project avoided over 16,000 metric tons of emissions. That’s equivalent to the emissions that would result from burning 17 million pounds of coal.
“Our first HCFC-22 destruction project with Wren was a huge success! Thanks to Wren subscribers, we’ve avoided 16,000 metric tonnes (MT) of emissions. This next project will take this a step further by eliminating another 20,000 MT of emissions.”
Brooke Willard, A-Gas Carbon Program Director
Thanks to A-Gas’ industry-leading documentation, American Carbon Registry (ACR) methodology, and the comprehensive verification process by First Environment, Inc., our first completed refrigeration destruction project went smoothly from start to finish.
Wren only works with verifiable, quality projects. PyroPlas®, developed by A-Gas, is the first plasma arc destruction technology in the United States authorized for the creation of carbon offsets, and we've seen it in action. It has a sure destruction rate of 99.9999%, barely any emissions, and no adverse environmental impacts. This batch of refrigerants has avoided more than 16,000 tons of pollution, and we’re just getting started.
What’s next?
In terms of our next collaboration, our partners at A-Gas are getting ready for our next refrigeration destruction project, where we will destroy more HCFC-22 and expand to eliminate more ozone-depleting substances such as HCFC-408A and HCFC-409A.
The destruction is scheduled for completion by the end of Q1 2024.
If you would like to learn more about refrigerants, watch our YouTube video on the subject:
Nearly every air conditioner, refrigerator, heat pump, and even most cars contain refrigerant gases that are 500 times more powerful than CO₂. Each year, these super-pollutants cause more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire aviation sector.
On the one hand, the emissions from refrigerants are killing people by causing more extreme heat waves, wildfires, floods, and famines. But on the other hand, these chemicals are key to technologies like refrigerators and air conditioners that save lives.
We also have a Wren action plan on what you can do about refrigerants. Help raise awareness and take actions for your home.
That's all for this update! As always, thank you for your support.
— the Wren team 🧡