By 2050, hydrofluorocarbon emissions might account for up to 20% of CO2 equivalent emissions due to the world’s rapidly growing demand for refrigeration. A new refrigeration system uses less energy and emits no greenhouse gases, unlike today’s cooling technologies, which consume vast amounts of energy and release environmentally harmful chemicals. It’s based on the concept of salt melting ice, and consists of a salt made with iodine and sodium, alongside ethylene carbonate, a common organic solvent used in lithium-ion batteries. The combination is cheap and abundant. Hopefully someday the system’s method will provide safe, efficient cooling and heating for homes.
newscenter.lbl.gov/2023/01/03/cool-new-method-of-refrigeration/