Almost as much energy is used for refrigeration, air conditioning and insulation worldwide as for transport or heating. On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the GIZ ‘Proklima’ project has now been working for some 15 years to help introduce environment- and climate-friendly alternatives to ozonedepleting industrial gases (such as chlorofluorocarbon, CFCs) in partner countries. Proklima thus supports developing and emerging countries in fulfilling their obligations arising from the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer.

This guideline aims to provide a general idea of the different steps when planning a conversion from an existing production system of domestic refrigerators to one that uses hydrocarbons, such as isobutane (R600a) or propane (R290), and the important aspects that small- to medium-size manufacturers need to consider.

Since 1998, GTZ Proklima has started to assist the National Ozone Units (NOUs) of 17 African countries with meeting their CFC phase-out targets under the Montreal Protocol. A national Refrigerant Management Plan (RMP) has been developed and is being implemented for each country. These aim to gradually reduce CFC consumption to zero in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors.