Refrigerants are chemicals that are used in HVAC systems and refrigerators to cool

the building or items inside the refrigerator. Common refrigerants include

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). However, these
refrigerants have been found to deplete the ozone layer and expedite global
warming. Therefore, in the late 1980s, the United Nations developed the Montreal
Protocol, which is an international treaty that mandates the phase-out of CFCs (the
most harmful) by 2010 and the phase-out of HCFCs (the second most harmful) by
2030.
Ozone Depleting Potential, or ODP, and Global Warming Potential, or GWP, are both
ways to measure the impact of refrigerants on the atmosphere. It is important to
note that ODP is more harmful to the environment than GWP, so refrigerants
with higher ODP are considered worse than those with high GWP.
For the exam, you will need to memorize the following refrigerants and their
corresponding levels of ODP and GWP (listed in order from most harmful to least
harmful:
1) CFCs: High ODP, Medium-High GWP
2) HFCs: Low ODP, Medium GWP
3) Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs): Zero ODP, Highest GWP
4) Natural Refrigerants/Hydrocarbons (HCs): Zero ODP, Low-Zero GWP
Examples of natural refrigerants: Water, CO2, Ammonia, Propane, Butane,
Isopentane, etc.
5) Natural Ventilation: Zero ODP, Zero GWP
It is important to remember the order from worst (CFCs) to best (natural ventilation)
for the environment. Keep in mind that although HFCs have the highest GWP, they
are not the most harmful, because ODP is worse than GWP (and CFCs and HCFCs
have higher ODP).