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Traveling exhibition of German Environmental Aid and Transport Club Germany informed about sustainable automotive air conditioning-climate damage by car air far too little attention - DUH national manager Resch urges compliance with EU requirements

The German Environmental Aid Association (DUH) and the ecological Verkehrsclub VCD today at the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Energy Economics of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the joint exhibition "Climate Change in the car" opens. Until 13 July 2012 will see the nationally unique traveling exhibition on sustainable automotive air conditioning in Stuttgart, before then traveling through Germany. It is part of the Europe-wide information campaign "PRO AIR".




Baden-Württemberg's Environment Minister Franz saucer emphasized in his address the acute need for action in the field of vehicle air conditioning "systems engineering, employed refrigerant handling and maintenance are important factors when it comes to the environmental impact of air conditioning in the car. Without loss of quality, numerous air conditioners are better. As producers, purchasers and users of cars and equipment are equally in demand. The exhibition of DUH VCD and wants to inform the interests of climate protection, I can lie down motorists and drivers inside, but also manufacturers only to the heart. "

The debate about automotive air conditioners in the past was primarily on the use of the refrigerant. Standard until recently was the climate-damaging chemical R134a, which heats the atmosphere total of 1,430 times stronger than the same amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Uncontrolled escape of fuel from a vehicle, he also stressed the climate. Up to ten percent of our total refrigerant occur annually in accidents Inappropriate scrapping or through leaks. This corresponds to calculations by the Federal Environment Agency about seven grams of CO2 per kilometer.

While R134a is prohibited for new vehicle types within the EU since January 2011. However reluctant the automotive industry compliance with these specifications also continues. The alternative favored by vehicle manufacturers 1234yf solves the problem from the perspective of DUH either. "It comes from bad to worse, if you replace the climate killer R134a by directly harmful in case of fire and toxic new chemical 1234yf" says Jürgen Resch, CEO of DUH. "The alternative is in the form of the natural refrigerant CO2 already ready, but so far boycotted by the automotive industry. CO2 load on the air is minimal and is not a health problem. "

Not only the refrigerant in mobile air conditioning systems, but also the company itself is bad for the environment. Over a distance of 100 kilometers, the fuel consumption of a vehicle increases with simultaneous use of air conditioning by up to two liters. "Motorists know this over not before the vehicle purchase. Therefore, the automobile manufacturers are reminded of their duty to raise the consumption realistically and provide their customers with the information available, "said Birgit Maier, Managing Director of the VCD National Association of Baden-Württemberg. "In addition, training for drivers would be useful to provide information on the optimal use of air conditioning for environmental protection and fuel economy."

As already look possibilities of a sustainable vehicle air conditioning, the exhibition "Climate protection - even in the car." "We want to raise awareness for sustainable and environmentally friendly use of air conditioning in the car and show alternatives to the existing air-conditioning systems," said Eva Lauer, Project Manager of PRO AIR campaign.