Recycling Ozone-Depleting Substances
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009This week the Regeneration and Recycling Center of the Northeast (Centro de Regeneração e Reciclagem do Nordeste – CRN) will be inaugurated in the capital of Pernambuco state, Recife. The principal purpose of the CRN is to collect, purify and recycle chlorofluorocarbon 12 (CFC-12), primarily taken from old refrigerators. The Center can also regenerate other […]
Brazil Launches HCFC Elimination Program
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009Brazil has just launched the Brazilian Program for the Elimination of HCFCs (PBH) to end that nation’s use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). HCFCs became the substitute of choice for many of the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) controlled under the Montreal Protocol (on substitutes that deplete the ozone layer) used a refrigerants in such products as freezers and air […]
Wal-Mart Mexico Promotes Exchange for Energy-Efficient Appliances
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009Wal-Mart Mexico is joining the Energy Secretariat’s (SENER) expanded Ahorra Energía para Vivir Mejor (“Save Energy to Liver Better”) program for promoting the exchange of old refrigerators and air conditioners for new energy-efficient models. The 17 Walmart, 62 Bodega Aurrerá and eight Sam’s Club stores in the states of Colima, Jalisco and Michoacán can trade […]
More Refrigerator Swaps in the Name of Energy Savings
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009The government of the central Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), in cooperation with the state electricity distributor Enersul, is handling out new top-rated (see the Procel energy efficiency seal on the upper right corner of that unit being offloaded from the truck?) energy-efficient refrigerators to low-income families in three cities — 250 […]
LAC Environmental Trivia, Revisited
Thursday, June 19th, 2008The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) recently published the latest edition (covering up to 2007) of its annual statistical yearbook for the region. As in recent years, one section covers natural resources and the environment. If you are seeking a basic set of comparative environmental data for the region, […]
Brazil Wants CFCs Out of Inhalers
Thursday, November 1st, 2007Synopsis in English: Brazil's National Sanitary Vigilance Agency (ANVISA) just published a portaria (an administrative regulation) that will ban, as of 01 January 2008, the production and import of medicines in metered dose inhalers (MDIs) that contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as propellent. Anvisa is asking for public comment on the measure [Temas Observation: Interesting how Anvisa […]
Exchanging Refrigerators and Air Conditioners to Combat Climate Change
Monday, July 9th, 2007The Environment Secretariat (SEA) of the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) recently signed an agreement with a power company (Ampla) to initiate a program of the exchanging old refrigerators and air conditioners for new ones among the state’s poor families. A similar agreement is to be signed with Light, another power provider in […]
LAC Environmental Trivia
Thursday, March 22nd, 2007The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has just published the latest edition of its annual statistical yearbook for the region. As in recent years, one section covers natural resources and the environment. If you are seeking a basic set of comparative environmental data for the region, this is not […]
Argentina and Brazil Propose HCFC Phaseout
Tuesday, March 20th, 2007Synopsis in English: Argentina and Brazil have submitted a joint proposal to the secretariat of the Montreal Protocol (on substances that deplete the ozone layer – ODS) calling for negotiations on phasing out use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). HCFCs became the substitute of choice for many of the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) controlled under the Protocol in such […]