Ozone-depleting gases

Ozone-depleting refrigerant gases are used mainly for cooling network equipment, as well as in our air conditioning in our offices and switching centres. We aim to stop using all ozone-depleting gases by 2010.

We are making good progress in our move from HCFC gas use, to HFC gas. In 2003/04, HCFC gases accounted for 68 per cent of our total gas use: in 2005/06, this figure is 23 per cent. In 2003/04, HFC gases made up 32 per cent of our total gas use, versus 77 per cent in 2005/06.

In the UK, we are replacing R22 (an ozone-depleting HCFC gas) with R407c, an HFC gas with no ozone-depleting potential and lower global warming potential.  In the UK we have completed over 400 cell sites to date and have about 750 still to go.

Additionally we are assessing sites for forced air cooling, which eliminates the need for any refrigerant gases. We have planned to replace refrigerant air conditioning with forced-air systems where feasible. This project is expected to offer us operational cost savings as well as an environmentally-friendly solution.

Refrigerant gas use^a comparision between 2004/05^b and 2005/06^c

a) Covers ozone-depleting gases used in network equipment refrigeration plant. Gases used in office air conditioning systems are not reported.

b) Numbers for 2004/05 exclude O2 Germany and Airwave.

c) Numbers for 2005/06 cover all operating businesses.