Ozone-depleting gases
Ozone-depleting refrigerant gases are used mainly for cooling network equipment in the UK, as well as in air conditioning in our offices and switching centres. We aim to stop using ozone-depleting gases by 2010 in the UK.
We are making good progress in our move from HCFC to HFC gas. In 2003/04, HCFC gases accounted for 68 per cent of our total gas use for cooling network equipment. In 2006 this figure was 20 per cent (excluding the Czech Republic ). In 2003/04, HFC gases made up 32 per cent of our total gas use, versus 80 per cent in 2006 (excluding the Czech Republica).
In the UK, we are replacing R22 (an ozone-depleting HCFC gas) with free cooling systems or alternative HFC gas systems, with no ozone-depleting potential. In the UK we have completed over 550 cell sites to date and have around 620 still to go.
We are also assessing sites for forced air cooling, which eliminates the need for any refrigerant gases. We plan to replace refrigerant air conditioning with forced-air systems where feasible. This project is expected to bring operational cost savings as well as providing an environmentally friendly solution.
1 Covers ozone-depleting gases used in network equipment refrigeration plant. Gases used in office air conditioning systems are
not included. Numbers for 2004/05 exclude O2 Germany and Airwave. Numbers for 2006 exclude Telefónica O2 Czech Republic.
Over the past few years, our businesses have been working to substitute HCFCs (e.g. R22) with HFCs. In addition, they have been moving away from refrigeration to air cooling, which does not involve the use of refrigerant gases.
a Including Telefónica O2 Czech Republic, the proportion of HCFC use across Telefónica O2 Europe rises to 70 per cent.
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