Refrigerant choice and energy use

The development of halocarbon refrigerants was announced in April 1930 by Thomas Midgely. To demonstrate the ‘safety’ of the new compounds, at a meeting of the American Chemical Society, Midgely inhaled R12 and blew out a candle with it. While this demonstration was dramatic, it would be a clear violation of safe handling and venting practices today! The unique selling point of these new synthetic refrigerants over the substances traditionally used up to this point was safety. There was a huge demand for a refrigerant which was both non-flammable and non-toxic and could apparently be vented with no harmful side effects.