Natural refrigerant R290 – Environmentally friendly and efficient
Not only is the operation of our LAMBDA heat pumps extremely resource-efficient, but our uncompromising focus on the natural and environmentally friendly refrigerant propane (R290) is also unique in the industry and enables particularly sustainable operation. A refrigerant is the working fluid used in a heat pump, an air conditioner, or a refrigerator.
Our heat pumps run on propane (R290)—a natural refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of just 3. Many synthetic refrigerants used on the market have been identified as extremely potent greenhouse gases. By comparison, the currently widely used refrigerant R410a has a GWP of 1920, meaning it is 1920 times more harmful to the climate than CO2.
Another notable feature is the amount of refrigerant required per heat pump. For example, the models in the Eureka-Luft EU10L to EU15L series operate with refrigerant charges of less than 1.3 kg. This means that the refrigerant charge is significantly lower than that of comparable products on the market.
The refrigerant is used in a thermodynamic cycle and is therefore not typically consumed. Nevertheless, during the manufacturing process, during charging, and during repair work, significant amounts of refrigerant are released into the atmosphere worldwide, with serious consequences. For example: If the entire charge (7 kg) of a small heat pump using R410a escapes, over 13 tons of CO2 equivalents are released. With this CO2 footprint, a LAMBDA heat pump could be operated for approximately 10 years.* The European Commission has also recognized this issue, which is why a virtual total ban on climate-damaging refrigerants will be imposed starting in 2030. LAMBDA heat pumps are thus among the pioneers in this area as well.
*Calculation based on the European electricity mix and a single-family home.
