Do you remember about 15 years ago when air conditioning systems were forced to cease using Freon?  All in the name of “ozone depletion” we were told.  After a specified period which allowed the a/c people enough time to come up with an alternative and redesign their systems, everybody switched over to something called R-134a.  It’s not as efficient or effective as Freon, but that doesn’t matter.  The noisy environmentalist lobby needed to be pacified and Congress decided to mandate this new substance that was patented by the DuPont Chemical Corp.  That multi-billion-dollar windfall was welcomed by the folks in Delaware.

Now they’re doing it again, but change will be more gradual this time.  The R-134a is now unfavorable (or the patent has expired) and auto manufacturers are beginning a switch to still another coolant, R-1234yf.  (Where is all this leading to?)  To  nobody’s surprise, this new gas is even less efficient than the R-134a and is also incompatible in existing air conditioning systems.  It’s back to the drawing board for a complete redesign of the systems, with the first models expected to start appearing in Europe next year and eventually show up in North America in late 2011 or early 2012.  Popular Mechanics has an update on this latest assault on our wallets HERE.

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Here is an interesting video of a rescue from a burning high-rise that was taken in Paris, France, this past July 12.  It’s also a good case-study in fire spread.  The video runs a little over 9 minutes, but at the 2:15 mark the FF in the platform is handed an infant from somebody inside the apartment.  I have no idea who it was inside or what became of them.  I’ll try and find out.  The rescue footage is repeated immediately after the original view.  The firefighter stays remarkably calm despite the onslaught of flames all around him.

We’d better face the onslaught of the equipment check sheets now.  I’ve got to get some more coffee started.  See you back in the day room.