Studio Matrx Monthly · Volume 1 · Issue 2 · July 2026
Amogh N P
 In loving memory of Amogh N P — Architect · Designer · Visionary 
← The HVAC Knowledge Hub

Refrigerant GWP Impact Calculator

See the climate impact if an AC’s refrigerant leaks. Pick the refrigerant and the charge, and get the CO₂-equivalent released — why low-GWP gases and leak-free systems matter.

1.2 kg

A home split holds ~0.7–1.5 kg; larger systems hold much more.

CO₂-equivalent if it all leaks
0 kg

= 2.51 tonnes CO₂e · 1.2 kg × GWP 2088.

Roughly equivalent to
0 km driven by a petrol car
Same charge, lower-GWP gas

As R32: 810 kg CO₂e — saving 1,696 kg. As R290: just 4 kg. This is why the phase-down matters.

A planning estimate. This is the impact if the full charge is released — a total leak or improper disposal. GWP figures are 100-year, commonly cited values (they vary slightly by source/assessment); the car-km comparison is approximate. A well-sealed AC shouldn’t leak at all — the point is that refrigerant, if released, is a potent greenhouse gas, so leak-free systems and proper recovery matter as much as the gas you choose.