What kind of refrigerant is known for being environmentally friendly?

R-134a is known for being more environmentally friendly compared to many other refrigerants. It was developed as a replacement for R-12, which was found to be harmful to the ozone layer due to its high ozone depletion potential. R-134a has a much lower ozone depletion potential, making it a better choice for applications where minimizing environmental impact is a priority.

Additionally, R-134a has a relatively low global warming potential (GWP), especially when compared to older refrigerants. This characteristic aligns with the trend in the refrigeration industry to move towards substances that have less of a negative impact on global warming.

Although ammonia is a natural refrigerant and has no ozone depletion potential, it can pose safety risks due to its toxicity and flammability. R-22 and R-404A also have higher GWPs and ozone depletion potential, which disqualifies them from being labeled as environmentally friendly. Thus, R-134a stands out in this context due to its more favorable environmental profile.