What does the Global Warming Potential (GWP) measure?

The Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a metric used to evaluate the environmental impact of different greenhouse gases, including refrigerants. It quantifies how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specific time period, typically 100 years, compared to carbon dioxide (CO2), which has a GWP of 1. This measurement helps in assessing the relative contribution of various gases to global warming, guiding regulatory frameworks and inform choices in refrigerant selection to minimize environmental harm.

GWP directly relates to the environmental effects of refrigerants by expressing their potency as greenhouse gases, which is crucial for understanding how their emissions contribute to climate change. This understanding influences policies and practices aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cooling systems.

Other options, such as the efficiency of a refrigeration cycle, the amount of refrigerant used in cooling systems, or the energy usage of HVAC equipment, do not pertain to the concept of GWP. They focus on operational performance and consumption metrics rather than assessing the climatic impact of the substances used within those systems.