Green Daily

Ben & Jerry's has combined its passion for keeping ice cream frozen and the environment to create a new pilot freezer project. The new hydrocarbon-based freezers promise a reduction in global warming when compared to conventional cooling methods.

Chances are the freezer in your house as well as your grocery store uses hydrofluorocarbon gases (HFCs) to generate cooling. HFCs released into the atmosphere are a dangerous greenhouse gas. This new freezer trades out the HFC's for purified propane which does not leak into the atmosphere under normal usage, unlike HFCs. In addition, hydrocarbon freezers are 10% more energy efficient.

These new freezers, though common in Europe, are not widely used in the United States. In fact, Ben & Jerry's is only introducing them in two markets this fall until the EPA gives them approval to roll out the freezers in every state. The reason for EPA approval is because there is about three butane-lighters-worth of gas in every freezer and propane is highly flammable. The ice cream company needs to prove that they will not be blowing up any convenience stores anytime soon.

FUN FACT: The CEO of Ben & Jerry's is named Walt FREESE. Ha.

[via: Market Watch]