Lab Week 2025
Happy Lab Week! This Lab Week, we are thankful to all of you medical laboratory professionals whose unwavering commitment to precision and...
HettCubes now operating on R290 refrigerant.
HettCube refrigerated incubators will now feature the eco-friendly refrigerant R290, replacing the older R513A, starting in 2025. This transition aligns with EU Regulation 2024/573 on fluorinated gases, which requires refrigerants to have a global warming potential (GWP) below 150.
Why choose R290?
R290, or natural propane, is an eco-friendly refrigerant with a GWP below 3, offering high efficiency and minimal climate impact. Though its flammability requires careful handling, R290 is now the new standard for sustainable cooling for lab equipment.
The natural propane gas reduces energy costs while maintaining high cooling performance. Devices are about 10% more energy efficient with R290 and do not require complex treatment (recycling) or disposal after use. The use of R290 minimizes the environmental impact over the equipment’s lifecycle and provides sustainability and compliance for the long term.
What does GWP mean?
GWP, or Global Warming Potential, measures how much heat a gas traps in the atmosphere over time compared to carbon dioxide (CO2), which has a GWP of 1. The lower the GWP, the smaller the impact on global warming. R290 propane gas has minimal environmental effects with an exceptionally low GWP of 3, an excellent choice for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially compared to fluorinated refrigerants like R134A or R452A, which have much higher GWPs.
Switching to natural propane gas isn’t just about meeting regulations; it’s a step toward a more sustainable and cost-effective future. Improved energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint make your operations greener and more responsible.