Cool Autos and Warm Debate

The Times reported (Part I, July 18) that Assemblyman John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara) will introduce legislation to ban the sale of automotive air conditioners within two years. He feels such a law would force the development of a cooling method not dependent upon chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which harm the ozone layer.

I have been an automotive engineer for many years, and share Vasconcellos’ concern for the environment. While his objective is noble, I feel that an outright ban on air conditioners is too extreme. What is really at issue is the careless release of CFCs.

Currently, when automobiles are scrapped, the air-conditioning Freon is simply released to the atmosphere. Last year, in correcting a manufacturing defect in one of its models, a Japanese car maker released more than 20 tons of Freon in the air, rather than purchasing available recovery equipment.

With laws to penalize irresponsible release of CFCs, air conditioners can continue to serve their intended purpose without harm to the ozone layer.

R.G. HOFFMAN

Brea