<P> Liquid carbon dioxide (industry nomenclature R744 or R - 744) was used as a refrigerant prior to the discovery of R - 12 and may enjoy a renaissance due to the fact that R134a contributes to climate change more than CO does . Its physical properties are highly favorable for cooling, refrigeration, and heating purposes, having a high volumetric cooling capacity . Due to the need to operate at pressures of up to 130 bar (1880 psi), CO systems require highly resistant components that have already been developed for mass production in many sectors . In automobile air conditioning, in more than 90% of all driving conditions for latitudes higher than 50 °, R744 operates more efficiently than systems using R134a . Its environmental advantages (GWP of 1, non-ozone depleting, non-toxic, non-flammable) could make it the future working fluid to replace current HFCs in cars, supermarkets, and heat pump water heaters, among others . Coca - Cola has fielded CO-based beverage coolers and the U.S. Army is interested in CO refrigeration and heating technology . </P> <P> The global automobile industry is expected to decide on the next - generation refrigerant in car air conditioning . CO is one discussed option. (see Sustainable automotive air conditioning) </P> <P> In enhanced coal bed methane recovery, carbon dioxide would be pumped into the coal seam to displace methane, as opposed to current methods which primarily rely on the removal of water (to reduce pressure) to make the coal seam release its trapped methane . </P> <P> Carbon dioxide is the lasing medium in a carbon dioxide laser, which is one of the earliest type of lasers . </P>

Why is water liquid at room temperature and carbon dioxide a gas