SUSTAINABILITY


cost-saving green buildings that offer environmental, social and governance benefits. Te forthcoming version of LEED specifically trains its sights on refrigerants.


RAISING THE BAR FOR REFRIGERANTS


LEED v5, which is due for release in early 2025, includes new measures for refrigerant management as part of its broader focus on decarbonization. Most refrigerants, including common HFCs such as R134a and R410a, have viable alternatives, such as CO2-based R744, that are being incentivised under the new standards.


R744 has a GWP of 1, due


to the fact that carbon dioxide (CO2) is the reference gas. GWP measures how much energy the emission of 1 tonne of a gas will absorb over a given period of time relative to the same volume of carbon dioxide (CO2). By contrast, R134a’s GWP is 1430, and R410a’s is 2088. To incentivize alternative


refrigerants and effective refrigerant management, LEED v5 requires new construction


projects to accelerate the phase-out of refrigerants with a high GWP in one of two ways. Firstly, developers can use no refrigerants in the project. Alternatively, they can use refrigerants with a low GWP and ensure sufficient refrigerant leak checks. Refrigerants such as R410a are strictly prohibited. “One of the biggest


challenges of LEED is the documentation required to earn credits,” says Spiegel. “Tis often requires hiring a sustainability consultant to help guide the process. LEED v4 includes refrigerant management as a credit, but LEED v5 will make it a requirement that no new equipment uses HFC refrigerants. Commercial equipment that uses low GWP refrigerant is already available.” While LEED


certification is not a must, it is highly desirable for new projects. Other regulations, however, are not optional. In the US, for example, the


EPA Refrigerant Regulations 2023 are the latest iteration of the drive mandated by the American Innovation and


Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020 to regulate the phasedown of HFCs and the transition to the use of more environmentally friendly alternatives. In alignment with the


Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol adopted by 197 countries in 2016, the AIM Act set clear milestones for HFC reduction. Between 2020 and 2023, their use was mandated to fall to 90% of


“The priority is global warming potential. Looking to natural


refrigerators. Te rules make manufacturers accountable for reducing the use of such gases, while also making operators responsible for regular testing and maintenance. Later, in 2020, HFCs with


GWP exceeding 2,500 were banned in all refrigeration systems. From 2022, all F gases with GWP of more than 150 were included in the ban, as refrigerants or foam blowing agents in any hermetically sealed system. Many standards, including the


updated LEED requirements, bring significant challenges. “I think everyone is still


refrigerants that don't have an environmental impact has been the stated priority”


historical levels, then 60% by 2028, and 30% by 2033. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce the use of certain HFCs by 85% by 2036.


Te extended compliance


deadline is January 1, 2026 for systems using components that were manufactured or imported before the start of 2025. Tat may seem a long way off, but the cutoff point will be here sooner than you think. Across the Atlantic, similar


Refrigeration is evolving with new regulation


48


moves are being made. Te UK, for example, implemented F Gas Regulations in 2007, with revisions coming in 2015, to limit potential environmental damage of leaks from commercial catering


grappling with this and how to meet the aggressive deadlines set by the government,” says Pamela Eaton FCSI of NGAssociates Foodservice Consultants. “Te priority is GWP. Looking to natural refrigerants that don’t have an environmental impact has been the stated priority. Tat said, many of those elements have toxicity or other dangers associated with them, although some of those concerns have been overblown by groups against the change.” Low GWP synthetic


refrigerants, among them R-1234yf and R-1234ze(E), are already replacing high-GWP gases. Natural refrigerants, hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), and HFC-HFO blends are also giving manufacturers more choice. Until the revolution in refrigeration technology comes along, manufacturers will have to make an educated call on which gases will deliver the best balance of cost, performance and sustainability in the long run.


FOR MORE GO TO FCSI.ORG


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