7-Eleven chooses R448A to replace R404A
Leading US convenience store operator 7-Eleven is to adopt Honeywell Solstice N40 (R448A) refrigerant as standard for remote condensers installed across the US and Canada.
The announcement follows a similar decision by 7-Eleven in Japan last year.
Solstice N40 is a lower GWP, nonflammable replacement for R404A. It has a GWP of 1387 – a considerable reduction on R404A’s 3922. It is also described as a “near drop-in” alternative to R404A, requiring only minimal system adjustments.
The decision to switch to R448A is an element of 7-Eleven’s corporate social responsibility goals set in 2016 to reduce its energy footprint in stores by 20% by 2027.
“In the past few years, we’ve implemented several innovative measures, such as LED lighting, energy management systems, wind energy in select stores and high-efficiency HVAC units to reduce our CO2 emissions,” said Ann Scott, 7-Eleven’s director of energy, engineering and store planning. “The use of Solstice N40 is an environmentally preferable alternative for 7-Eleven. Joining forces with Honeywell, which also embraces a mindset and goal to serve as environmental stewards, was a natural fit.”
Solstice N40 is also said to consume less energy than R404A. In comparative supermarket trials in the USA and Europe, R448A is said to have demonstrated an average of 5% lower energy consumption in low-temperature applications and between 5 to 15% lower energy consumption in medium-temperature applications.
Based in Irving, Texas, 7‑Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 68,000 stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America.