Refrigerant transition help for US retailers
The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) has created a resource to help retailers navigate regulation changes implemented by the AIM Act to phase down HFCs.
NASRC predicts that the federal phasedown of HFCs will result in refrigerant shortages and significant price increases as experienced in Europe. Also, new legislation introduced in states, such as California, which propose to ban the sale and distribution of virgin HFC refrigerants as early as 2025, further drive the need for natural refrigerant solutions, NASRC says.
“HFC regulations from the AIM Act and several states are pressuring retailers to transition to climate-friendly refrigerants,” said NASRC executive director Danielle Wright. “Retailers need neutral information to help them make the right decisions. NASRC works in partnership with the supermarket industry, so we are uniquely positioned to identify the gaps in available resources.”
Some of the resources available now include an HFC Policy Tracker to aid retailers in navigating the complex system of regulations by tracking the latest policies at the federal and state levels.
The Refrigerant Transition Hub also includes an overview of why NASRC sees natural refrigerants in supermarkets as one of the most impactful and cost-effective climate solutions as well as a comprehensive collection of presentations on the latest natural refrigerant technologies.
NASRC says it will continue to evolve the hub as state and federal governments pass new legislation.