Refrigeration and Air Conditioning 

Stakeholder Workshop: 

Commercial and Industrial Refriger

December 16, 2013

U.S. Environmental Protection Agenc
Introduction

• Why commercial and industrial refrigeration, why 

– EPA is conducting a series of SNAP sector workshops– Aug. 22 broad SNAP stakeholder meeting– Workshops on aerosols and foams sectors last spring– Four workshops on the refrigeration and air conditioning 

• Nov. 15: Household Appliances• Dec. 4: Stationary A/C and MVAC• Dec. 16: Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration

• Scope of the Meeting

– Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program– Climate Action Plan – GreenChill– Vintaging Model

• Discussion
Identifying Safer Alternatives

SNAP Program 

• Evaluates substitutes that reduce overall risk to hu

health & environment in industrial sectors

– Aerosols, Foams, Refrigeration and A/C, Solvents, 

Fire Suppression, Adhesives, coatings & inks, etc.

• 400+ substitutes reviewed considering: 

– Ozone-depleting potential– Global warming potential– Flammability– Toxicity– Local air quality– Ecosystem effects– Occupational & consumer health/safety
Progress Under SNAP

• In CAA Title VI, Congress directed EPA to create 

clearinghouse to smooth transition to safer alterna

– Process seamless from consumer perspective– Regular SNAP list updates promote certainty and stability 

encouraging continued innovation

• SNAP is an expanding menu of options that:

– Are reviewed for health and environmental protection crit– Reduce ODS/GHG emissions– Promote responsible practices to reduce emissions

• Unique review program supporting global transitio• Sector-focused coordination

– Long-standing cooperation with U.S. stakeholders– Work supporting national/international standards and cod

removing barriers to adoption of alternatives
SNAP Listings

• SNAP lists alternatives as acceptable, unacceptab

acceptable with conditions for use

• Alternatives include:

– Alternative chemicals/blends – Alternative technologies (e.g., absorption chillers)

• Next generation alternatives

– Many climate-friendly options

• Currently SNAP has approximately 25 active subm

– EPA has been getting many more submissions in recent 

particularly for foams, air-conditioning, and refrigeration

President’s Climate Action Plan

and HFCs• Continue International Diplomacy

– Lead negotiations under the Montreal Protocol to phase do

• Global phase down could reduce over 90 gigatons of CO

2eq 

equal to roughly two years' worth of current global GHG emis

– Work with partners in the Climate and Clean Air Coalitio

Short-Lived Climate Pollutants to promote climate-friendto high-GWP HFCs, address standards, & reduce emissiouse 

• Address Through Domestic Actions

– Use existing Clean Air Act authority of Significant New A

Policy (SNAP) Program to approve climate-friendly chemsome uses of most harmful

– Provide federal leadership by purchasing cleaner 

alternatives to HFCs whenever feasible and by transitioning to equipment using safer, more sustainable alternatives
What the Climate Action Plan 

Means for SNAP

• Prioritize review of alternatives that are safer for th

climate

– In the context of SNAP’s broader criteria– Innovative companies have invested in low-GWP alterna– Forward-leaning manufacturers of advanced technologie

equipment can provide near-term reductions in emission

• Support, fit within, broader HFC strategy

– Listing additional low-GWP options positions U.S. indust

better meet potential future phasedown steps proposed Montreal Protocol

– Responds to federal procurement needs to “purchase cle

alternatives to HFCs whenever feasible”
SNAP: Commercial & Industrial 

Refrigeration

• Variety of end uses and applications under SNAP

– Commercial refrigeration: refrigerated transport, cold sto

warehouses, vending machines, retail food refrigerationcommercial ice machines & very low temperature refrigesystems

– Industrial refrigeration: industrial process refrigeration sy

ice skating rinks

• Increasingly seeing low-GWP technologies in man• Several SNAP submissions under consideration

– E.g., stand-alone retail food refrigerators, refrigerated tra

very low temperature refrigeration, vending machines
Low-GWP Alternatives in 

Commercial Refrigeration

• Supermarkets

– Secondary loop CO

2, transcritical CO

2 systems

• Stand-alone equipment (reach-in coolers)

– 2011 SNAP listed propane (R-290) as acceptable in new 

units only

– Increased uptake of hydrocarbons in U.S.

• Vending machines

– 2012 SNAP listed CO

2 as acceptable in new equipment

– Hydrocarbon submissions under consideration

• Refrigerated transport

– Hydrocarbon & CO

2 submissions under consideration

• Anticipate additional proposed listings in 2014
Standards

UL Standards with Requirements for Flammable Ref• UL 471 Standard for Commercial Refrigerators and Freeze• UL 541 Standard for Refrigerated Vending Machines UL Standards Lacking Requirements for Flammable 

Refrigerants:

• UL 427 Standard for Refrigerating Units (e.g., walk-in coole• UL 563 Standard for Ice Makers• UL 621 Standard for Ice Cream MakersOthers• ASHRAE 15• Building codes
GreenChill

• GreenChill is an EPA partnership with food retaile

reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their imthe ozone layer and climate change

• Mission: to motivate and help the supermarket ind

– Transition to refrigerants with better environmental profile– Lower refrigerant charge sizes & eliminate leaks– Adopt green refrigeration technologies and environmenta

practices

• 20% of the industry, ~7,300 stores
GreenChill Programs
GreenChill Stakeholders
U.S. EPA Vintaging Model

• What? Tool to track U.S. types of equipment (“en

uses”) of ODS and substitutes

• Where? Major Sectors: Aerosols, Foams, Solven

Protection, Refrigeration/AC

• When? Tracks chemical from when first produced 

placed in equipment or product (“consumption”) thservicing and use until finally recycled/released to atmosphere (“emissions”)

• Who? EPA tool developed with input from industr

AHRI AC/HP shipment data)

– Other data sources (some CBI)

• Why? Required reporting and other analyses of 

consumption and emissions of ODS and substitute
Vintaging Model – Uses

• Reporting for international regimes

– Consumption and emissions– Annual Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions– Biannual National Communications (Climate Action Rep

• Analysis of HCFC phaseout & servicing needs

– Estimated needs and available supplies (MP cap, recove

• Projections of consumption and emissions for 

alternatives (e.g., HFCs)

– What if scenarios
Aerosols 

Solvents Ref/AC

ODS Substitutes

Commercial Refrig

Industrial Process Do

Refrigeration

Transport Refrig Stationary AC

Supermarkets

Condensing Units

Stand-Alone Units

Ice Makers

Display Cases

Vending Machines

Systems/Chillers

Cold Storage

RoadRail

Ships

Containers

Residential

Small Commercial

Reciprocating Large Commercial

Dehumidifiers

Window Units

Central AC/HP

Ground-Source

PTAC/PTHP

Large Unitary

Small Unitary

Scrolls

Screw

Centrifugal

CFC-11

CFC-12

Mini-Splits
Aerosols 

Solvents Ref/AC

ODS Substitutes

Commercial Refrig

Industrial Process Do

Refrigeration

Transport Refrig Stationary AC

Supermarkets

Condensing Units

Stand-Alone Units

Ice Makers

Display Cases

Vending Machines

Systems/Chillers

Cold Storage

RoadRail

Ships

Containers

Residential

Small Commercial

Reciprocating Large Commercial

Dehumidifiers

Window Units

Central AC/HP

Ground-Source

PTAC/PTHP

Large Unitary

Small Unitary

Scrolls

Screw

Centrifugal

CFC-11

CFC-12

Mini-Splits
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions: Sector 

Transitions

• In many sectors, SNAP is receiving an increased numb

submissions. SNAP currently has several commercial submissions and has acted on others in recent years. 

– Do you anticipate sharing new substitutes for commercial a

industrial refrigeration with SNAP soon? 

– Do you foresee more transitions from existing alternatives?

• Where a transition has been made, particularly to clima

alternatives, what benefits have you experienced from change? 

– Decreased cost? Improved support for corporate sustainab

Better for the environment, performance?

• What are some ways that SNAP can help “encourage 

sector investment in low-emissions technolog[ies](?)”

• Under what circumstances/conditions would it make se

EPA to change the listing status of certain high-GWP H
Additional Discussion 

Questions

• What are barriers to adoption of safer alternatives?

– What transition times are needed to adopt alternatives? – What end uses will require continued servicing and for how 

• How can EPA provide a degree of certainty for future in

while “prohibiting certain uses of the most harmful” alte

• What benefits have you experienced from participation 

EPA’s GreenChill program?

– Has GreenChill provided a valuable platform for the exchan

information?

• Can your company or trade association share additiona

inform our understanding of the cold food chain? 
Discussion