Reducing The Environmental Impact Of Your Refrigeration With New Low GWP Solutions
Meet Michael Lehtinen, Senior Product Leader for CO2 Solutions at Hussmann. With 12 years of experience in the refrigeration industry, much of that background has been dedicated to bringing CO2 technologies to food retail. With regulations now in place, Michael’s focus is about educating retailers on CO2 and simplifying the complex process to adopt these new refrigeration concepts.
Progressive Grocer: There are new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules related to low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants that stores will have to comply with soon. Can you briefly explain those regulations and how they’re tied to the impact stores’ refrigeration has on the environment?
Michael Lehtinen: For retail commercial refrigeration, there are three important time points that a retailer should become familiar with. The easiest way to explain this to retailers is by focusing on the types of equipment in the simplest terms and the compliance deadline for each type:
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Displays and equipment with | January 1, 2025 |
Single compressor units | January 1, 2026 |
Multi-compressor units | January 1, 2027 |
The impact these regulations will have on the environment is related to what we call direct emissions. Direct emissions are releases of refrigerant gas from leaks or service procedures. The main focus of the regulation is on new stores or stores that replace more than 75% of their equipment. This ensures the most recent generation of stores have refrigerants in use that have a much lower impact on the climate. This is measured by the global warming potential (GWP) of each unique refrigerant gas. The limitation stated in the regulation focuses on limits of 300 and 150 GWP. For example, the GWP of R-448A is 1,387 which would not be allowed for use under the new regulations. Future stores would be required to use a refrigerant with a GWP of less than 150 which would have a significant reduction of the impact on the environment/climate as compared to traditional refrigerant gasses.
PG: What will stores be required to do to meet the requirements? And how challenging will that be?
ML: Retailers will be required to place focus on using low GWP options as early as 2025 for new self-contained and 2027 for new supermarket systems. This redesign will consider new refrigerant gases, new technologies and safety systems. Retailers will be able to repair and replace equipment using pre-regulation gases in their existing fleet of stores. We anticipate for many retailers, understanding the new technologies and how to apply them for their chain may evoke some uncertainty or concerns. However, organizations like Hussmann focus on having a wide variety of solutions and partner with retailers to assist in addressing these challenges. Our team of regulatory experts, refrigeration specialists and trainers can all provide guidance and support as each retailer navigates the new regulations.
PG: Hussmann has always been a trusted, innovative partner for grocery retailers. You recently introduced a new cutting-edge portfolio called Evolve Technologies. What does that portfolio offer and how can it set retailers up for success within the new regulatory environment?
ML: Evolve Technologies is our way of identifying the low GWP solutions available from Hussmann. When customers see the Evolve branding, they can associate that product as a potential future solution for their retail chain — assuring them that it meets regulatory requirements. The Evolve portfolio is comprised of systems and merchandisers that have been qualified to work with the latest low GWP refrigerants. Within this portfolio, we include our offering of propane (R-290) and CO2 (R-744). We believe the Evolve branding simplifies the process of identifying which products have been designed to meet their new challenges.
Visit Hussmann.com and contact your Hussmann sales representative to explore low GWP solutions for your store.