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An aisle of refrigerators in a retail setting.

Businesses like grocery, liquor, and convenience stores depend on refrigeration systems. Some of these systems, however, can prove expensive to operate and harmful to the environment.

Equipment that leaks refrigerants will cost your business more. Leaks increase the amount of time a technician will need to be on-site to address issues with your equipment and add refrigerants back into the system. Equipment with reduced refrigerant levels also uses more electricity to operate.

Many refrigerants are rated to have high global warming potential (GWP) and contribute to climate change when leaked. They create a compounding problem, as rising average temperatures in Minnesota will demand more out of refrigeration equipment, leading to higher costs.

Systems older than 15 years may still use chlorofluorocarbons, a class of gases that damage the protective ozone layer in the atmosphere. Given their high ozone depletion potential, chlorofluorocarbons have been phased out of production. They are sometimes still recharged with recovered or recycled gases, however, leading to more environmental impact.

Switching to low-global warming potential refrigerants

When making decisions about installing new systems or repairing existing ones, consider where technology is heading.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is phasing down production and consumption of high global warming potential hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, such as R-507, R-404a, and R-448, and restricting their use in new refrigeration products and systems. Continued use of existing products or systems is allowed.

New rules affect refrigerants used in refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps, aerosols, and foams. Most subsectors have a maximum GWP limit. In a few subsectors, specific HFCs or HFC blends are restricted. Compliance dates vary by subsector; see timelines for HFC restrictions: Technology Transitions HFC Restrictions by Sector.

Are you planning to purchase new refrigerant-containing equipment? The EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy website has a list low-GWP options to guide you in your purchase. You can also ask your vendor about low-GWP options.

Grants and small business loans available

Looking to upgrade existing refrigeration equipment? Check for open grants for food retailers, cold storage, or food and beverage manufacturers.

The MPCA offers 0% interest loans to small businesses to replace or retrofit refrigeration equipment with equipment that uses a lower global warming potential refrigerant. 

Create a refrigerant management plan

Every business and organization should have a refrigerant management plan to lower costs and protect the environment. This is especially important for grocery, liquor, and convenience stores.

Assure equipment is clean, running efficiently, and that no leak goes undetected. Reference the plan when making decisions about repairs on existing equipment, as replacing the equipment might save money and help prevent climate change.

The plan should cover:

  • procedures to inventory refrigerants
  • how you will quickly detect leaks
  • a policy requiring new equipment to include built-in leak detection features, when possible
  • a policy requiring lower global warming potential refrigerants to be considered when purchasing new cooling equipment
  • properly recovering refrigerant during service and disposal, even for small appliances; work with technicians certified by an EPA-approved course

REEF has a refrigerant management and procurement guide and model language for contracts and policies for use in your organization’s procurement policies and/or RFPs. 

Maintain a refrigerant inventory

Maintaining an inventory of the refrigerants used at your facilities can help you keep an eye on the true costs of leaks:

  • keep records of the type and quantity of refrigerant used in each appliance
  • update your refrigerant inventory during monthly equipment checks
  • ask your service technician to maintain service logs for your equipment; keep these logs on-site for reference along with purchasing records that show the amounts of refrigerant you purchased

See REEF’s inventory workbook to get started.

Check your refrigerant system monthly

  • routine checks and cleaning can keep equipment running at peak efficiency; establish maintenance logs that track monthly inspections
  • refer to the MnTAP checklist and guide for detailed instructions on how to check equipment

Detect and fix leaks

  • lower your facility’s climate impact by developing a leak detection program to help you quickly catch and fix leaks
  • ozone-depleting refrigerants: you must repair leaks for appliances with a full charge of 50 pounds or more if they exceed the applicable leak rate.
  • HFCs or HFC-substitutes with a GWP greater than 53: you must repair leaks for appliances with a full charge of 15 pounds or more if it exceeds the applicable leak rate, and follow all rules for verification testing, routine inspections, recordkeeping, and reporting
  • use tracking forms (see appendices) to trace fluctuations in refrigerant levels

Working with refrigerants

People who service and dispose of vehicle air conditioners or appliances that contain refrigerants must be certified through an EPA-approved training program. Learn more:

Additional resources