Commercial Refrigeration Specification Program

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This page last reviewed January 21, 2010

Commercial Refrigeration Specification Program

As part of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) the ARB has approved an early action measure to reduce high-global warming potential (GWP) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through a leak tightness and energy efficiency requirement for commercial refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) systems. This web page is to provide information as the process proceeds in developing the regulation to implement this early action.

ARB staff has proposed to create the Stationary Equipment Refrigerant Management Program, which integrates two AB32 Early Action measures: Specifications for New Commercial Refrigeration Systems and High-Global Warming Potential (GWP) Refrigerant Tracking, Reporting, Repair, Deposit, and Recovery for Stationary Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Systems.

Updates on progress on the Stationary Equipment Refrigerant Management Program can be found below or at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/reftrack/reftrack.htm.

Emissions from refrigeration and air conditioning systems are categorized as direct refrigerant emissions (typically high-GWP ozone depleting substances [ODS] or hydrofluorocarbons [HFCs]) and indirect emissions (CO2-equivalent emissions resulting from energy use). Direct emissions occur during equipment manufacturing, operation (from leaks, ruptures, maintenance), and disposal at end-of life. Indirect emissions occur during equipment manufacture and operation, and to a lesser degree, end-of-life (emissions associated with energy consumption during refrigerant recovery/reclamation/destruction and/or equipment disposal). In addition to normal operating emissions, ruptures can cause the loss of thousands of pounds of refrigerant from a system, with GHG warming equivalents exceeding several thousand metric tons of CO2E.

Strategy Description: The proposed regulatory program could include: 1) regulatory measures to require supermarket equipment leak tightness, 2) advanced design requirements for new systems, and 3) energy efficiency measures for new and existing systems. Direct and indirect emissions need to be considered together over the lifetime of the RAC equipment, so that choices made to reduce direct emissions (e.g. low-GWP refrigerants or standalone systems) do not adversely impact energy consumption and vice versa.

What's New
Stationary Equipment Refrigerant Management Program:

See webpage for Stationary Equipment Refrigerant Management Program

For additional information please contact
Charles Seidler staff lead (916) 327-8493
Pamela Gupta Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy Section Manager (916) 327-0604