International News be placed on making recovery of old refrigerant at end of life economical and enforceable .
The reclamation industry itself needs investment and expansion to meet growing demand . Companies and regulators should require that certain equipment use only reclaimed refrigerant , whether by voluntary commitment or mandate , to increase demand for reclaimed refrigerant .
Leak reduction If they are not well maintained , cooling appliances leak refrigerant slowly but continuously . Targeting low leak rates is an extremely high priority for LRM because they can lead to large climate benefits at low cost . Companies should pursue operational emission reductions as voluntary targets , and regulatory requirements should ensure that systems meet minimum standards . In some cases , leak reduction incentives by electric utilities may be appropriate . Operators and technicians should also adopt best practice leak monitoring and repair practices .
Reporting and enforcement Stakeholders frequently report that a lack of enforcement aids and abets improper LRM practices in the field , including violations of existing law regarding refrigerant management . Redoubled effort to monitor and enforce LRM provisions , with modernised technologies and approaches is needed to ensure fair play and an even playing field for all .
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT A well-trained , specialised workforce is the bedrock of LRM . Technicians that handle refrigerants should be recertified by EPA based on the latest standards of practice , with ongoing learning and development opportunities to follow . LRM is also a critical cornerstone of efforts to reduce the emissions footprint of buildings , an opportunity that calls for a concerted approach to recruiting and retaining talent .
INSTALLATION AND SERVICING Installation is the starting point of HVACR equipment ’ s life , and LRM cannot be achieved without proper installation and verification . Servicing practices , such as the widespread technique of topping up leaky systems without repairing the underlying leaks , should be discouraged and avoided whenever possible .
POLICIES AND ACTIONS EPA has clear authority to promulgate regulations addressing LRM under the AIM Act , in addition to expanding existing and new voluntary partnership programs . Within the six pillars , myriad policies and actions are available to advance LRM through regulatory actions , financial incentives , and voluntary action by the private sector . Each
system category calls for a different mix of these approaches . In brief , installation , leak reduction and recovery all need to be improved for residential systems , commercial system owners and operators should focus on reducing operational leaks , and the vehicle industry should focus on limiting use of small refrigerant cans and emissions upon vehicle disposal .
In each sector , much greater use of reclaimed refrigerant is needed . It is also of first and foremost importance that stakeholders in every sector adopt climate-friendly new equipment whenever a product is being replaced ; this report , however , focuses on reducing emissions from older equipment prior to replacement , so this issue is not discussed at length here . Each of these outcomes should be pursued through a mix of regulatory , incentives-based , and voluntary leadership programs . The extent to which these approaches are regulatory in nature , for example , EPA or state agencies should take the lead in implementing them . EPA has clear authority to promulgate regulations addressing LRM under the AIM Act in addition to expanding existing and new voluntary partnership programs . Simultaneously , state agencies can lead on innovative approaches to LRM that may eventually pave the way for new federal policies .
Similarly , companies have a role to play in piloting beneficial approaches to help build the evidence base of achievable and practical refrigerant management interventions . Some of the following concepts are also well suited to corporate commitments and should become a pillar of corporate sustainability programs .
The complete report is available on the Environmental Investigation Agency website . RACA
REPORT AUTHORS Christina Theodoridi , Natural Resources Defense Council ( NRDC ) Alex Hillbrand , Natural Resources Defense Council ( NRDC ) Christina Starr , Environmental Investigation Agency ( EIA ) Avipsa Mahapatra , Environmental Investigation Agency ( EIA ) Kristen Taddonio , Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development ( IGSD )
ONE CONSOLIDATED VOICE FOR THE REFRIGERATION INDUSTRY .
www . coldlinkafrica . co . za
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I February 2023 19