What is Refrigerant Management?

Refrigerant management was recently listed as the #1 solution to global warming in Project Drawdown. This #1 listing took many by surprise and left them asking: What is refrigerant management?

So, here’s what it is, and why it’s important.
 

What is Refrigerant Management?

To explain what refrigerant management is in the simplest way possible, I’ve created a short video: 
 

 
As explained in the video, refrigerant management means, in short, the properly handling of refrigerants in your HVAC/R equipment.

You see, the most common refrigerants used in HVAC/R equipment today have ozone-depleting and/or high global warming properties. 

As a result, regulations and sustainability initiatives around the world place accountability onto system owners to take control over refrigerants and manage their use throughout the lifecycle.

These regulations and initiatives include,

✔ U.S. EPA 608, The National Refrigerant Management Program
✔ U.S. EPA GreenChill
✔ U.S. EPA SNAP
✔ European Union (EU) F-Gas Regulations
✔ Canada’s Federal Halocarbon Regulations
✔ Australia’s Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations
✔ Japan’s Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons
✔ California’s Refrigerant Management Program
✔ South Coast Air Quality Management (SCAQMD) Rule 1415
✔ U.S. Green Building Council
✔ ISO 14001

…Just to name a few. 

Particularly, many of these stakeholders must, among many requirements, pay heed to refrigerant leak rates and reduce them.

 

Why is Refrigerant Management Important?

Well, when you properly manage refrigerants, not only do you reduce your company’s environmental impact but you also save energy, improve operations, and mitigate risk. 

Very often, HVAC/R and refrigerant management has been an afterthought, nearly invisible in the property management process and in corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals. And without good reason. 

For instance, know that the refrigerant leaks from your HVAC/R equipment can have an impact on both energy and emissions. 

To show you what I mean, we’ve created a free handy infographic that explains the impact of leaks on your energy and emissions. 

Check it out: 
 

 
Just recently, refrigerant management has been receiving a lot more attention because Project Drawdown listed it as the #1 solution to global warming.

Yes, that’s right: the #1 solution. Shocking for many, but not surprising for us!

You might enjoy this quotation from Project Drawdown that emphasizes the importance of tracking refrigerants throughout the lifecycle. 
 

 
As always, thanks for reading.

New to our blog? Well, we’re all about refrigerant management, so subscribe to our weekly updates: 

Trakref not only answers the question “What is refrigerant management,” it solves the problem.

 

— If you enjoyed this article, you might want to check out:

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