EDITOR’S NOTE: The GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership has been providing the refrigeration sector with information on efforts to reduce refrigerant emissions and improve efficiencies of commercial equipment. In addition to recognizing equipment owners who successfully achieve such measures, the partnership also publishes service-related materials, the following of which can be viewed at www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2013-12/documents/gc_preventativemaintenance_20130913.pdf.
Food retail stores can save money and reduce environmental impacts by ensuring that commercial refrigeration equipment is properly maintained. A typical food retail store leaks an estimated 25 percent of refrigerant, or approximately 1,000 pounds, annually. In addition to being costly, leaks have significant impacts on the environment because most refrigerants are greenhouse gases and some are also ozone-depleting substances. This article provides information on the benefits of performing regular maintenance to reduce the likelihood of, and quickly remediate, refrigerant leaks in food retail stores.