The recent refrigerant delistings made under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program have made some customers — especially in the supermarket refrigeration sector — skittish about making a major investment in new refrigeration equipment. They’re wondering if the smoke has truly cleared, or if they’ll be facing more new and unexpected regulations again in the near future.
Their hesitation is understandable; along with all the refrigerant phaseouts and phasedowns they have witnessed in the past decade, they’re aware of new efficiency standards on the way from the U.S. Department of Energy. If customers are going to make a move, they want to be sure the time is right to move, and they’re moving in the right direction.