BOISE, Idaho — California is leading many state governments in increasing pressure on supermarkets to replace systems that use HFCs with units that utilize natural refrigerants, such as propane, CO2, and ammonia, which have a lower GWP. But there is a lot of confusion surrounding when and where these refrigerants can be used, and the refrigeration industry is looking for guidance on how to address these challenges.
The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) sought to provide some of that guidance in a workshop it recently offered. The speakers covered everything from current trends affecting the refrigeration industry to the various refrigerant options available for refrigeration systems. The lively interactive format prompted a lot of conversation — and debate — amongst attendees and offered greater insight into some of the complex issues that are associated with alternative refrigerants.