Sustainable Refrigeration.

We have always taken seriously the impact that refrigeration has on the climate and we recognise that it’s our responsibility to encourage and support our customers in selecting engineering service solutions and products that are environmentally friendly.

Sustainable refrigeration

The industry as a whole is moving towards more sustainable forms of cooling, a trend heavily driven by the F gas Regulation. The legislation limits the use of certain F gases (including those commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems) and bans those where more environmentally-friendly alternatives are available. The most harmful F gases are being phased out first, but all F gases will need to be replaced in the near future.

Refrigerant bans and phase downs

Traditional systems using HFO/HFC refrigerant blends are no longer a viable option for the long term. In 2020, HFCs with Global Warming Potentials (GWP) greater than 2,500 will be banned in new systems. Further F gas bans will occur between 2022 and 2025, and in 2030, all HFCs (even those considered ‘greener’) will exceed GWP and carbon restrictions. The answer is to use natural refrigerants.

Now is the time to go natural 

Many businesses have already made the transition to natural refrigeration solutions or are working towards. This is because they understand that moving to natural refrigerants is critical to remaining legally compliant but that going natural offers other impressive benefits.

So what are natural refrigerants?

They are sustainable gases which don’t deplete the ozone and have a much lower impact on the environment compared to synthetic (traditional) refrigerants. Importantly, they are exempt from the F gas Regulation.

CO₂: A cost-effective and sustainable alternative  

CO₂ is fast becoming the natural refrigerant of choice for system owners due to its versatility. It’s suitable for a wide array of applications, right from manufacturing facilities and processing plants to distribution centres and live retail environments.

Opting for natural refrigeration solutions enables system owners to:

• Remain legally compliant
• Keep their equipment running efficiently
• Avoid unpredictable refrigerant price rises
• Lessen their impact on the environment

CO₂ refrigeration systems offer multiple benefits:

• Future-proof cooling – no impending bans or phase downs associated with CO₂
• Cost stability – the unpredictable price rises associated with F gas regulated refrigerants don’t affect CO₂
• Environmental credentials – it has a GWP of one, meaning it has a very low climate impact
• Option to reclaim waste heat and turn it in space heating and/or comfort cooling
• A safe alternative as it’s non-flammable and has low toxicity

We’re here to help you navigate the F gas regulation and keep your refrigeration systems safe, legally compliant and running efficiently. Contact us to discuss your requirements.