Energy efficiency

Dalkia Energy Solutions Expands Support for NASRC, Contributing to Reduced Carbon Footprint

BEVERLY, Mass. – Dalkia Energy Solutions, EDF Group recently increased its financial support level for the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC). The NASRC is an action-oriented 501c3 nonprofit that brings together stakeholders from virtually every sector of the commercial refrigeration industry to advance natural refrigerants and create a climate-friendly future for supermarket refrigeration.

With decades of work helping grocery chains across the US reduce their energy footprint, Dalkia has been a supporter of the NASRC since its founding in 2015. Dalkia’s increased level of NASRC support demonstrates a new level of commitment to driving adoption of these more sustainable refrigeration solutions.

 Dalkia is the building energy services division of EDF Group, one of the largest utilities in the world. EDF Group is focused on advancing low-carbon energy to support both economic growth and climate solutions. Dalkia’s 2016 acquisition of Groom Energy Solutions marked its introduction to the US market, bringing reliable and cost-effective energy management solutions to both commercial and industrial customers.

 “Dalkia’s projects globally have contributed to the prevention of roughly 4.2 million tons of CO2 of emissions, the equivalent of taking two million cars off the road,” said Jon Guerster, CEO of Dalkia Energy Solutions.  “And the numbers for 2019 will be even greater.”

He furthered, “we work closely with each and every customer to develop a customized initiative roadmap to unlock energy savings and maximize efficiency. It’s part of our mission and at the heart of all we do.”

Dalkia’s commitment to energy efficiency is especially important in supermarkets, which are more electricity-intensive than any other commercial building type in the US.

To reduce the overall carbon footprint of supermarket refrigeration, both the energy use and the global warming potential (GWP) of the refrigerants used must be considered. The climate impact of a supermarket’s refrigeration system can be evaluated using a measure called the Total Equivalent Warming Impact—the sum of the “indirect” emissions resulting from energy use and the “direct” emissions of refrigerants. For this reason, energy efficiency has become a growing part of NASRC’s strategy to create a climate-friendly future for supermarket refrigeration, as was demonstrated at their recent Low-GWP & Energy Efficiency Expo.

“A growing number of retailers are looking for solutions that offer both low-GWP and energy efficiency benefits. Stakeholders from both energy management and supermarket refrigeration need a seat at the table to advance solutions for supermarkets, and we are glad to see Dalkia position themselves at the forefront of this effort.”

- Danielle Wright, executive director of the NASRC.

“We view the transition to natural refrigerants as a critical piece in the broader greenhouse gas emission reduction puzzle. The US is trailing Europe, where our affiliate Dalkia Froid Solutions has made a significant number of upgrades delivering commercial refrigeration using low-GWP refrigerants, about 150 installations per year with over 2,000 commercial and industrial sites in total under maintenance in Europe,” said Adin Hamilton, SVP of Dalkia Energy Solutions. “There is a great deal of ground to make up in the US, and our involvement with NASRC is a way to participate and contribute to the thought-leadership required to advance this cause. Dalkia is committed to helping customers meet emerging regulatory requirements and organizational carbon reduction goals.”

In addition to Dalkia Energy Solutions, NASRC is supported by a strong network of members, which represents over 24,000 supermarket locations in North America, major equipment manufacturers, service contractors, and other commercial refrigeration stakeholders. Together with their network, the NASRC is driving forward industry solutions that eliminate the barriers to a sustainable future for refrigeration.

More information about Dalkia Energy Solutions, EDF Group is available at: https://www.dalkiasolutions.com/

Opportunities to Provide Feedback: State Regulations & Policies

A growing number of US Climate Alliance states are moving forward with regulations and policies that will have refrigerant use and energy management implications for supermarkets. Feedback from the industry throughout the rulemaking process can result in less burdensome, more effective regulations that better accomplish everyone's goals.

Here are some opportunities to provide your input:

CALIFORNIA

NEW YORK

WASHINGTON

Did we miss something? Let us know. 

SESCO Joins NASRC As A Silver Member, Bringing New Energy Management Expertise

Kernersville, North Carolina — The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC), a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to advancing the adoption of climate-friendly refrigerants in supermarkets, recently welcomed Supermarket Environmental Services Co. (SESCO) as a silver member.

SESCO is a design firm with a wholistic approach to supermarket and restaurant HVAC systems, integrating system design and equipment procurement with energy management and commissioning services. SESCO’s energy management expertise has helped more supermarkets qualify for Energy Star than any other U.S. company, leading to more than 1,000 certifications.

“The supermarket industry is facing increasing competition from every angle, shifting consumer trends, and increasingly slim margins,” said Jeff Ollis, Director of Sales for SESCO. “SESCO understands the interaction of supermarket energy systems, leveraging HVAC and controls design to enable a grocer's ability to meet customer needs while reducing energy and maintenance expenses.”

As global regulations drive towards phasing out high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, supermarkets have turned to alternative options, such as natural refrigerants, with zero or near-zero GWP. The NASRC works with over 120 supermarket stakeholders to eliminate the barriers slowing natural refrigerant adoption, such as upfront costs, uncertainty around energy performance and other lifecycle costs, and a shortage of technicians trained to work with natural refrigerants.

The supermarket industry has seen a growth in demand for low-GWP refrigerant technologies. But as the demand increases, many food retailers are seeking solutions and technologies that are both low-GWP AND improve the total energy performance of their facilities.

Both factors are important when considering the Total Equivalent Warming Impact (TEWI) of a supermarket, which accounts for both the “direct” emissions of a refrigerant and the “indirect” emissions from energy use. Pairing low-GWP refrigerants with improved energy performance of a facility has the power to reduce the TEWI of that facility significantly, contributing to sustainability objectives and potential cost savings from energy gains.  

“Energy efficiency is a critical component to reducing overall cost,” said Danielle Wright, executive director of the NASRC. “Optimizing the performance of natural refrigerant systems not only gives supermarkets greater certainty around lifecycle costs, but it also opens up new opportunities for funding support to offset upfront cost premiums. We look forward to leveraging SESCO’s energy management expertise.” 

“We really appreciate the approach the NASRC is taking with regards to Natural Refrigerants,” said Ollis. “Their focus on discovering and removing obstacles is innovative and effective. They are helping to make multidiscipline connections across the supermarket industry, which accelerates the development of sustainable systems.”

In addition to SESCO, NASRC is supported by a strong network of members, which represents over 24,000 supermarket locations in North America, major equipment manufacturers, service contractors, and other stakeholders.

More information about NASRC is available at www.nasrc.org. 

More information about SESCO is available at www.sesco-hvac.com.

NASRC Expo to Highlight Low-GWP AND Energy Efficient Refrigeration Solutions

Irwindale, California – On January 15th and 16th, North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) and Southern California Edison (SCE) will co-host the first-ever Low-GWP & Energy Efficiency Expo, which will showcase the latest commercial refrigeration technologies and solutions that offer both low-GWP and energy efficiency benefits in new and existing facilities.

This event will build on a workshop NASRC co-hosted with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) earlier this year, which sought to align the goals of California food retailers, California utilities, and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) by optimizing for energy efficiency with natural refrigerants.

“After our July workshop, it became clear that food retailers, service contractors, government agencies, and utilities were looking for an easy way to identify technologies that are both energy efficient and compatible with refrigerants below 150 GWP,” said Danielle Wright, executive director of the NASRC. “Our goal with this event is to provide a platform to showcase these technologies in the context of California regulations.”

In 2017, CARB proposed new regulations that will require all new systems to use refrigerants with a GWP of 150 or less starting in 2022, causing many California grocers and food retailers to explore natural refrigerant technologies and solutions.

Natural refrigerants, including hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, offer a “future-proof” solution in terms of regulations, but also present a unique set of challenges. Not only do these technologies often come at an upfront cost premium compared to traditional technologies, but a shortage of trusted data has led to uncertainty around energy performance and other lifecycle costs. What’s more, because natural refrigerants are not a “drop-in” solution, existing stores require a full system replacement, making a natural refrigerant “retrofit” unfeasible in most facilities.     

California utilities offer a variety of programs that can help finance the adoption of energy efficient refrigerant technologies, such as on-bill financing, emerging technologies funding, and custom incentive programs. By incorporating low-GWP refrigerant technologies into new and existing programs utilities can support CARB in reaching their emissions reductions targets and California food retailers to adopt low-GWP technologies without breaking the bank.

“Utility incentives and other funding sources that offset the upfront costs of these technologies have the power to increase volumes of adoption and drive us closer to reaching economies of scale where we see the costs of these technologies fall,” said Wright. “But for that to happen, utilities, government agencies, and supermarkets need to have a better understanding of which technologies below 150 GWP also offer energy efficiency benefits in both new and existing facilities.”

This free, two-day event seeks to provide clarity by highlighting a diversity of commercial refrigeration products that are compatible with refrigerants below 150 GWP and have proven energy efficiency benefits through a product expo, technomercials, case studies, and refrigeration “Shark Tank” sessions. Attendees will also hear updates on California refrigerant regulations, current and future offerings from California utilities, and 2022 Title 24 energy code impacts.  

This event will be attended by grocery and food retailers, service contractors, equipment manufacturers & suppliers, utilities, policymakers, government agencies, and other key commercial refrigeration stakeholders.

 Manufacturers interested in exhibiting should contact the NASRC at info@nasrc.org. Exhibitor applications are due by COB Friday, November 15th. For more information or to register for the expo, visit www.nasrc.org/energy-efficiency-expo.

NASRC Workshop to Address Challenges and Opportunities of HFC Phasedown in New York

Albany, New York – On September 27th, the NASRC and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will co-host a free educational workshop to help supermarket stakeholders prepare for future refrigerant regulations in New York State. The workshop will feature an update from the DEC on proposed regulation, expert presentations on low-GWP technology options, and opportunities for funding the industry’s transition.

“Our goal is to engage stakeholders early in the regulatory process and bring all parties to the table,” said Danielle Wright, executive director of the NASRC. “The sooner we can identify challenges, the sooner we can begin to work on solutions that will ultimately bring divergent goals into alignment.”  

New York is one of a growing number of states who have committed to phase down Hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants (HFCs) as part of their larger climate goals. For the time being, the DEC has proposed to adopt the vacated US EPA SNAP rules. However in June, the state passed what has been referred to as the most ambitious climate targets in the U.S., which include entirely carbon-free electricity by 2040 and economy-wide, net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Given the state’s ambitious climate targets, we’re thinking big picture about what the regulations will look like in the future and what role energy efficiency will play,” said Wright.

Supermarket refrigeration represents an important opportunity to make considerable progress on climate goals. In addition to potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from the use of low-GWP refrigerants, there is an equally significant opportunity to simultaneously reduce emissions and energy demand by optimizing refrigeration technologies for energy efficiency.

“We see a tremendous opportunity to align and make progress on the goals of all key stakeholders through this workshop. Reducing emissions from refrigerant leaks and increasing energy efficiency is a win-win, but it’s going to take a collective effort and dialogue between all stakeholders to get there.”

-Danielle Wright

This workshop will provide a platform to bring stakeholders together to discuss challenges associated with natural refrigerants and identify actionable solutions. The NASRC intends to implement those solutions to move the needle on natural refrigerant adoption and reduce the regulatory burdens for New York supermarkets. 

Workshop attendees will hear from expert presenters who will provide a comprehensive overview of low-GWP refrigerant solutions, the latest technology innovations, strategies to optimize energy efficiency, and opportunities for low-GWP financial incentives. The workshop will also provide stakeholders with an opportunity to engage in the regulatory process and provide input on New York’s phasedown plan.

The event is generously sponsored by CoolSys, Danfoss, and Dorin. Attendees will include supermarket retailers, service contractors, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, government agencies, utilities, engineering & design firms, consultants, NGOs, and other stakeholders.

For more information or to register for the workshop, visit www.nasrc.org/low-gwp-ny-workshop.

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