NASRC Summit: Top 5 Takeaways

Key Takeaways & Next Steps

Our 2022 Sustainable Refrigeration Summit showcased insights on the latest regulatory and industry trends from leading food retailers, industry experts, and policymakers. Watch the session recordings on the platform here. 

Check out our TOP 5 Summit takeaways below:

1. Existing stores need more solutions
For many retailers, natural refrigerants are becoming the standard for new stores. But existing stores, which represent the largest emissions reduction opportunity, remain the greatest challenge to transitioning away from HFCs.

2. Ongoing innovation is needed
Throughout the Summit, expert retailers highlighted a variety of innovative plans and strategies to transition away from HFCs and meet regulatory timelines. No single solution will meet the needs of all retailers.

3. Technician shortage is the limiting factor
In every session, the issue of the technician workforce shortage was raised as a critical barrier to the transition away from HFCs. Even if every other challenge slowing the transition was removed, we do not currently have the service and installation workforce to meet regulatory timelines.

4. Effective policies are a key solution
While increasing regulatory pressures at the state and federal levels are driving the transition away from HFCs, effective policies can enable a swift and successful transition by offsetting upfront costs, accelerating technology advances, supporting workforce development, and more.

5. Success will require collaboration
Most importantly, it was clear across the summit that solutions to these challenges will require a coordinated effort across all stakeholder groups. NASRC is leading that effort together with our members and partners. Contact us to get involved.

Missed a session?

Session recordings & slide decks will be available on the platform through November 25th!

A special thanks to our sponsors!

North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council Launches Initiative to Reduce Super-Polluting Supermarket Refrigerant Leaks

Supermarkets leak an estimated 55 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually

September 28, 2022 11:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

MILL VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC), a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit working to advance climate-friendly natural refrigerants in supermarkets, today announced its publication of a free leak reduction guide outlining the significant sources of refrigerant leaks in existing systems. Using data gathered by NASRC supermarket members, the document proposes equipment specification measures for new refrigeration systems to minimize leaks and reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions.

“They present logistical challenges and additional expenses for supermarkets.”

Tweet this

“Together with NASRC, U.S. retailers are proactively taking steps to characterize and reduce refrigerant leaks over the lifespan of refrigeration systems,” said Danielle Wright, executive director of NASRC. “By taking the lead in identifying these issues and proposing solutions, we hope to drive a new industry standard and reduce the cost burden through economies of scale.”

Supermarket refrigeration is one of the leading sources of super-polluting hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant (HFC) emissions. The NASRC estimates the annual climate impact from supermarket and grocery store refrigerant leaks to be 55 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e).

“Refrigerant leaks are more than a climate issue,” said Wright. “They present logistical challenges and additional expenses for supermarkets.”

To address this, NASRC’s members prepared a data-driven list of the top issues causing refrigerant leaks. Members identified leak reduction measures and shared them with major original equipment manufacturers. Participants included members from 14 retailers representing national and regional chains with nearly 17,000 U.S. locations.

NASRC will feature the report’s findings and highlight solutions to climate-damaging refrigerants at its annual Sustainable Refrigeration Summit on October 24 – 28. The virtual event is free to attend, thanks to the generous sponsorship from Alfa Laval, BITZER US, Emerson, and others. Learn more and register here.

Download the free Leak Reduction Initiative guide.

Learn more about the environmental impacts of HFCs.

About the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council

The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit working to advance climate-friendly natural refrigerants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by traditional hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. We collaborate with stakeholders from across the industry, including over 38,000 food retail locations, to eliminate the barriers to natural refrigerants in supermarkets. For more information, visit nasrc.org, Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.

Contacts

Media Contact
Morgan Smith
North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council
morgan.smith@nasrc.org
585-217-2254

NASRC Releases 2021 Annual Report

Naturally Better Together
Announcing NASRC's 2021 Annual Report

NASRC is proud to release our 2021 Annual Report, Naturally Better Together, which summarizes our collective progress to eliminate the barriers to natural refrigerants in supermarkets. 2021 was filled with global uncertainty, but together with our members and partners, we made unprecedented progress to:

• Offset first costs of natural refrigerant technologies

• Increase natural refrigerant technology options

• Ensure service workforce readiness

• Increase awareness and support for the transition away from HFCs

We hope you take a moment to celebrate our shared accomplishments towards building a naturally better future for supermarket refrigeration. None of this would be possible without your support.

Want to support our work further?

Consider making a tax-deductible donation to NASRC.