Subscribe to the daily news Sign in
En

Emerson: Additional EPA Refrigerant Leak Detection Guidelines

Refrigerant leaks have significant economic and environmental impacts. The average supermarket has two to four refrig­eration racks charged with approximately 3,500 pounds of refrigerant. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s GreenChill research, about 25 percent, or 875 pounds, of refrigerant is lost each year to leaks.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13460" src="https://refindustry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/leak-detection-263x350.jpg" alt="" width="263" height="350" />

Even in a more moderate scenario with a lower leak rate of 20 percent, the economic costs are still significant. For an individual store, the loss of 700 pounds of R-404A (among the most common refrigerants in use today) at $7 per pound equates to an annual expense of nearly $5,000. But that’s only one store. The cost swells exponentially when you factor in the multiple stores that a supermarket chain operates. Across a chain of 100 stores, refrigerant leaks can cost retailers nearly $500,000 annually.This doesn’t include the associated labor costs, food waste, or the potential loss of business due to service disruptions resulting from a leak.

A supermarket’s bottom line isn’t the only thing affected by refrigerant leaks. The environment may also suffer a signifi­cant impact as well. In the previous 100-store example, nearly 70,000 pounds of refrigerant are leaked into the atmosphere. That’s equivalent to 124,500 metric tons of CO2, the emissions of 24,000 cars or 10,600 homes. This environmental impact doesn’t account for the potential additional energy required to power refrigeration equipment experiencing a leak, as this equipment must run harder to compensate for its declining refrigerant levels.

<a href="https://www.emerson.com/en-us/news/commercial-residential/additional-epa-refrigerant-leak-detection-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more</a>
Share

Related news

University of Ljubljana Develops Solid-State Cooling to Replace Tox...
New elastocaloric system promises safer, more efficient alternative to vapor-compression cooling. Researchers at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, are developing a solid-state c
14 May 2025
Hussmann Partners with Refra to Supply CO2 and R290 Systems in Aust...
Exclusive deal brings transcritical CO2 racks and R290 heat pumps to local market. Hussmann, a Panasonic company, has entered into an exclusive partnership with Refra to supply natural r...
12 May 2025
Daikin Europe reports €5.03B FY2024 turnover with growth in commerc...
Daikin Europe N.V. has reported an annual turnover of €5.03 billion for fiscal year 2024, ending March 31, 2025. This result reflects a slight increase over the previous year and contributes to...
13 May 2025
Leonardo Cozac assumes ABRAVA presidency for 2025–2028 term
The new ABRAVA 360 board has officially taken leadership of the Brazilian Association of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Heating (ABRAVA) for the 2025–2028 term. The inaugurati...
12 Jun 2025
Eurovent joins ECO Platform to support harmonised EPD data
Eurovent has joined the ECO Platform as a new member, reinforcing its commitment to climate action and resource efficiency in the building and construction sectors. The ECO Platform is...
11 Jun 2025
Hoshizaki America launches 7-year warranty for Steelheart line
Hoshizaki America has introduced a new All 7’s warranty program for its Steelheart® refrigeration products, covering seven years for parts, labor, and compressors. The updated warranty applies t...
15 Jun 2025