Page 23 - Climate Control News Magazine April 2021

Refrigerant Feature
Supermarkets leaking super-pollutants
A SINGLE SUPERMARKET emits 875 pounds of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) each year, equal to the carbon dioxide from more than 300 cars.
Given there are over 38,000 supermarkets in the United States, these leaking emissions are equivalent to burning 49 billion pounds of coal.
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EI) investigated dozens of supermarkets in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland using portable refrigerant leak detectors and found most stores to be leaking super-pollut- ant refrigerants.
The investigation focused on Walmart and other top-grossing supermarkets in the region, documenting leaking systems and capturing in- visible climate pollutants on video.
EIA found 60 per cent of Walmart stores inves- tigated had a refrigerant leak with 55 per cent leaking super pollutants.
The invisible nature of the gases has allowed
companies to overlook refrigerant emissions and calls to action; but with the right equipment, these gases are neither invisible nor immeasurable.
Leaks persisted months later in the few stores revisited – an indication that routine leak in- spection or repair did not occur, or was not effec- tive in detecting the leaks.
EIA findings indicate that persistent leaks are an industry-wide problem, not limited to one corporate banner or supermarket chain.
Refrigerants found leaking across the indus- try included, R404A, R407A, and R507, which have global warming potentials of 3,922, 2,107 and 3,985.
“Supermarkets have known for decades that refrigerants exacerbate the climate crisis and have known for even longer that commercial re- frigeration systems leak,” the EIA report said. “Our results only scratch the surface of the wide- spread leakages across the industry.” ✺
Leaking refrigerants included, R404A, R407A, and R507.
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CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS APRIL 2021
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