Like other companies working in the sector, Heatcraft Refrigeration Products faced a new set of DOE Annual Walk-In Energy Factor (AWEF) standards taking effect on Jan. 1 of this year.

The Gold award in the Refrigeration and Ice Machines category goes to the Copeland Digital Outdoor Refrigeration Unit, X-Line Series by Emerson.

The Refrigeration & Ice Machines category winners include a refrigerant charging scale, evaporative control technology, and a condensing unit.

The Gold award in the Refrigeration and Ice Machines category goes to a self-contained refrigeration system for walk-in coolers and freezers that eliminates several of the steps required for a traditional system.

The winner is a kit that is a universal, field-mount refrigeration controller with temperature sensors and pressure transducer kit that can be installed up to 40 feet from an air or electric defrost unit cooler.

Bacharach has been in acquisition mode lately, and the company was showing off the new products and relationships that resulted from that at this year’s AHR Expo in Atlanta.

At the AHR Expo, RectorSeal LLC highlighted several new products designed to combat leaks and corrosion, both on the inside of the unit and from salty sea breezes on the coast.

Available for commercial and industrial applications, this product supports safety compliance inside of machinery rooms, mechanical equipment rooms, chiller plants, cold storage facilities, and walk-in freezers by monitoring for refrigerant leaks for numerous gases including HFCs, HFOs, HCFCs, CO2, and ammonia (NH3)).

This product detects all CFC, HFC, and HCFC refrigerants as low as 0.006 oz/yr, including R-410a and R-507.

Refrigerant leaks in HVACR equipment – particularly commercial refrigeration systems -- are a significant problem.

Know what type of detector you are using, know how to use it, and ensure it’s capable of detecting leaks by calibrating it on a regular basis.

While servicing equipment, technicians should be on the lookout for sources of potential future leaks, as well as follow good service practices to prevent creating leaks.

Refrigerant regulations are another reason why change is coming, as HCFCs will be phased out by 2020, and given their high global warming potential (GWP), HFCs will likely be phased down in the near future as well. At some point, supermarkets will need to start considering low GWP alternatives such as HFO blends, as well as so-called “future-proof” refrigerants such as ammonia, CO2, or propane.

Manufacturers are rolling out a wide array of new equipment that utilizes all types of refrigerants, providing end users with a number of new options to consider.

These products have refrigerator and freezer model selections including both swing and slide door refrigerators and swing door freezers.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a typical food retail store leaks an estimated 25 percent of refrigerant, or approximately 1,000 pounds, annually.

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) unveiled a new initiative identifying U.S. retailers committed to taking leadership action to reduce HFCs.

Hoshizaki America Inc. started shipping sushi cases with the energy efficient and environmentally friendly refrigerant, R600a, earlier this month.

The Refrigeration Showcase educates contractors about new refrigeration products, so they can help customers make the right choice.

As refrigerant regulations grow more stringent, manufacturers are beginning to offer new refrigeration architectures that utilize low-GWP refrigerants.

While large grocery stores are not going away any time soon, there is a new trend taking hold in the marketplace: the small-format grocery store.

Grocers are becoming more vigilant in keeping their refrigeration equipment as clean as possible.

The equipment and components in this showcase are designed to appeal to both end users and the people who work on them in the field.

The Showcase is designed to educate contractors about the new commercial and industrial refrigeration products available.

Target and Amazon have both recently announced plans to construct new stores that contain CO2 refrigeration systems, which will help the retailers significantly reduce carbon emissions and energy use.

From ice machines to reach-ins to controls to components, the Showcase is designed to educate contractors about the new commercial and industrial refrigeration products available, so they can help their customers make the right choice for their application.

In an informative session at the NASRC’s Sustainable Refrigeration Summit, Publix and Coborn’s shared the pros and cons of incorporating CO₂ refrigeration systems into their stores.

These Emerson half-day CO₂ transcritical booster supermarket refrigeration courses will take place March 28, 29, and 30 at the Energy Education Center in Irwindale, California.

EPA recently expanded its list of acceptable refrigerant substitutes for new refrigeration equipment to include R-471A and R-515B.

At the AHR Expo, manufacturers displayed their latest commercial refrigeration equipment, which included condensing units, components, controls, and other solutions.

A New Hampshire grocer installed the innovative FlexCube refrigeration system, a modular technology using the A2L refrigerant R-454C, in his new store.

Refrigerant manufacturers highlighted their low-GWP refrigerants for both air conditioning and refrigeration applications at the 2023 AHR Expo.

Air conditioning and refrigeration are marvelous inventions and have a transformative impact on comfort and health, underscoring their irreplaceable role in modern living.

The transition to A2L refrigerants will offer benefits to the environment, as well as business challenges for HVACR OEMs, distributors, and contractors.

RDSs are generally required in A2L systems that contain more than 4 pounds of refrigerant and can either be field or factory-installed, depending on the manufacturer.

Manufacturers are offering low-GWP refrigerant alternatives, as EPA is proposing a 700 GWP limit for most new comfort cooling chillers starting in 2025.

The most important features of electronic measuring devices have been established in customer surveys and are discussed in this article.

Technicians have the choice of using either a digital or mechanical manifold gauge. Each one has its benefits and disadvantages, which is why it may pay to own one of each kind.

A lot of refrigerant reclaimers aren’t charging for mixed refrigerants anymore, which may in turn, mean an opportunity for HVAC contractors to make more money.

The EPA initially faced backlash from the industry regarding the sell-through mandate for certain HVAC systems. The Agency revised the provision by allowing one additional year, until January 1, 2026.

Food retailers shared their concerns and experiences with refrigeration systems that use alternative refrigerants at the Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI’s) 2023 Energy & Store Development Conference.

The transition to A2Ls will likely serve as an interim solution. Europe has already embraced propane in certain heat pump systems, and the U.S. may follow suit, albeit with a different low-GWP refrigerant.

ALDI aims to become the most sustainable grocer in the U.S., by committing to transition to natural refrigerants in all stores by 2035.

In preparing for the refrigerant transition, contractors and distributors should review their inventory and become educated on the regulations.

With over 1,000 Sunday service attendees and many church activities throughout the week, energy efficiency for the sake of cost savings was critical.

Both commercial facilities and residential domiciles are taking advantage of heating and cooling technology at accelerated rates.

As HVACR technology advances, contractors often find themselves navigating new learning curves on a regular basis. VRF is no exception.

Troubleshooting refrigeration systems can be complex and frustrating, so put aside any assumptions and inspect the system thoroughly before making any diagnosis.

Contractors need to implement a refrigerant management strategy that accommodates both legacy and A2L systems, as well as emphasizes recovery and reclamation.

Timely refrigeration repairs are crucial to avoid product loss; temporary fixes can sometimes keep systems running until parts arrive.