R-22 Phase Out for Facilities Management (Part Two)

R-22 Phase Out Compliance

In part one of our series on R-22 phase out, we shared important factors you need to know about R-22 regulations, consumption allowances, and the importance of developing a strategy. In this post, we’ll focus on key risks associated with R-22, important considerations for building owners, managers, and facilities personnel, changes that could affect your new equipment selection, questions to ask your HVAC repair and management partner, and next steps.

Key Risks:

Since 2014, it has become increasingly more expensive to acquire R-22 refrigerant due to scarcity and inflated costs. Current prices can depend on a commercial HVAC representative’s negotiation with suppliers and quantity available/purchased. Depending on age and status of current HVAC equipment, here are a few key risks that building owners, managers and facilities personnel may face during the R-22 phase-out.

  • Scarcity of R-22 refrigerant resulting in high maintenance costs when purchase is required
  • Impending unavailability of R-22 refrigerant
  • Business disruptions due to downtime of failed equipment not able to be repaired and/or re-charged

Important Considerations for Building Owners, Managers and Facilities Personnel:

There are many factors that should be considered when developing a strategy to implement the R-22 phase-out. Developing a strategy with the help of a knowledgeable HVAC facilities management partner will likely produce a more efficient, budget-conscious outcome that will put downtime and long-term savings at the forefront of your plan.

These are the important factors / questions that should be discussed with your HVAC repair and management partner:

  • What impact will the transition plan make on business interruptions? For example, does the transition plan put you at risk of occupied space being without air conditioning for an extended period? Consider the time it will take to repair or obtain new air conditioning — leaving spaces temporarily unsuitable for occupancy, or unable to serve their critical functions.
  • Have you considered a life-cycle assessment and determined the best choices for new equipment?
  • Have you allowed enough time for professional engineering design and documentation to be discussed and implemented?
  • Have you allowed sufficient time for the procurement process and equipment delivery lead time?
  • Have you considered the cost of utilities and rebate incentives? When upgrading the new equipment is almost always more efficient.

Engineering a Streamlined & Efficient System Upgrade:

Retrofitting or “renewing” systems with alternatives to R-22 may be a viable option for some properties. However, there are several reasons why these solutions may not be the best decision. The reasons can vary from the cost or unavailability of alternative refrigerants, cost of energy, to deferred repairs that may cause you to look at replacing the equipment instead of retrofitting.

Changes that could greatly affect your selection of new equipment include:

  1. Use of data-driven technology to assess heat load and aid lifecycle planning and energy management
  2. Building design changes or modifications such as window lm, improved roof insulation as a result of a reroof, and most importantly lighting upgrades (LED retro t perhaps?) may result in a reduced heat load – permitting the installation of lower capacity systems
  3. Construction modifications that would require capacity upgrade to ensure a comfortable indoor environment – e.g. rooms added, areas demolished, layout altered, space function alterations, walls added or removed, etc.
  4. Occupancy volume changes – more or less people in the same space means different loads on HVAC units
  5. Technological changes in the types of equipment available – some system configurations may change due to advances in equipment design and capabilities
  6. Changes to building code (think title 24 in California for example)

Next Steps:

  1. Take Action: The R-22 phase-out process does not need to be a painful one. Consider your options and start discussions with HVAC experts who can help you make the best decisions for your facilities. Get started now to put a plan into place that complies with EPA regulations.
  2. Understand Refrigerant Options: Your choice of refrigerant will likely affect your system’s capacity, temperature glide, and operating pressures, etc. Work with your HVAC management partner to research options, manufacturers, and more.
  3. Allow Enough Time: You don’t want to feel pressured to make a decision because you did not allow for enough time. Understand the time it takes to transition or upgrade a system. Plan for the time it will take for scheduling, conversions and putting the necessary resources into place.

With the R-22 phase-out well underway and the impending extinction date in the near future, it is essential that building owners, managers and facilities personnel take action by working alongside a knowledgeable HVAC repair, maintenance, and management professional to ensure a seamless transition.

To learn more about the R-22 phase out and explore options to improve your HVAC efficiencies, contact the experts at Evergreen Air Conditioning.

Download the full guide to R-22 Phase Out for Facilities Management here. 

R-22 Phase Out for Facilities Management (Part One)

R-22 Phase OutRefrigerant is a vital component of any machine that provides cooling from new ultra-high efficiency units to legacy chillers. Refrigerant chemicals transfer heat out of your store – cooling customers and employees in the summer and with heat pumps, reversing outdoor heat to indoor air. Refrigerants have been an important component of HVAC equipment and over the years, manufacturers have worked to make these chemicals cleaner and safer for the environment. One of the most significant changes for HVAC professionals, building owners, and facility managers is the EPA R-22 phase-out.

In 1987, researchers concluded that chemical compounds in widely used refrigerants are a major source of destruction to the lower atmosphere of our planet. Research has shown that once these compounds reach the stratosphere, the sun’s ultraviolet rays break down the compound and release chlorine. The resulting damage depletes the ozone layer that protects organisms on Earth from harmful UV rays.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raised concerns about R-22 and for more than two decades has worked with manufacturers to eliminate the refrigerant through the use of alternative products
or upgraded HVAC systems. The gradual phasing out of R-22 is nearly complete and by 2020, will be virtually impossible to obtain.

R-22 Phase Out – What You Need To Know:

  • The U.S. EPA has tried to reduce the use of R-22 by imposing strict quotas on its production.
  • Since 2010, the EPA has also banned the sale of new air conditioning units containing R-22 and has encouraged the recycling of the gas from old machines so it will not be released.
  • It is imperative that property owners, managers and facilities personnel work with a knowledgeable HVAC professional to develop a strategy and plan to retro t, renew or upgrade systems to comply with the R-22 phase out.

EPA Regulated R-22 Consumption Allowances:

  • 28% reduction in R-22 consumption allowances from 2016 to 2017
  • Declining consumption allowances each year
  • Zero consumption allowances starting in 2020

R-22 Consumption Allowances

There are many factors that should be considered when developing a strategy to implement the R-22 phase-out. Developing a strategy with the help of a knowledgeable HVAC facilities management partner will likely produce a more efficient, budget-conscious outcome that will put downtime and long-term savings at the forefront of your plan.

In part two of our series on R-22 phase-out, we’ll share key risks associated with R-22, important considerations for building owners, managers, and facilities personnel, and questions to ask your HVAC repair and management partner.

You may also download the full guide here. 

To learn more about the R-22 phase out and explore options to improve your HVAC efficiencies, contact the experts at Evergreen Air Conditioning.

Keeping Cool While Keeping Costs Down

1_2015The following article written by Brock Studinski, VP of Energy & Technical Services at Evergreen Air Conditioning, was recently published in the January / February issue of Professional Retail Store Maintenance.

It’s nothing new for FM professionals to find themselves confronted with questions regarding how to reduce spending or cut costs. However, many facilities managers increasingly find they are also being challenged to be “green” or save energy.

Some FMs may be overwhelmed when it comes to discussing the nuances of HVAC, but it really boils down to two basic principles: First, how to effectively transfer heat from inside your store to the outside and second, how to distribute that now cooled air to the space. Here are five quick tips to make sure your HVAC system runs more efficiently.

  1. Belts – Consider using notched or cog-style belts. Studies by the Department of Energy show that notched belts allow for less slippage and generate less heat, prolonging the life of the belt. A notched belt for a 20-ton unit may cost $6 – $9 more than a traditional “V” belt, but it will save nearly $40 in electrical costs. Now compound that by thousands of HVAC units, and you will see tens, if not hundreds or thousands of dollars in savings annually. The link to a free calculator can be found here.
  2. Filters – Link (ring) or pleated? What MERV rating is preferable? How many changes are required per year? These are just a few of the questions you need to answer when selecting filters. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers to most of those questions, as it really comes down to the application. Everyone will agree, however, that is a very important to make sure the incoming air is completely filtered in order to protect the evaporator coil. If you select a filter that is too restrictive, you force your fan to work harder to overcome the added pressure drop. However, if you choose a filter with too little capacity, you risk fouling your coils and causing your refrigeration system to work overtime.
  3. Coils – Keeping your refrigerant coils clean is key to ensuring that your system can effectively condition your store, prolonging the life of the system and keeping your utility costs down. Moderately fouled coils can increase electrical costs by as much as 30 percent. If you are unable to transfer enough heat to the airstream, you also risk frosting or freezing the coil.
  4. Refrigerant – If there is not enough refrigerant in the system, you risk not being able to fill the coils and, as a result, impeding heat transfer. On the other hand, if you have a system that is overcharged, the refrigerant will have a difficult time changing state and transferring heat. Think of your air conditioning system like baking bread: If the oven is too cool, your bread will not set; if it is too hot, you burn it.
  5. Condenser fans – As manufacturers strive to increase the efficiency of their products, it’s more important than ever to keep all of the components working. The condenser fans are often overlooked because, in most cases, there are multiple fans on each unit. But just as indoor (evaporator) fans are important in transferring heat to cool the space, condenser fans complete the cycle by transferring that heat outside. If the fans are not operational, you run the risk of increasing refrigerant pressures and not being able to adequately cool the space, not to mention shortening the life of the other components.

View this article as it appeared in Professional Retail Store Maintenance magazine.