To conduct research and educate the public on subjects useful to the individual and beneficial to the community regarding refrigeration methods and ways to reduce the environmental impacts of refrigeration.
The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit that partners with the grocery refrigeration industry to advance climate-friendly natural refrigerants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from traditional HFC refrigerants. Working with stakeholders including service contractors, manufacturers, engineering firms, schools, utilities, and over 55,000 food retail locations, the organization addresses cost, workforce, and market-readiness barriers to adopting natural refrigerant technologies. Through its funding initiatives, the organization accelerated natural refrigerant installations by serving as third-party administrator of the California F-gas Reduction Incentive Program, helping award approximately $13.7 million in incentives and providing technical assistance to 46 projects replacing high-GWP HFC equipment with ultra-low GWP refrigeration systems. It also managed and administered $350,000 in grants from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to support two Bronx supermarkets in under-resourced communities transitioning to climate-friendly propane (R-290) systems. To advance market readiness and industry alignment, the organization delivered education, technical guidance, and market insights. It formed a CO2 Education Committee to develop a CO2 manual and technician certification program and, through its CO2 Technical Committee, drafted guidance on critical sensors, start-up and commissioning, and refrigerant release events. The organization surveyed 18 major U.S. food retailers representing over 29,000 store locations to forecast refrigerant use and system plans through 2029 and hosted 10 expert-led webinars highlighting technologies and services that support the transition to natural refrigerants. Through its R-TRADE workforce development initiative, the organization addressed the nationwide shortage of refrigeration technicians by focusing on recruitment, training, and retention. It delivered 8,533