The California Air Resource Board has many goals, including the control of air pollution. As it strives to lower the greenhouse gas levels and reduce dangerous chemical levels in everyday goods, CARB is trying to make sure that consumers enjoy better air quality. New measures are also in place to crack down on refrigerant gas management.
Refrigerant gases can contribute to the major problem of global warming. They are found in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems also known as RAC systems and also in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. HVAC systems show up in a myriad places, including hotels, hospitals, military bases, schools and universities, supermarkets, cold storage warehouses, food preparation, processing and service, recreational facilities, office, commercial and industrial facilities and industrial and manufacturing processes.
Back in 2006, California Air Resource Board industry experts passed a law which deals with refrigerant gas management, entitled the California Global Warming Solutions Act. As CARB contains eleven experts in the field of chemistry, engineering and physics, they focused on the aptly named Stationary Equipment Refrigerant Management Program with a goal of helping to reduce greenhouse gases. AC and refrigerant gas equipment ranging in size between 50 and 2000 pounds is targeted in the regulation of dangerous CO2E emissions.
A refrigeration gas management program is important and needs to cover many different angles. Technician certification ensures quality prior to the sales and service of refrigeration and AC systems which are classified as having 'high potential' in terms of global warming. Further, service practices must be strict to avoid discharge. Regulations must be in place to cover distribution and wholesale as well as reclamation. Gas storage must be regulated and recorded and equipment must be retrofitted, with any leaks being monitored and repaired.
Implementing a refrigerant gas management program is just one of many areas the California Air Resources Board is focusing on to improve air quality. Since its formation in 1967 as part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, CARB has worked closely with residents, businesses, and local government to protect the public's health and welfare and the states ecological resources by reducing air pollutants.
Recovering refrigerant is of particular concern to the California Air Resources Board because of the large number of facilities that utilize stationary refrigeration and air conditioning. As a result, emissions in the state from refrigerant gases are expected to increase to more than 35 MMTCO2E by the year 2020.
A significant educational process is required to ensure that facilities within the state are able to meet EPA compliance and recording standards and CARB is holding numerous workshops throughout California. Verisae, Inc has developed a refrigerant gas management application that is web-based and which automatically updates when new edicts are sent out by CARB, the California EPA and other government bodies. Refrigerant Tracker enables a company which has a system containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant gas to record and administer their usage and to record any detected leaks. EPA compliance is achieved through the use of relevant forms and reports, as specified by the EPA's requirements.
California is the most populous state and has its own share of pollution horror stories. This situation has improved over the years, with air pollution down 25% and smog exposure cut in half from the levels of the seventies, but there is work to do. Nevertheless, the Stationary Equipment Refrigerant Management Program is an important step forward and will allow both the people of California and CARB to breathe a little easier.
Refrigerant gases can contribute to the major problem of global warming. They are found in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems also known as RAC systems and also in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. HVAC systems show up in a myriad places, including hotels, hospitals, military bases, schools and universities, supermarkets, cold storage warehouses, food preparation, processing and service, recreational facilities, office, commercial and industrial facilities and industrial and manufacturing processes.
Back in 2006, California Air Resource Board industry experts passed a law which deals with refrigerant gas management, entitled the California Global Warming Solutions Act. As CARB contains eleven experts in the field of chemistry, engineering and physics, they focused on the aptly named Stationary Equipment Refrigerant Management Program with a goal of helping to reduce greenhouse gases. AC and refrigerant gas equipment ranging in size between 50 and 2000 pounds is targeted in the regulation of dangerous CO2E emissions.
A refrigeration gas management program is important and needs to cover many different angles. Technician certification ensures quality prior to the sales and service of refrigeration and AC systems which are classified as having 'high potential' in terms of global warming. Further, service practices must be strict to avoid discharge. Regulations must be in place to cover distribution and wholesale as well as reclamation. Gas storage must be regulated and recorded and equipment must be retrofitted, with any leaks being monitored and repaired.
Implementing a refrigerant gas management program is just one of many areas the California Air Resources Board is focusing on to improve air quality. Since its formation in 1967 as part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, CARB has worked closely with residents, businesses, and local government to protect the public's health and welfare and the states ecological resources by reducing air pollutants.
Recovering refrigerant is of particular concern to the California Air Resources Board because of the large number of facilities that utilize stationary refrigeration and air conditioning. As a result, emissions in the state from refrigerant gases are expected to increase to more than 35 MMTCO2E by the year 2020.
A significant educational process is required to ensure that facilities within the state are able to meet EPA compliance and recording standards and CARB is holding numerous workshops throughout California. Verisae, Inc has developed a refrigerant gas management application that is web-based and which automatically updates when new edicts are sent out by CARB, the California EPA and other government bodies. Refrigerant Tracker enables a company which has a system containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant gas to record and administer their usage and to record any detected leaks. EPA compliance is achieved through the use of relevant forms and reports, as specified by the EPA's requirements.
California is the most populous state and has its own share of pollution horror stories. This situation has improved over the years, with air pollution down 25% and smog exposure cut in half from the levels of the seventies, but there is work to do. Nevertheless, the Stationary Equipment Refrigerant Management Program is an important step forward and will allow both the people of California and CARB to breathe a little easier.
About the Author:
Daniel Stouffer has a lot of information on the significance of adequate refrigerant gas management and the place of the California Air Resources Board.
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