By Eamonn Ryan
Since 2007, the ASHRAE and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have partnered to help developing countries transition away from ozone-depleting refrigerants. Their biennial work plans guide technical assistance, tools and capacity-building projects under this collaboration.
At the 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference in Las Vegas, the partners adopted a new two-year work plan centered on Life Cycle Refrigerant Management (LRM). The initiative expands joint development of technical tools, digital resources, and education products that address refrigerants from production and system installation through operation, recovery, recycling and end-of-life disposal.
What this means for HVAC and the cold chain
For the HVAC and refrigeration industry (RAC) – and especially for the cold chain – this marks a shift from focusing only on refrigerant selection to managing refrigerants across their full operational life.
For HVAC systems, the emphasis on LRM means:
- Stronger focus on leak prevention through better system design and commissioning
- Improved maintenance practices to protect efficiency and reduce indirect emissions
- Proper refrigerant charge verification to avoid performance losses
- Expanded guidance for handling mildly flammable low-GWP refrigerants safely
- Greater technician training aligned with updated codes and standards
For the cold chain (food storage, transport refrigeration, pharmaceutical cooling, and vaccine logistics), LRM is particularly critical because:
- Even minor leaks can compromise temperature control and product integrity
- Energy efficiency directly affects operating margins in temperature-controlled logistics
- Recovery and reuse of refrigerant reduces operational costs and supply chain risk
- Compliance with evolving refrigerant regulations is essential for cross-border trade
In short, the work plan reinforces that refrigerant management is not just an environmental issue – it is a reliability, safety, cost-control, and regulatory compliance issue for the entire cooling ecosystem.
Key components of the new work plan
RAC Technicians Field Companion
An AI-powered, multilingual mobile application based on the Assessing RAC Plant Sustainability guide. The tool will provide technicians with real-time, context-aware guidance and automated documentation support – translating LRM principles into daily field practices.
Impact for HVAC/cold chain: Helps standardise maintenance procedures, reduce leaks, improve compliance documentation, and strengthen technician capability in emerging markets.
Lifecycle Refrigerant Management & Energy Efficiency Fact Sheets
Briefing documents covering:
- Benefits of lifecycle refrigerant management
- How to conduct energy audits
- Safe use of flammable refrigerants
- Regulatory requirements for refrigerant use
Impact for HVAC/cold chain: Provides practical, decision-ready guidance for contractors, facility managers, and policymakers managing large refrigeration portfolios.
Updates to existing ASHRAE–UNEP joint products
Educational and technical resources will be updated to integrate life-cycle refrigerant management principles, including:
- Energy Efficiency Literacy (online basics)
- Refrigerants Literacy (online basics)
- University Course Pack (engineering curriculum materials)
- Assessing RAC Plant Sustainability (maintenance checklists and guidance)
- Refrigerant Update Factsheet (ASHRAE-designated refrigerants, safety classification, and GWP)
- Lower GWP Award case studies from developing countries
Impact for HVAC/cold chain: Embeds LRM principles into workforce development, engineering education, and procurement decisions – accelerating safer adoption of lower-GWP refrigerants.
Why LRM matters
According to climate modeling, net-zero targets are unattainable without widespread refrigerant recovery and destruction. Refrigerant leakage not only increases direct greenhouse gas emissions but also reduces system efficiency, driving up indirect emissions from electricity use.
For HVAC and cold chain operators, LRM delivers:
- Lower energy bills through optimised system performance
- Reduced refrigerant purchase costs via recovery and reuse
- Improved system uptime and asset life
- Enhanced safety when working with mildly flammable alternatives
- New skilled job opportunities in refrigerant recovery and compliance services
The partnership bridges global environmental policy, including obligations under the Montreal Protocol, with the technical standards and operational practices used by engineers and technicians worldwide.
National Ozone Units (NOUs), HVAC professionals, and cold chain stakeholders are encouraged to access tools, self-directed learning modules, and technical resources via the ASHRAE–UNEP portal.
Bottom line for the industry:
The new work plan signals that lifecycle refrigerant management is becoming a core operational expectation – not just a regulatory requirement. For HVAC and cold chain businesses, proactive refrigerant management will increasingly define competitiveness, compliance and climate performance.
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