Refrigerant Leaks Are the Scope 1 Line Nobody Watches
Refrigerant leaks are the working fluids inside air conditioners and display cases that trap heat and disperse it outside the building. The refrigerants are scope 1 emissions under the GHG Protocol and they have global warming potential (GWP) much greater than that of CO2, and are often an overlooked piece of a corporate emissions inventory.
The common AC refrigerant R-410A has a GWP 2,088 times greater than CO2, and the supermarket refrigerant R-404A has a GWP of 3,922 times greater than CO2. A typical food retail store leaks about 25% of its refrigerant every year, which emits 1,800 metric tons of CO2e.
Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants are the most common synthetic refrigerant. To address emissions from this source, the US passed the AIM Act, which requires an 85% phasedown of HFC refrigerants by 2036. Starting this year in the US, appliances holding 15 pounds or more of a refrigerant, with a GWP above 53, are subject to EPA leak repair rules, although residential and light commercial ACs and heat pumps are exempt. An owner must repair a system within 30 days once its annual leak rate crosses 30% for industrial process refrigeration, 20% for commercial refrigeration, or 10% for comfort cooling. Starting in 2029, supermarkets, refrigerated transporters, and commercial ice makers must use reclaimed HFCs rather than virgin HFCs.
Refrigerant and equipment supply is limited, forcing companies to plan early. Contractors faced a cylinder shortage in spring 2025, and The ACHR NEWS reported 10-week lead times. Two companies have been responsive to these conditions. ALDI committed to use natural refrigerants, like CO2, ammonia, and propane, in all US stores by 2036 and said more than 700 stores already use them. Hudson Technologies, one of the nation's largest refrigerant reclaimers, agreed to supply certified reclaimed refrigerant to LG Air Conditioning Technologies USA for customers facing California's refrigerant rules.
The work for practitioners starts with a site-level inventory of refrigerant types and charge sizes, because leak rates cannot be computed without it. From there, a team can weigh repairing a leaky system against replacing it with low-GWP equipment, and it can line up reclaimed supply before the 2029 requirement raises demand.
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