Participation Reinforces Commitment to Help Supermarkets Prepare for Accelerated R-22 Phaseout
DuPont Refrigerants, together with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several major supermarket chains and refrigeration equipment manufacturers, recently launched the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership. The voluntary agreement will promote the adoption of technologies, strategies and practices to reduce emissions of ozone depleting substances (ODSs) and greenhouse gasses, and increase refrigeration system energy efficiency.
"DuPont is pleased to work with the EPA and honored to be a founding member of the GreenChill partnership," said Diane Iuliano Picho, global business manager, DuPont Refrigerants. "The program goals are consistent with our commitment to deliver environmentally and economically sustainable cooling solutions that are helping the supermarket industry reduce its use of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22 and other ozone-depleting substances."
Most of the 34,000 supermarkets in the United States use HCFC-22 as their primary refrigerant, and a typical supermarket refrigeration system can lose about 25 percent of its total charge each year, which can deplete the ozone layer and add to greenhouse gas emissions. DuPont offers the broadest portfolio of cooling technologies, including DuPont™ ISCEON® refrigerants, a complete family of easy-to-use, non-ozone-depleting hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) retrofit refrigerant blends that provide a cost-effective way for supermarkets to decrease their dependence on ODS and meet the new accelerated Montreal Protocol phaseout targets with minimal equipment downtime.
"DuPont, like our other GreenChill partners, has taken the lead in reducing the supermarket industry's dependence on ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gasses, and they've committed to strategic practices that increase system efficiency," said Robert J. Meyers, principal deputy assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "The programs that GreenChill has initiated so far have the potential to save $12 million industry-wide, which is why we think the partnership makes good business sense. The next step is to expand GreenChill to other supermarket partners and other stakeholders who want to play a greater role in reducing ozone-depleting substances."
GreenChill partners pledge to exceed regulatory requirements by committing to use only ozone-friendly alternatives and implement advanced refrigeration practices that reduce emissions of ODS and greenhouse gasses, and potentially increase refrigeration system efficiency. Partners will also engage in industry/government initiatives to assess the performance of cutting edge "green" technologies. The ten GreenChill founding partners are: DuPont, Whole Foods Market; Food Lion, LLC; Giant Eagle Inc.; Hannaford Bros., Co; Harris Teeter; Hill PHOENIX; Honeywell International; Kysor/Warren; and Publix Super Markets Inc.
"DuPont is committed to ensure appropriate refrigerant management programs are in place to meet the transition timeline," Picho said. "DuPont is collaborating with environmental organizations and industry associations to ensure a smoother transition away from R-22."
DuPont Fluorochemicals is a leading global supplier of refrigerants, using science and technology, market knowledge and global reach to provide sustainable materials and solutions to enhance personal comfort, enable food preservation, improve industrial processing and reduce environmental footprints.
DuPont – one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 18 years ago – has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
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12/19/07
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