New requirements for refrigeration equipment starting from 2020

Are you thinking about buying a new freezer or other freezing equipment for your restaurant, café or shop? UAB Audores, which specialises in selling professional restaurant equipment, reminds you that as of 1 January 2020, a new F-Gas regulation will enter into force in the European Union, requiring all operators of refrigeration system to prepare for a significant change – most refrigerants (freons) used in freezers will no longer meet the new EU standards. This decision was made in order to reduce the greenhouse effect of fluorinated gases and to contribute to energy savings.

The fluorinated greenhouse gases used in the manufacturing of freezers are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Audores emphasises that caterers will have to gradually transition to new refrigeration equipment that meets the new requirements. As of 2030, freezing agents that are particularly damaging to the environment will be banned completely. However, equipment that meets the environmental pollution and energy-efficiency requirements is available now, and it not only contributes to creating a more sustainable future but also significantly reduces operating costs.

WHAT FACTORS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION?

The Audores experts recommend choosing refrigeration equipment from well-known, reliable manufacturers such as ASBER or NOVAMETA. These refrigeration systems are already complete and comply with the EU F-Gas Regulation; therefore, they will continue to be good to use in the future. By purchasing this professional kitchen equipment, you can rest assured that it not only meets the strictest quality, hygiene and safety requirements, has an attractive design, is extremely convenient to operate and lasts even after intensive use, but also meets the highest standards for environmental protection, environmental pollution and energy efficiency.

HOW MUCH WILL YOU SAVE?

Purchasing refrigeration equipment that meets the latest requirements will significantly reduce operating costs and ensure modern methods of using the residual heat. According to the Audores experts, while operating at the same efficiency, modern refrigeration equipment now consumes two times less energy (from 350-400 to 170-180 kWh per year).

Switching to more energy efficient refrigeration equipment will also save up to €200 over the lifetime of a single piece of equipment, on average. The use of more efficient refrigeration equipment will also save Europe up to 9.6 TWh of electricity per year (close to the annual domestic electricity consumption in Lithuania) and prevent about 3.1 million tonnes of annual CO2 emissions.

IMPORTANT REFRIGERANT BANS STARTING IN 2020

To be precise, partially halogenated and fluorinated HFC refrigerants such as R404A will not be available for sale from 2020, and sales of R134a will stop from 2022 onwards. From then on, only refrigerants with a value of less than 2500 VAP will be allowed to be installed in new appliances. There will be an opportunity to upgrade existing appliances with refrigerants that comply with the law; however, their price is already rising sharply and there is the risk of a further tightening of regulations in the future.