CoolSys can supply State, Local or Federal energy compliance calculations, such as Title 24 or local energy codes. Included is the complete compliance engineering for each applicable code or compliance requirement; stamped by a professional engineer, and current to match the local criteria specified.

CoolSys can provide energy modeling services to compare or predict energy usage for your supermarket refrigeration systems. Our Energy Modeling service is often useful as part of an optimization or remodel strategy, or reviewing current versus newer technology. CoolSys is also able to address reductions in consumption for utility incentive programs.

Other EO Services: Visit www.coolsysenergy.com for our complete spectrum of EO services.

An EMS is the foundation of any retailer’s energy and maintenance reduction strategy. Today’s leading EMSs are designed to provide complete control of building and refrigeration systems including: compressor groups, condensers, walk-ins, HVAC units and lighting. In addition to monitoring and reducing energy usage across equipment types in the store, EMS also provide for a gradual, automated starting-up and stopping of energy usage at the beginning and end of a stores operating hours. These systems also control energy usage to avoid spikes in demand that are costly for both a retailer and the broader energy grid.

Once an EMS is installed the system needs to be optimized for maximum and sustained effectiveness. Our Energy Optimization team is expertly trained and experienced at installing EMS and optimizing new and existing systems. And because we are vendor neutral, we are trained and certified to optimize EMS systems from all leading manufacturers.

Lighting in grocery stores represents about 13% of the electricity consumption, not including the impact on cooling loads. Lighting retrofits to LED lights can save 30 to 60 percent on lighting energy as well as 10 to 20 percent of cooling energy when compared to traditional, fluorescent lighting.

In addition to energy savings, today’s LED lighting plays an important role in creating an inviting shopping experience and increasing sales through better product illumination. Advances in LED lighting technology now offer grocery stores an option to fluorescent lighting that produces better lighting, especially in refrigerated display cases because LED lights perform very well in cold temperatures. In fact, research has shown that customers find LED lighting in freezers to be “brighter, more even, more appealing and more comfortable.” Packaging and food colors are brighter and more attractive to shippers. Additionally, LED Tube lights will only need to be replaced once every 10 years reducing maintenance and recycling costs.

Whether part of a new design, a remodel or a Door Retrofit program, the CoolSys team can assist you in optimizing your lighting with LED.

The refrigeration and HVAC world is changing. As the more “traditional” HCFC refrigerants continue to be aggressively phased out by EPA regulations and by a focus on reduced carbon footprints and a “greener” society, refrigeration & HVAC users have been forced to search for adequate replacements for their systems. One trend that is quickly growing in the United States is the use of natural refrigerants like CO2, propane, and ammonia. While these refrigerants have been used in industrial applications for years, and are prevalent throughout Europe and other countries, they are new to commercial applications in America.

In anticipation of this growing need and demand for natural refrigerants, CoolSys has proactively been involved in several high-profile natural refrigerant designs and installations with several of the world’s leading grocers.

Let our experienced team of engineers help you determine the best natural refrigerant options for your specific site and then work with you to design a system that provides the performance you need and the reduced carbon footprint that we all need! And of course, as with all of our work, each natural refrigerant system is designed to minimize your Total Cost of Ownership while providing optimal performance.

Environmental concerns, most notably the destruction of the earth’s ozone layer and Global Climate Change present a serious challenge to owners of refrigeration and HVAC systems with HCFC and HFC refrigerants. As the HCFC production phase down completes its cycle in 2020, grocery retailers and facility managers now face restrictions on high GWP HFC refrigerants. Having an understanding of the rules and regulations that are in place, as well as a plan designed specifically for your facilities is our best advice in confronting these very important issues.

CoolSys is poised to provide a complete portfolio of products focused on the most viable refrigerant alternatives for your facility. We are ready to assist in the formulation of your conversion/refrigerant transformation strategy. Our refrigerant conversion experts are at the ready to assist in the design, planning and execution of your plan.

Some Key items to keep in mind regarding refrigerant regulations and actions that may affect future directions:

HCFC Phase out:

• The Montreal Protocol ODS/HCFC phase out is on track, production stops January 1, 2020 (possibly sooner for some more obscure HCFC’s). Each year up to the end of 2019, a reduction in production allocations takes effect.
• Common refrigerants affected by the HCFC phase out include R22, R408A, R409A, R402A and R401A. Supplies continue to be stressed, prices have been on a steep incline over the last couple of years.
• Conversion replacement gas options have been a moving target, some are now not allowed due to their high GWP ratings (R404A, R507, R422D). Lower GWP alternatives such as R448A are leading the transition from HCFC’s and some HFC’s. This refrigerant has the lowest GWP rating of most replacements for R22 and R404A/R507, and functions similarly.
• Conversion execution has become a familiar activity, as many stores and system types have been encountered, and processes have been refined.

Recent EPA Actions:

• Authority within SNAP (Strategic New Alternatives Policy) has been broadened to include alternatives to HCFC’s. These include HFC/HFO substitute refrigerants. SNAP has the authority to “de-SNAP” certain refrigerants that were once considered viable alternatives, but now do not pass the “Low GWP” test.
• EPA annual leak rate allowances have changed, and are effective 1-1-19. The following changes apply:
  • For Industrial Process Refrigeration, 30%, down from 35%
  • For Commercial Refrigeration, 20%, down from 35%
  • Comfort Cooling, 10% down from 15%
• Periodic leak inspections are now the rule, unless continuously monitored by an automatic leak detection system.
• Leak repair verification tests are now the rule, required after a system has returned to normal operating conditions after the leak is repaired. Documentation is required for this event.
• Some commonly used refrigerants, such as R404A, R407A and R507 have been deemed un-acceptable for use in new installations for retail food refrigeration effective 2021. Similar refrigerant restrictions for cold storage refrigeration have also been included, taking effect in 2023.
• Use of common refrigerants such as R404A and R507 is prohibited for remodel or retrofit applications.

Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol:

• Provides for a phasedown process for HFC refrigerants as the use and proliferation of these substitutes are directly tied to the ODS phaseout, and have GWP characteristics many times higher than CO2.
• The amendment establishes a baseline, and pre-determined steps for reduction in production allocations.
• It is not a phase-out, but a mechanism to reduce production levels and the associated threat to the environment over time. The first reduction in production allocation occurs in 2024, with a baseline established for 2020-2022 average HFC consumption.

Emergence of Natural Refrigerants as an Alternative Solution

Over the last 10 years, the U.S. Commercial refrigeration industry has advanced the use of natural refrigerants for grocery retailers and other related installations. As the technology has evolved, retailers have enjoyed the benefits of having low or no GWP refrigerants in their systems, and have gathered significant data that points to these as being viable alternatives for new installations, and soon, retrofits. The natural refrigerants most widely used include Ammonia, CO2 and Propane. Each has its own unique design requirements. CoolSys has been involved with the design, installation and maintenance of natural refrigerant systems for many years, and can provide an objective view of how these options may fit into your strategy.

The CoolSys Conversion Strategy can be broken down into 4 main elements: Program Planning and Organization; Survey and Engineering; Execution; Commissioning.   Each element is described below in additional detail. It would be our intent to allow our customers to pick and choose the services that best fit their needs.

WHY CoolSys?

When choosing a partner to address your refrigerant transformation needs, you have options. If your goals include

the development of a strategy that minimizes risk, keeps in step with the maze of regulations that one must deciphur, ensures that your conversions are being executed in an efficient, consistent and professional manner, and that leave you with an efficient engineered and commissioned facility, CoolSys is your only real option!