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Certification Center

link to GreenChill

GreenChill Certification Standards for Stores Using Advanced Refrigeration Technology

To qualify for GreenChill's Gold-Level Certification, a store must meet the requirements under either A or B:

  1. HFC-Based Refrigeration Systems
    • The store's refrigeration systems must use refrigerants with zero ozone-depleting potential;
    • The store's refrigeration systems must use refrigerants that have been found acceptable by EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy Program (SNAP) for use in retail food refrigeration end-uses;
    • The store must achieve an average HFC refrigerant charge = 1.25 lbs. of refrigerant per 1000 BTU/hr. total evaporator cooling load; and
    • The store must achieve a store-wide annual emissions rate of no more than 15%.
  2. Refrigeration Systems using Low-GWP Refrigerants
    • The store's refrigeration systems must use refrigerants with zero ozone-depleting potential;
    • The store's refrigeration systems must use refrigerants that have been found acceptable by EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy Program (SNAP) for use in retail food refrigeration end-uses; and
    • All refrigerants used in the store must have global warming potentials lower than 150.

To qualify for GreenChill's Silver-Level Certification, a store must meet the following requirements:

Guidance for GreenChill Certification Standards

Guidance on Meeting the Certification Criteria:

  1. This GreenChill certification system applies only to a store's commercial refrigeration system; it does not apply to the store's HVAC system (split systems or self contained). The BTUs/hr. of the HVAC system may not be included in the refrigerant charge calculations. See the table below to reference the types of equipment included in the various calculations.

    Included equipment BTU/Hr evaporator heat load Refrigerant leaked Refrigerant Stocked Non-ozone-depleting Refrigerant Snap approved refrigerant
    Self contained commercial refrigeration equipment
    no
    yes
    yes
    yes
    yes
    Remote commercial refrigeration equipment
    yes
    yes
    yes
    yes
    yes
    HVAC Equipment
    no
    no
    no
    yes
    yes

  2. For the list of acceptable SNAP alternatives for retail food refrigeration see http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/refrigerants/lists/foodref.html

  3. The lbs. of refrigerant per 1000 BTU/hr. criteria is based upon adding the store's total remote commercial refrigeration evaporator heat load, including food merchandisers, food prep rooms, and food storage rooms.
    Note: It is not the rack rating or compressor capacity, which is typically larger than the calculated load.

  4. Each and every store applying for GreenChill certification must achieve an annual emissions rate of no more than 15%. The emissions rate is calculated as follows:
    (amount of refrigerant emitted over the period of one year รท the refrigerant stock) x 100 = % annual emissions rate

  5. The amount of refrigerant emitted over the period of one year is equal to the amount of refrigerant lost from the store's commercial refrigeration equipment and systems.

Guidance on the Certification Program:

  1. GreenChill certification may be re-earned annually, as long as a store meets the certification criteria on an annual basis.  A store that achieves certification for several years may receive “continued excellence” awards.

  2. A store that is unable to achieve the certification criteria in a particular year will lose its certification for that year.  If that store is able to meet the certification criteria in a subsequent year, it will be re-certified for that year and each of the following years that it is able to meet the criteria.

  3. GreenChill reserves the right to verify the information submitted by a store for certification, including, but not limited to, inspection of the store, requesting third party certification, and/or requesting copies of store records related to the certification criteria.

Certification Program Forms:

Certification Program Achievements

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