SN 2012 Refrigeration Survey

supermarketnews.com DATAPOINTS January 14, 2013 SN 2012 REFRIGERATION SURVEY R-22, the predominant supermarket refrigerant that is targeted for elimination by the government by 2020, still accounts for 39.7% of the refrigerants (by weight) used by eight food retailers across 2,445 stores, according to a new SN survey. The survey, conducted this fall, queried retailers on a range of refrigeration practices, including use of R-22 and other refrigerants, companies, who are typically reluctant to share this information for type of refrigeration system used, leak rate, plans to transition away public consumption. The responding companies were not asked to from R-22 and HFC refrigerants, and use of glass doors on cases, among other questions. It elicited responses from 10 retailers encompassing 4,267 stores, though most of the responses came from nine companies consisting of 2,495 stores. The survey results represent one of the first efforts to publicly report on the refrigeration practices of U.S. supermarket identify themselves. SOURCE: SN Survey Energy-Efficiency Comparison Respondents using glass doors on refrigerated cases (HUMBER OF RESPONDENTS) Non-DX systems are less energy efficient than DX systems 80% YES Non-DX systems are the same in energy efficient as DX systems 20% 2 N/A NO Non-DX systems are more energy efficient than DX systems AVERAGE LEAK RATE Stores with Alternative Refrigeration Systems* R-22 Alternatives TYPE MEDIUM TEMPERATURE LOW 16.5% R-404A TEHPERATURE 13.03% Distributed DX 50 50 R-134A Glycol Secondary Loop 29 13 R-401A co, Secondary Loop R-402A co, Cascade R-407A Previous Latest 12-month 12-month period period *Out of 4,267 stores R-407C R-407F Refrigerants Used in Warehouses 60% R-408A • R-410A • AMMONIA R-410A R-502 • R-404A • CARBON DIOXIDE Percentage of respondents R-507 using R-404A as • R-408A • R-22 R-744 (CARBON DIOXIDE) a refrigerant R-22 USAGE BY WEIGHT HFC USAGE BY WEIGHT MAIN ALTERNATE REFRIGERANT % R-22 REPLACE R-22 % ALTERNATE RETAILER A 33.1% Within 12 Mos. RETAILER A R-404A 50.0% RETAILER B 40.0% 2020 RETAILER B R-404A 52,5% RETAILER C 11.0% 2020 RETAILER C R-404A 79.6% RETAILER D 41.1% 2020 RETAILER D R-404A 36.3%