Chicago—Lawyers from Dentons' Environmental practice in conjunction with client True Manufacturing, co-created a methodology, approved by the American Carbon Registry (ACR) late last week, to provide incentives for the use of low-Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants. The methodology rewards refrigerator manufacturers who go beyond the most stringent climate requirements in the industry.

The methodology is intended to provide access to carbon finance to increase the adoption of available advanced technologies and accelerate a transition to low-GWP refrigerants more rapidly than would otherwise occur. Currently, this methodology presents a low-cost approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"ACR’s approval of this methodology is an important step to reward early action and facilitate meaningful and significant reductions in emissions from HFCs in large commercial and stand-alone refrigeration systems,” said Jeff Fort, partner at Dentons. "It’s extremely gratifying to partner with our client to realize our shared vision of creating a valuable tool that will help improve the climate and encourage other domestic refrigerator manufacturers to go above and beyond current regulations."

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are commonly used refrigerants in the manufacture of used in refrigeration systems, and are considered short-lived climate pollutants that are one of the fastest growing sources of GHG emissions globally. Mitigating emissions of HFC is important for limiting near term climate impacts. Alternatives to HFC-based refrigerants are available but are not commonly used in certain segments of the refrigeration industry due to cost and other challenges to adoption.

This is the second methodology created by Dentons that has been adopted by the ACR.  The first, "Emission Reduction Measurement and Monitoring for the Transition to Advanced Formulation Blowing Agents in Foam Manufacturing and Use" received the 2017 Innovation Award by the ACR and was created in consultation with Foam Supplies, Inc. That methodology was updated earlier this year to expand the eligible categories.

Editor's Note: The formal designation for this most recent innovation is "Methodology for the Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions and Removal from Advance Refrigeration Systems."

About American Carbon Registry

The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a non-profit enterprise of Winrock International and was founded in 1996 as the first private voluntary greenhouse gas registry in the world. A mission-driven institution named for philanthropist Winthrop Rockefeller, Winrock believes that climate change will have a profound impact on the poorest populations around the world and that markets are the most effective path to mobilize actions to reduce emissions.

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