Impacts from Refrigeration – Above Green

The ‘Impacts from Refrigeration’ credit addresses the environmental impacts associated with the use of refrigerants, their selection and leakage. The credit also seeks to minimize the potential for negative impacts on human health by rewarding buildings where a leading practice Legionella risk management plan is in place throughout the performance period.

Refrigerant leakage can cause significant damage to the environment and the ‘Impacts from Refrigeration’ credit rewards buildings where refrigerants have zero ozone depletion potential, and low global warming potential.

The credit provides a method for the comparison of equipment efficiencies, ozone depletion potential and global warming potential of refrigerants against a benchmark. This method will help encourage building owners and operators to identify upgrade paths for their refrigeration equipment.

The credit rewards the use of automated leak detection systems in combination with strategies to ensure that the most appropriate actions are taken when the leak detection system’s alarm is activated, in line with best practice guidelines.

It is commonly understood that by managing the growth and dissemination of Legionella, the risk of other types of bacterial and microbial contamination is effectively negated. Additional points are therefore awarded under the ‘Impacts from Refrigeration’ credit where a best practice Legionella risk management plan is in place throughout the performance period.