The California Air Resource Board has many goals, including the control of air pollution. As it strives to lower the greenhouse gas levels and reduce dangerous chemical levels in everyday goods, CARB is trying to make sure that consumers enjoy better air quality. New measures are also in place to crack down on refrigerant gas management.
Refrigerant gases can contribute to the major problem of global warming.
They are found in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems also known as RAC systems and also in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. HVAC systems show up in a myriad places, including hotels, hospitals, military bases, schools and universities, supermarkets, cold storage warehouses, food preparation, processing and service, recreational facilities, office, commercial and industrial facilities and industrial and manufacturing processes.
California Global Warming Solutions Act
In 2006 a law was passed entitled California Global Warming Solutions Act and this includes refrigerant gas management. The eleven members of the California Air Resources Board include people who are at the peak of their game when it comes to the understanding of chemical, physical and engineering impacts on our society. So, the Stationary Equipment Refrigerant Management Program was designed to help reduce greenhouse gases by the regulation of harmful CO2E emissions form the AC and refrigerant equipment, ranging in size between 50 and 200 pounds. Would you believe that over 180,000 places in the state of California are affected?
There are numerous components making up the refrigerant gas management program. Reporting requirements are covered for the distribution, wholesale and reclamation as well as for storage of the gases with associated record keeping. Technicians must be certified before selling and servicing any air conditioning and refrigeration systems which have high potential for global warming. Equipment must be retrofitted and repaired, leaks must be monitored and repaired and stringent procedures in place to cover service practices to reduce discharge.
Almost forty years ago, the California Air Resources Board was formed to focus on air quality and areas for improvement. A good refrigerant gas management program is an essential element. CARB has been proactive, working with the people of the state, its' corporations and government bodies with the aim of protecting public health, welfare and the delicate ecology.
California's size ensures that the problem potential for refrigerant gas emission is considerable. The California Air Resources Board is particularly concerned with recovering refrigerant from places that use stationary refrigerant and AC. It is feared that emissions could rise to more than 35 MMTC02E within a decade or so.
A significant educational process is required to ensure that facilities within the state are able to meet EPA compliance and recording standards and CARB is holding numerous workshops throughout California. Verisae, Inc has developed a refrigerant gas management application that is web-based and which automatically updates when new edicts are sent out by CARB, the California EPA and other government bodies. Refrigerant Tracker enables a company which has a system containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant gas to record and administer their usage and to record any detected leaks. EPA compliance is achieved through the use of relevant forms and reports, as specified by the EPA's requirements.
Air pollution and smog have been big enemies of the people of California over the years. Even though pollution has dropped by 25 percent since 1980 and smog exposure has come down a whopping fifty percent, there is much to do. The Stationary Equipment Refrigerant Management Program and other initiatives allow both CARB and the people of the state to breathe easier as the standard of air quality improves.
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