Webinar Recap: Minimizing HFC leak rates TODAY during the 20+ year transition to natural refrigerants
As grocery retailers face a decades-long transition to natural refrigerants, managing HFC leaks has become an urgent priority for both environmental and financial reasons. This challenge was the focus of a recent NASRC webinar led by Axiom Cloud CEO Amrit Robbins on December 10th. The session explored how retailers can tackle refrigerant leaks now to achieve immediate cost savings and environmental benefits, rather than waiting for their eventual transition to CO2 systems to complete. With new EPA regulations looming and refrigerant costs continuing to climb, the discussion provided grocery operators with practical strategies for protecting both their bottom line and the environment during this extended transition period.
“Even if you're rapidly changing over to CO2 refrigeration, now is the time to prioritize lowering your HFC refrigerant leak rates. The financial compliance, operational and sustainability benefits are massive and the cost of inaction is just too high to justify.” — Amrit Robins, Axiom Cloud CEO
The Reality of HFC Leaks: Why Grocery Retailers Can't Wait to Act
The transition to natural refrigerants is a crucial goal for the grocery industry, but it's not happening overnight. According to recent NASRC data, even proactive retailers expect only 22% of their stores to use CO2 refrigeration systems within the next five years. This gradual transition, which could span 20-30 years, presents a critical question: What about the thousands of facilities still using HFC refrigerants?
"We have the opportunity to dramatically bend the curve on climate change because we're in a position where we can really effectively reduce how much of this gas is being leaked," explained Axiom Cloud CEO Amrit Robbins during a recent NASRC webinar. "Arguably, the single most important action that any of us could take is helping to reduce HFC leak rates across our fleet of existing facilities today."
Business Continuity: The Hidden Costs of Cooling Outages
The current approach to leak detection is fundamentally flawed. As Robbins points out, "It's like driving down the highway in your car without a gas needle. Everything is just fine until it isn't. Then it's a big hair-on-fire emergency, and your day is ruined." When cooling systems fail, the ripple effects touch every aspect of operations. A single day of lost sales can push a store into the red for months. Even more concerning, research shows that nearly one in four shoppers will switch stores if just 1-3 items on their shopping list are unavailable.
Financial Impact: More Than Just Replacement Gas
The numbers tell a sobering story. The average U.S. grocery store spends about $31,000 annually just on replacement refrigerant gas, equivalent to three weeks of typical store profits. This figure assumes around 875 pounds of annual leakage at $35 per pound – and these costs are rising. When you factor in emergency repairs, technician time, and lost sales, a single significant leak can cost $15,000 or more to address.
Sustainability: A Climate Crisis in Plain Sight
HFC refrigerants represent 3-4% of all human climate emissions – more than the entire aviation industry. To put this in perspective, leaking just 2-4 pounds of refrigerant has the same climate impact as driving a car for an entire year. With the average grocery store leaking hundreds of pounds annually, the environmental impact is staggering. Project Drawdown has ranked refrigerant management as one of the most impactful solutions for addressing climate change.
Regulatory Compliance: Federal and State Pressures
The regulatory landscape is rapidly evolving with the AIM Act taking full effect in January 2026. And while some might question the Act's future enforcement, Robbins is clear: "Even if Trump changes course and chooses not to enforce the AIM Act, companies do not have the option to take a break from compliance. It's just too risky. It can come back to bite them in the future, and that's a risk that investors and shareholders are not going to be comfortable taking."
Building the Business Case
For facility managers juggling multiple priorities, making the case for leak reduction can be challenging. "What we found to be the most effective is to build a business case that's too compelling to ignore," notes Robbins. The business case centers on several key benefits:
Avoiding costly quarterly manual leak checks required for chronically leaking systems
Reducing emergency repairs and refrigerant replacement expenses
Preventing lost sales and customer alienation during cooling outages
Mitigating compliance risks and potential fines
Looking Ahead
The message is clear: waiting to address HFC leaks is no longer viable. While the industry's transition to natural refrigerants is important, retailers must take action now to manage their existing systems more effectively. The combination of rising costs, stricter regulations, and advancing technology has created both urgency and opportunity.
As the industry continues its gradual transition to natural refrigerants, effective management of existing HFC systems isn't just about compliance or cost savings – it's about maintaining competitive advantage in an increasingly challenging retail environment.
Watch the full webinar and reach out to Axiom Cloud for tailored solutions. Follow us on LinkedIn to be alerted of the next one.