Transcript:
Keeping things cold has been warming up the climate.
For decades, most refrigerators and air conditioners have used refrigerants known as HFCs, which are powerful global warming gases.
And Morgan Vanzo of the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council says a lot of HFC pollution comes from supermarkets.
Vanzo: “Supermarkets are very large refrigeration systems. … And because of all the complexity and the size of these systems, unfortunately, they’re inherently leaky.”
According to her group, refrigeration leaks in U.S. supermarkets create as much climate-warming pollution each year as burning more than 30 million tons of coal.
Stores can take some steps to reduce leaks. But Vanzo says the best solution is to adopt systems that run on alternative refrigerants that are better for the climate.
Vanzo: “And the technology is there and ready to deploy. … We just have to help the industry transition over.”
The up-front cost of making the switch can be a burden, especially for small independent businesses and stores operating in lower-income communities.
So her group advocates for funding programs that can help stores invest in keeping groceries cold – without heating up the planet.
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
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