Waitrose has recorded a 6.6 percent average energy saving, with as much as 9 percent saved on the high temperature systems, in the first installation of R-449A in a United Kingdom (UK) supermarket.

With the phaseout of R-22, many food retailers are adapting to future R-22 supply constraints by transitioning away from this refrigerant. Because many of the substitute refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases, it is important that food retailers use the retrofitting process as an opportunity to tighten system leaks.

Contractors have complained for years about consumers holding on to systems that should be replaced. Yet we are falling all over ourselves to come up with ways to keep that equipment operational.