Annex C: GHG Emissions from Use of

Refrigeration, Air Conditioning Equipment and

Heat Pumps
Air conditioning and refrigerators can leak leading to GHG emissions. If you
own or control the equipment, you should report the emissions under scope 1.
However, these emissions may fall into scope 3 for other companies
benefitting from the equipment.

There are two methods presented here for the estimation of emissions from
the use of refrigeration, air conditioning equipment and heat pumps. For
smaller users, the Screening Method will likely be the easiest way to calculate
their emissions. Some larger users of refrigerant should have the information
necessary to perform a more accurate estimation using the Simplified Material
Balance Method.

Please note, there are also regulatory requirements governing the operation
of stationary equipment using fluorinated greenhouse gases. See information
on F-gas regulations on the Defra website.

Screening Method

This Screening Method will help you to estimate emissions from refrigeration,
air conditioning and heat pumps based on the type of equipment used and
emissions factors. This approach requires relatively little actual data collection
because default factors are used instead e.g. installation emission factors,
annual leak rate. However there is a high degree of uncertainty with these
factors. Therefore if emissions from this equipment are determined to be
significant when compared to your organisation's other emissions sources,
then you should apply a better estimation method (e.g. a Material Balance
Method).

To complete these tables you will need to:

1. Carry out an inventory of equipment

Find out the following information on refrigerant type and charge

capacity.

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 (i) the number and types of each refrigeration/air conditioning/heat pump
unit;

(ii) the type of refrigerant used (e.g. HFC 134a, R404a, etc);

(iii) the total charge capacity of each piece of equipment (charge capacity
is the mass of refrigerant used in the equipment). Typical values are
shown below:

Typical Charge Capacity for Equipment

Type of Equipment Typical Range in
Charge Capacity (kg)
Domestic Refrigeration 0.05-0.5
Small Hermetic Stand-Alone Refrigeration Units 0.2-6.0
Condensing Units 50-2,000
Centralised Supermarket Refrigeration Systems 50-2,000
Industrial Systems 10-10,000
Small Stationary Air Conditioning 0.5-100
Medium Stationary Air Conditioning 0.5-100
Large Stationary Air Conditioning (Chillers) 10-2,000
Heat Pumps 0.5-100
Land Transport Refrigeration 3-8
Marine Transport Refrigeration 3-8
Light-Duty Mobile Air Conditioning 0.5-1.5
Other Mobile Air Conditioning 0.5-1.5

(iv) the time in years used during the reporting period (e.g. 0.5 if used
only during half of the reporting period then disposed);

2. Once you know the refrigerant type, please refer to the UK

Government Conversion Factors to identify its Global Warming
Potential (GWP).

3. Determine installation emissions

Identify any new equipment that was installed during the reporting
period and was charged (filled) on-site. The typical amount is shown in
the column headed “Installation Emissions Factor %”. Emissions from
equipment that was charged by the manufacturer are not the
responsibility of your organisation. For each new piece of equipment
charged on-site estimate emissions:
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Emissions from Installation of Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Equipment

Type of Equipment Number x Equipment x Installation x Global = Total kg

of Units Charge Emission Warming CO2
Capacity Factor % Potential of
(kg) refrigerant equivalent
Domestic Refrigeration x x 0.6 x =
Small Hermetic Stand-Alone Refrigeration Units x x 1 x =
Condensing Units x x 2 x =
Centralised Supermarket Refrigeration Systems x x 2 x =
Industrial Systems x x 1 x =
Small Stationary Air Conditioning x x 0.5 x =
Medium Stationary Air Conditioning x x 1 x =
Large Stationary Air Conditioning (Chillers) x x 0.5 x =
Heat Pumps x x 1 x =
Land Transport Refrigeration x x 0.2 x =
Marine Transport Refrigeration x x 1 x =
Light-Duty Mobile Air Conditioning x x 0.5 x =
Other Mobile Air Conditioning x x 0.5 x =
Total

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See the latest UK Government Conversion Factors https://www.gov.uk/measuring-and-reporting-environmental-impacts-guidance-for-businesses

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