North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council’s New Report Proposes Solutions to Critical Shortage of Refrigeration Technicians

These findings show that industry-wide workforce training solutions are essential to make the transition to climate friendly refrigerants.

MILL VALLEY in California, January 18, 2023–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC), a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit working to advance climate-friendly natural refrigerants in supermarkets, today announced the publication of a report summarizing the commercial refrigeration industry’s increasingly critical technician shortage. The report provides data-driven recommendations to increase technician recruitment, training and retention in order to grow the workforce.

Danielle Wright, executive Director of NASRC, stated that “anecdotal evidence has long pointed towards a shortage in commercial refrigeration technicians.” “We did this assessment to gather concrete evidence and to develop strategies to address the industry challenge.”

The assessment substantiated that the nationwide technician shortage is disrupting essential operations and threatening U.S. supermarkets’ ability to transition from super-polluting hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. Supermarket refrigeration is the main source of high global heating potential (GWP). HFC emissions. NASRC estimates that the annual climate effect from U.S. supermarket refrigerant leaking leaks is 55 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

NASRC gathered assessment data through written surveys and interviews with service, training, and human resource stakeholders. Although there was some national data, the initial assessment was focused on California due the strict regulations that have facilitated the state’s transition from HFCs.

Wright stated that “our research revealed that the workforce of refrigeration technicians is trapped in a negative feedback loop.” “The shortage causes technicians to work longer hours, which further exacerbates the labor market supply problems.”

NASRC will coordinate an industry-wide implementation of the report recommendations, starting with a Natural Refrigerant Training Summit for technicians April 4 – 6, 2023, in Irwindale, California. The event, which is co-hosted by Southern California Edison, will be free to attend and feature expert training from leading manufacturers. Learn more.

Download the free Workforce Development report.

The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council

North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization, works to improve climate-friendly natural refrigeration and reduce greenhouse gases caused by traditional HFC frigerants. To eliminate barriers to natural refrigerants being sold in supermarkets, we work with industry stakeholders, including more than 38,000 food retail locations. Visit this page for more information. nasrc.org, Linkedin, Twitter YouTube.

Visit businesswire.com to see the source version https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230118005302/en/

Contacts

Contact Media
Morgan Smith
North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council
[email protected]
585-217-2254