855773667-LEED-v5-O-M-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition-1 - Page 171
Extracted Content
service provider will ensure that annual (or required) services conform to best practices in the industry.
- Refrigerant replacement . Where equipment is not past its useful life, projects may consider replacing higher GWP refrigerants with lower GWP refrigerants that have similar thermodynamic properties. For example, for equipment that used R-410A, consider replacing R470A.
Equipment Replacement
As equipment reaches the end of its useful life, decommissioning the systems and disposing of the equipment and refrigerant properly enforce the refrigerant management plan practices. When selecting new equipment, prioritize low GWP refrigerants. Teams are encouraged to use self-contained units for as many systems as possible to minimize higher leakage rates associated with field-installed refrigerant piping. [80]
When prioritizing electrification of fossil fuel-burning equipment with efficient heat pump equipment, include low refrigerant GWP in the equipment selection criteria (see EAc1: GHG Emissions Reduction Performance, Option 1 and EAc5: Decarbonization and Efficiency Plans for further details on electrification).
Refrigerant Leakage Emissions Ratio Calculations and Examples
Example 1. High GWP refrigerants The project contains 50 VRF units. Each unit contains R-410A and has an initial refrigerant charge (Rc) of three lbs. The project also has an 80-ton chiller. The chiller uses R-22 and has an initial Rc of 160 lbs. During the performance period, five of the VRFs required additional refrigerant, for a total of seven lbs. There were no observed leaks in the chiller and no added refrigerant added.
Using Equation 1, the total refrigerant emissions ratio is 47.1, which achieves one point.
Table 1.
| Refrigerant Type | GWP | R (lbs) c | Equipment Type | # Units | Total Refrigerant (lbs) | Annual Recharge (lbs) | Leakage Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-410A | 2088 | 3 | VRF | 50 | 150 | 7 | 4.66 |
R-22 | 1810 | 160 | Chiller | 1 | 160 | 0 | 0 |
80 City of Seattle Refrigerant Emissions Analysis, May 5, 2020, www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/OSE/Building%20Energy/SEA_Refrigerant_Analysis_May2020.pdf.
U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Operations and Maintenance, April 2025 Launch Edition 161