ASHRAE, UNEP Approve Two-Year Work Plan Focused on Life Cycle Refrigerant Management

ASHRAE and the United Nations Environment Programme have approved a new two-year work plan titled Life Cycle Refrigerant Management, reinforcing their long-standing partnership to advance sustainable refrigerant practices worldwide. The plan was adopted during the 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

As the refrigerating and air-conditioning industry transitions to alternative refrigerants, comprehensive management across the full refrigerant life cycle, from production and installation to recovery, reuse and disposal, has become increasingly critical. Some legacy refrigerants can deplete the ozone layer if released, while certain alternatives introduced to replace them have high global warming potential. Effective life cycle refrigerant management helps reduce emissions, improve system efficiency and enhance safety for technicians and communities.

Since 2007, ASHRAE and UNEP have collaborated to support developing countries in transitioning to non-ozone-depleting refrigerants. Biennial work plans guide the development of joint technical resources and educational products to assist engineers, technicians, policymakers and National Ozone Units in meeting obligations under the Montreal Protocol while advancing energy efficiency goals.

The newly approved work plan includes:

• RAC technicians field companion – An AI-powered, multilingual mobile application based on the Assessing RAC Plant Sustainability technical guide. The tool will provide real-time, context-aware guidance and automated documentation to support safe, practical implementation of life cycle refrigerant management practices.
• Fact sheets on life cycle refrigerant management and energy-efficient RAC – A series of briefing documents covering topics such as the benefits of LCRM, conducting energy audits, safe use and handling of flammable refrigerants, and understanding regulatory requirements.
• Updates to ASHRAE–UNEP OzonAction joint products – Evaluation and enhancement of existing educational resources to incorporate life cycle refrigerant management guidance, including:
  • Energy Efficiency Literacy online learning modules
  • Refrigerants Literacy online learning modules
  • University Course Pack for engineering instructors
  • Assessing RAC Plant Sustainability checklists and guidance sheets
  • Refrigerant Update Factsheet listing refrigerants with ASHRAE R designations, safety classifications and GWP
  • Lower GWP Award case studies highlighting replicable, cost-effective projects in developing countries

The work plan and access to joint ASHRAE–UNEP resources are available at ashrae.org/ashrae-unep-portal.