ACR, a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, is developing Methodology for the Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Reductions from Advanced Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)Systems, Version 1.0. This Methodology is being co-developed by ACR & Therm Solutions, Inc.

The intent of the methodology is to incentivize GHG emissions reductions through the deployment and use of refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP) in HVAC applications in both residential and commercial settings. Intended eligible equipment categories include: unitary air conditioners, chillers, heat pumps, packaged terminal air conditioners (PTAC), and window air conditioning units.

ACR’s methodology will allow the eligible equipment types within the HVAC market to generate carbon credits when they switch from high GWP refrigerants to lower GWP refrigerants (below 750 GWP) that have been approved under the EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program. The recovered high-GWP HFC refrigerants may be destroyed to generate additional carbon credits using ACR’s Methodology for the Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions and Removals from Destruction of Ozone Depleting Substances and High GWP Foam. Greenfield projects where property or business owners choose to install HVACs with low GWP refrigerants will also be eligible to utilize this methodology.

The methodology is based on a robust data set, including published data from the EPA, the 2006 International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for GHG Inventories, and additionally an industry survey conducted by Therm.