BRAIN, a local nonprofit that runs the Rethink store in Glenwood, told the Eugene Sustainability Commission that refrigerants — chemicals used in refrigerators, HVAC and cold-storage systems — account for about 7% of the city’s greenhouse-gas inventory and present a substantial, under-recognized emissions source.

The presentation, given by Beth (program coordinator, BRAIN) and Robin (OASIS intern and BRAIN outreach staff), explained the types of refrigerants in common use, how leaks occur, and low- and no-cost maintenance actions that reduce leaks and energy use. Beth and Robin described work the organization is doing with 15 Lane County businesses under a DEQ/EPA-funded project and showed a brewery site study that tracked temperature and power draw to demonstrate how equipment condition and usage patterns affect electricity use.

Why it matters: refrigerants such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have very high global-warming potential when released; preventing leaks and improving equipment efficiency can cut both emissions and operating costs. Presenters said that while federal law — the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020 — aimed to phase down high-GWP refrigerants, newly proposed EPA implementation rules would relax some earlier expectations and could leave local actors to keep momentum.

BRAIN’s work and findings
BRAIN said the city’s Climate Action Plan update (CAP2) attributes roughly 7% of Eugene’s greenhouse-gas emissions to refrigerants (CAP2 inventory year cited by presenters: 2021). The group described technical assistance that includes site walks, thermal-camera checks, amperage and temperature logging, and tailored recommendation lists that estimate implementation cost, annual electricity savings and CO2-equivalent reductions.

At one brewery, BRAIN showed thermal imagery of degraded door gaskets and graph data linking daily ambient temperature swings (peaks each day) to higher cooler power use; presenters said a 20-degree interior temperature change in one day corresponded to a large increase in electricity consumption. BRAIN’s reporting format lists recommended measures, estimated costs, estimated annual energy savings, associated CO2-equivalent savings and a status field. Presenters noted that swapping refrigerant chemistry in a system can reduce GWP but often produces no near-term cost savings for a business; capital incentives or grants are typically needed to motivate that work.

Policy context and next steps
Beth and Robin urged commissioners and the public to monitor EPA’s proposed AIM Act implementation rules and suggested a West Coast coalition (citing Washington and California rules) as one possible policy response if federal rules are weakened. They said EPA’s rulemaking currently includes a public comment window; presenters flagged the approaching comment deadline noted in the meeting (citation: presenters referenced a November 7 comment opportunity).

BRAIN said it will continue business-facing technical assistance across Lane County, promote low- and no-cost maintenance practices for residents and businesses (examples: HVAC filter replacement, condenser-coil cleaning, gasket inspection/replacement), and is exploring grant opportunities and social-media campaigns to encourage small-scale actions that reduce leaks and energy waste. They also recommended training and outreach to refrigeration/HVAC technicians and vocational programs so technicians offer lower-GWP and natural-refrigerant options and present lifetime emissions trade-offs to customers.

Questions and community input
Commissioners and attendees asked about the split between commercial and residential refrigerant emissions (presenters said the 7% figure includes both but did not provide a commercial/residential breakdown on the spot and referred to the city greenhouse-gas inventory for detail). Participants suggested outreach channels such as point-of-purchase messaging at appliance retailers, transfer-station drop-off days for old units, workforce training at Lane Community College and high schools, and leveraging utility rebate programs (Energy Trust of Oregon, EWEB) and custom rebates to improve paybacks for equipment upgrades.

Presenters described barriers: the up-front cost of equipment replacement for small businesses, technician availability in peak season, and uneven federal enforcement that could reduce incentives for large commercial players to install leak-detection systems unless states or local partners provide rules or funding. They noted a federal supply-mask-down schedule under the AIM Act that will reduce production of high-GWP refrigerants over years and could eventually create a recycled-refrigerant market, but that financial incentives from that mechanism will emerge slowly over time.

Ending
BRAIN asked the commission for feedback on outreach strategies and for partner referrals (trade groups, vocational programs, utilities, retailers) to help scale maintenance, technician training and incentives. Commissioners and staff said they would consider sharing the presentation on commission channels and suggested coordination with the commission’s education-and-outreach committee.