Public buyers should choose refrigeration and air conditioning equipment that has the lowest possible climate impact.

When buying this type of equipment, give priority to systems that:

• use refrigerants with very low climate impact

• are energy efficient

• refrigerants with very low global warming potential, known as GWP

• are safe to install, use and maintain

• are compliance with Icelandic and European rules on fluorinated greenhouse gases, also called F-gases

• Natural refrigerants should be preferred when they are technically suitable and safe to use.

Choose refrigerants with low climate impact

The climate impact of a refrigerant is measured by its global warming potential.

Public buyers should choose refrigerants with the lowest possible global warming potential. Natural refrigerants are usually the best long term choice.

If a natural refrigerant cannot be used, public buyers should normally choose a refrigerant with a GWP of 675 or lower. Refrigerants with higher values should only be accepted where there is a documented technical or safety justification.

Examples of natural refrigerants are:

• propane, R290

• isobutane, R600a

• ammonia, R717

• carbon dioxide, R744 or CO₂

Avoid high-impact fluorinated gases

Public procurement should support the phase-out of fluorinated gases.

Refrigerants with high global warming potential should not be accepted unless there is no suitable alternative. This applies especially to refrigerants that are being restricted by environmental rules.

Hydrofluorocarbons and hydrofluoroolefins should generally be regarded as transitional solutions where natural refrigerants are not technically suitable. They may become more expensive or harder to access as rules and markets move towards natural refrigerants.

Include energy use and lifetime costs

The cheapest offer is not always the best value.

Evaluation should consider life-cycle costs, including energy use, maintenance and refrigerant handling, rather than purchase price alone.

When evaluating bids, consider the full lifetime cost of the equipment, including:

• purchase price

• energy use

• maintenance

• refrigerant refilling and handling

• disposal and recycling

Equipment using natural refrigerants may cost more to buy but can be cheaper over time because of lower energy use, longer lifetime and more stable access to refrigerants.

Use clear minimum requirements

Tender documents should clearly distinguish between minimum requirements and award criteria used to compare compliant bids.

Minimum requirements may include:

• the equipment must meet the functional needs in the tender

• the refrigerant must be below a stated global warming potential limit

• the equipment must meet minimum energy performance requirements

• the refrigerant must have no ozone-depleting effect

• installation, use and disposal must follow safety and environmental rules

Where natural refrigerants are technically suitable, they may be required as a minimum requirement.

Use award criteria to reward better solutions

Award criteria can be used to compare bids that meet the minimum requirements.

• Bids may receive higher scores for:

• lower climate impact from the refrigerant

• use of natural refrigerants

• better energy efficiency

• lower lifetime cost

The tender documents should explain how points are awarded.

Ask suppliers for documentation

Suppliers should provide:

• safety data sheets for the refrigerant

• proof of compliance with safety and environmental standards

• documentation showing the refrigerant type and its global warming potential (GWP) energy labels or energy efficiency calculations

• a plan for responsible disposal or recycling

• an explanation if the offer uses fluorinated gases instead of natural refrigerants

• maintenance and leak prevention plan

• information on the origin of the refrigerant, where relevant

This helps buyers compare offers and check that the refrigerant is legal, safe and suitable.

Safety must be considered

All equipment must be safe to install, operate and maintain.

Natural refrigerants can be used safely when systems are designed and installed correctly. Safety concerns should not be used as a reason to continue using fluorinated gases when safe natural options are available.

Related information

For more information about energy-efficient products, see the European Commission’s information on energy-efficient products.