Draft guidance on reducing GHG emissions

The Victorian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has released a new draft guideline for managing greenhouse gas emissions.

Under Victoria’s Environment Protection Act 2017, which came into effect on July 1, 2021, people conducting activities that pose risks of harm to human health or the environment from pollution and waste must understand those risks and take reasonably practicable steps to minimise them. This includes reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The guideline offers advice on measuring and controlling GHG emissions, such as those related to HVAC&R equipment. Fugitive emissions from the use of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment fall under Scope 1 emissions. Emissions associated with energy use for the operation of HVAC&R equipment fall under Scope 2 emissions.

Recommendations include switching to systems that use lower-GWP refrigerants, electrifying processes where possible, implementing maintenance regimes for HVAC&R systems, and ensuring that people working with these systems are appropriately licensed.

The guidelines also include helpful case studies showing measures that could be taken to reduce GHG emissions in different businesses: a small restaurant, an office building, a medium-sized factory, and an EPA-licensed business.

Public comment is invited on the draft guide until February 8, 2022.

To read the draft guideline and provide feedback, click here.

Photo by https://unsplash.com/@jasmin_sessler