Refrigerant Replacement

BayREN Refrigerant Replacement or BRRR provides funding to help eligible businesses identify and repair refrigerant leaks, replace refrigeration components and systems, improve energy efficiency, and support preventative maintenance. Participation in BRRR can help you save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower your utility bill.

BRRR is funded by the Public Purpose Program or the PPP. Authorized by the state regulator, the California Public Utilities Commission, the PPP charge is a small fee included in your monthly utility bill that helps fund important programs across California. It supports low-income families with discounted energy rates; promotes energy efficiency programs, like BRRR, to help reduce usage and lower emissions; and invests in renewable energy and clean technology. In short, the PPP surcharge helps make energy more affordable, sustainable, and accessible for everyone. Each month, PG&E collects a PPP surcharge through utility bills.

• Free refrigeration system evaluation
• Low-cost essential repairs*
• Low-cost energy efficiency upgrades for refrigeration equipment
• New and upgraded equipment requires less maintenance
• Improve system performance and productivity
• Lower your electricity bill
• Avoid expensive emergency service calls
• Avoid risk of losing valuable inventory due to temperature issues with all equipment

*Contact program staff for limitations and requirements.

Fill out the BRRR Interest Form and we will contact you within five (5) business days to discuss your eligibility and provide an overview of BRRR.

If you are eligible, the program representative will provide a list of participating refrigeration contractors for you to choose from and schedule an evaluation.

No, there are no obligations to move forward after receiving an evaluation.

Project installation time will depend on the scope of your project and the contractor’s availability. The contractor will work with you to schedule the installation time that is most convenient for you.

Yes, you’re welcome to use your preferred refrigeration contractors as long as they are willing to work collaboratively with program staff during enrollment. Additionally, they must also meet to submit license and insurance information to us, and attend a program orientation training.

If your business is not eligible to participate in BRRR, we will do our best to refer you to other programs you may be eligible for.

BRRR incentives vary based on the type and scope of the work involved and the specific refrigeration upgrades being implemented. BRRR provides incentives for work on a maximum of five (5) remote condensing units per business. Current incentives cover 80 percent of eligible project costs. Any remaining costs, including work that is ineligible for incentives, are your responsibility.

BRRR will pay the refrigeration contractor directly.

Yes, current incentives cover 80 percent of eligible project costs, and you are responsible for a 20 percent co-pay. Some project costs may not be eligible for incentives and would also be your responsibility to pay. 

BRRR is a separate, third-party offering intended to provide financial incentives directly to the refrigeration contractor to reduce – and sometimes eliminate – any cost to your business.

Please note that the agreement for goods and/or services provided in connection with this project is solely between you and your refrigeration contractor. All project costs, payments, promised rebates or other financial incentives, responsibilities, and outcomes are the exclusive responsibility of the Customer and contractor.

We do not endorse, warrant, or guarantee the quality, performance, or conduct of any contractor, including their subcontractors, nor does we accept any liability or responsibility for:

• Cost overruns.
• Delays.
• Workmanship issues.
• Contract disputes.
• Breach of contract; or
• Any other damages or grievances arising from the Contractor-Customer relationship.

We encourage you to take the time to carefully check their background and qualifications before you hire them.

Please email your concern or issue to env-bayrenbpa@sfgov.org. We will respond to your inquiry within one (1) business day.

• Reduce GHG emissions by evacuating and recycling environmentally harmful refrigerants from refrigeration systems with remote condensing units in small- and medium-size businesses and recharging the systems with moderate to low Global Warming Potential refrigerants.
• Improve energy efficiency and optimize participants’ refrigeration systems and equipment
• Educate business owners, managers, and employees on how and when to maintain their refrigeration systems
• Create behavior change by providing best practices training to business owners to prolong the maintenance and reliability of their equipment

The Program is designed specifically for food service, food retail, food warehousing, and floral businesses located in DAC, low-income communities, and California Native American Tribal lands or that meet HTR criteria.

Here are some examples of businesses that may be eligible and must have the following North American Industries Classification System (NAICS) codes: See table 1 below.

1. SMB in the food service and food retail sector:
   1. Grocery stores
   2. Convenience stores
   3. Restaurants
   4. Bars
   5. Food storage warehouses
   6. Food banks
2. SMB in floral businesses
   1. Florist
   2. Nurseries
   3. Garden Centers
   4. Florist’s Supplies to wholesalers

  Additionally, to be eligible, business must meet other criteria:

• Businesses must receive electrical or gas service from PG&E or local community choice aggregator.
• Businesses must be located in the San Francisco Bay Area (i.e. Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma Counties)
• Independently owned, non-franchise
• Operating at least a refrigeration system with remote condensing unit with high GWP refrigerant
• Have not participated in a publicly funded refrigeration retrofit program in the last five years
• Meet Hard-to-Reach (HTR) eligibility, or
• Meet Geographic eligibility (Disadvantaged community or Low-income community)

Here are some examples of the refrigeration and energy measures upgrades BRRR is offering.

• Refrigerant leak detection and conduct repairs up to five (5) remote condensing systems per business.
• Change out and recycle very high-GWP refrigerant (≥ 2100 GWP) with low- or moderate-GWP refrigerant up to 80-lbs per business.
• Change out and recycle high-GWP refrigerant (1430 ≤ GWP < 2100) with low- or moderate-GWP refrigerant up to 80-lbs per business.
• Tune-up for up to five (5) remote condensing systems per business.
• And fan motors and replace with electronically commutated motors (ECM) for refrigerated display case, anti-sweat heater control, automatic door closer on refrigerated storage door.

We require all projects to have at least two components in the contractor's scope of work to be eligible project:

Project eligibility:

• Replace high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants with lower GWP refrigerants.
• Install at least one energy efficiency measure.

Customer eligibility:

• NAICS code
• Independently owned, non-franchise
• Have at least one remote condensing unit
• Geographic eligibility: Located in DAC or a Low-income area, if not, meet Hard-to-reach criteria.

The financial incentives provided by the program vary based on the type and scope of the project. The BayREN Program Advisor staff will review the scope of work and determine the incentive amount for the project. In general, incentives cover about 80 percent of eligible project costs.