Maria Gonzalez has spent 14 years installing and servicing commercial refrigeration systems in grocery stores across Southern California. She knows the hum of compressors, the precise pressure readings that signal trouble, and the synthetic refrigerants that have powered her career. Now, at 38, she's heading back to school.

"They told us at the last service meeting that everything's changing," Gonzalez said. "The refrigerants we've been using — the HFCs — they're being phased out. We need to learn ammonia, CO2, all these natural systems. It's like starting over in some ways."

Gonzalez is among thousands of HVAC and refrigeration technicians facing a significant industry transition, one that received major institutional backing this week when two leading technical organizations announced an unprecedented partnership.

The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) and ASHRAE — the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers — unveiled a three-year strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating the adoption of natural refrigerants across commercial and industrial applications, according to a joint announcement released Tuesday.

The partnership aligns technical expertise, industry engagement, and educational resources from both organizations to support what industry observers describe as the most significant shift in refrigeration technology in decades.

The Climate Case Driving Change

The push toward natural refrigerants stems from mounting evidence about the climate impact of synthetic alternatives. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the most common refrigerants in commercial use today, are potent greenhouse gases — some with global warming potential thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide.

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which the United States ratified in 2022, mandates an 85% reduction in HFC production and consumption by 2036. The Environmental Protection Agency has already begun implementing phasedown schedules that will progressively restrict HFC availability.

Natural refrigerants — including ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons like propane — offer alternatives with minimal or zero global warming potential. European supermarkets have used these systems for years, but North American adoption has lagged due to regulatory barriers, safety concerns, and workforce training gaps.

"The technology exists and it works," said Robert Lamb, a refrigeration consultant based in Chicago who has worked on natural refrigerant conversions for major retailers. "The challenge isn't engineering anymore. It's getting enough trained people who can safely install and service these systems."

A Workforce Training Challenge

That's where the NASRC-ASHRAE partnership becomes significant for workers like Gonzalez.

ASHRAE brings technical standards development and a global membership of 57,000 professionals. NASRC, founded in 2019, focuses specifically on advancing natural refrigerant adoption through advocacy, education, and industry collaboration.

According to the organizations, the partnership will develop comprehensive training programs, create technical resources, and establish certification pathways for technicians transitioning to natural refrigerant systems.

The timing matters. Bureau of Labor Statistics data projects employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers will grow 6% from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as average for all occupations. But that growth estimate doesn't account for the additional training demand created by the refrigerant transition.

Industry groups estimate that tens of thousands of technicians will need supplemental training over the next decade. Natural refrigerant systems, particularly those using ammonia or CO2, require different safety protocols, pressure management techniques, and troubleshooting approaches than conventional HFC systems.

"You can't just swap out one refrigerant for another and call it a day," explained Jennifer Torres, training director at a Southern California HVAC trade school. "These are fundamentally different systems. Ammonia is toxic if it leaks. CO2 operates at much higher pressures. Technicians need real, hands-on training, not just a weekend seminar."

Who Pays for Retraining?

The workforce development challenge raises questions about who bears the cost of retraining — employers, workers, or educational institutions.

Some larger employers, particularly national supermarket chains and cold storage operators, have begun investing in internal training programs. Walmart, Target, and Kroger have all announced natural refrigerant commitments for new stores, creating demand for qualified technicians.

But smaller contractors and independent technicians face steeper barriers. Training programs for natural refrigerants can cost several thousand dollars, and many require time away from billable work.

"I'm looking at maybe $4,000 for the CO2 certification, plus a week off work," said Marcus Johnson, a 29-year-old refrigeration technician in Atlanta who works for a mid-sized contractor. "My boss says he'll reimburse half if I pass, but that's still a big upfront cost. And there's no guarantee the work will be there right away."

The NASRC-ASHRAE partnership doesn't directly address training costs, but both organizations have indicated that expanding access to education and developing industry-recognized credentials could help workers justify the investment and potentially qualify for workforce development funding.

Some states have begun exploring apprenticeship programs and community college partnerships specifically targeting natural refrigerant skills. California's Employment Training Panel has funded several pilot programs, and New York has included refrigeration technician training in recent green jobs initiatives.

Safety Concerns and Regulatory Complexity

Beyond training costs, the transition raises legitimate safety questions that technicians and their unions have emphasized.

Ammonia, while environmentally benign, is toxic and requires strict handling protocols. Carbon dioxide systems operate at pressures exceeding 1,400 psi — roughly ten times higher than typical HFC systems — creating different failure modes and safety risks.

"We're not opposed to natural refrigerants, but we need proper training, proper equipment, and proper safety standards before our members work on these systems," said a representative from the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry, which represents many refrigeration technicians, in a recent industry forum.

The NASRC-ASHRAE collaboration specifically addresses this concern by emphasizing standards development. ASHRAE already publishes widely adopted safety standards for refrigeration systems; the partnership aims to accelerate updates and create natural refrigerant-specific guidance.

Regulatory complexity adds another layer. Building codes, fire codes, and occupational safety regulations vary by state and municipality, creating a patchwork of requirements that technicians must navigate. Some jurisdictions still have restrictions on certain natural refrigerants in occupied spaces, even as the technology has advanced.

The Broader Economic Picture

For workers, the refrigerant transition represents both disruption and opportunity.

Technicians with natural refrigerant credentials are already commanding premium rates in markets where demand exists. Several contractors reported paying 10-15% above standard rates for technicians with documented CO2 or ammonia experience.

"The guys who get trained early are going to have their pick of jobs," said Lamb, the Chicago consultant. "Five years from now, this won't be specialized knowledge — it'll be baseline expectation. But right now, there's a real advantage to being ahead of the curve."

The partnership between NASRC and ASHRAE signals that industry leaders recognize the workforce gap as a potential bottleneck to broader environmental goals. Without sufficient trained technicians, the regulatory phasedown of HFCs could leave businesses struggling to maintain refrigeration systems, potentially driving up food costs or forcing continued reliance on older, less efficient equipment.

For Gonzalez in California, the transition feels both daunting and necessary.

"I've got 14 years of experience, but the industry is telling me that's not enough anymore," she said. "I'm not angry about it — I get why we need to change. I just hope there's real support for people like me who are trying to keep up."

The three-year NASRC-ASHRAE partnership will formally launch its first joint initiatives later this spring, with training program development expected to begin by summer, according to the organizations.