Klima-Therm, one of the UK’s best known air conditioning specialists have worked closely with Waitrose, Geoclima, Synergy Building Services Consultants and Carter Retail Equipment on a innovative new HFC-free refrigeration solution, which is being installed in Waitrose Altrincham store and then, from 2010, rolled out in new and refurbished stores across the country.

According to the Klima-Therm’s press release, Waitrose’s innovative new HFC-free refrigeration solution is based on a combination of high efficiency Geoclima air-cooled chillers utilising R290 propane and supermarket cabinets operating on R1270 propene hydrocarbon-based scroll compressors.

The design harnesses heat from the integral refrigeration units to deliver warmth into the space between cabinets, in order to counteract “cold aisles” in the store. This overcomes the need for a separate heating system and again helps boost efficiency.

“It is an efficient solution that overcomes the need to use HFCs. The Geoclima units offer very high efficiencies as a result of the LPA and conventional "free-cooling" design, which contributes significantly to the overall effectiveness of the approach,” said Tim Mitchell, who is heading up the project for Klima-Therm.

---