The Bay Area’s food economy is both vibrant and vulnerable. Valued at approximately $113 billion annually according to a report from the Association of Bay Area Governments, it employs about 13% of the regional workforce. Yet, many businesses face mounting challenges, including skyrocketing energy costs and uncertain economic outlook. For many business owners, improving energy efficiency naturally falls low on the list of daily priorities, even as high energy costs strain their budgets.

A regional effort is now underway to help food and floral businesses cut energy costs and access reliable refrigeration equipment. The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) is launching the BayREN Refrigerant Replacement (BRRR) Program to support repairs, refrigerant upgrades, and energy efficiency retrofits. BRRR is designed specifically for small food and floral businesses in low-income and disadvantaged communities. 

The program offers generous financial incentives to repair refrigerant leaks, replace high-polluting refrigerants with cleaner alternatives, and install energy efficiency retrofits. Program staff also train business owners and staff in basic do-it-yourself maintenance to sustain performance for maximum energy savings. Together, these services directly improve energy affordability and equipment reliability.

Refrigeration is an essential but often overlooked system that BRRR aims to address. Restaurants, convenience stores, community kitchens, and bars all depend on refrigeration systems for daily operations. However, many business owners lack the time, resources or knowledge to provide routine maintenance. Consequently, systems often run to failure, leading to spoiled inventory and costly emergency repairs.

Deferred maintenance also reduces system performance, driving up energy use and inflating energy costs. With energy costs at an all-time high, businesses with outdated or underperforming systems cannot leverage energy efficiency as a cost-cutting strategy. At the same time, refrigeration contractors may hesitate to perform efficiency upgrades due to liability concerns, further delaying improvements that will reduce energy costs.

These maintenance challenges lead to serious environmental consequences. Fugitive emissions from refrigerant leaks are a major contributor to climate change – as many commonly used refrigerants are thousands of times more polluting than carbon dioxide. In response, California is rapidly phasing out high-polluting refrigerants in favor of more environmentally friendly alternatives. As regulations tighten, many older systems risk becoming stranded assets, leaving small businesses with refrigeration systems they can no longer recharge.

When refrigeration systems run efficiently, businesses, workers, and communities benefit. Businesses reduce waste and operating costs, neighborhoods retain access to fresh food, and community kitchens can safely serve those in need. Upgrading equipment and replacing high-polluting refrigerants also cuts emissions, helping cities and counties meet their climate commitments.

Food and floral businesses can join the waitlist now to be notified when the program is available in their Bay Area county in 2026 at www.bayren.org/chill.