Under the Australian Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS/MEPS), commercial refrigeration equipment sold in Australia must meet stringent energy consumption limits.
Legacy refrigerants such as R404A and R134a have high Global Warming Potentials (GWPs up to 3,922). The Australian government import phase-down has made these synthetic gases increasingly scarce and expensive to service.
Natural Propane (R290) R290 has exceptional thermodynamic efficiency. It absorbs and dissipates thermal energy significantly faster than older fluorinated gases, which means the compressor motor does not need to work as hard or run as long. Venue owners who upgrade from 8-year-old bar fridges to modern R290 units report energy savings between $450 and $1,200 per cabinet annually.