F-Gases 101: The Hidden Climate Threat & Why We Must Act Now
Air conditioning and refrigeration keep our modern world running—but at what cost? While essential, these systems rely on F-Gases (fluorinated gases), a class of synthetic refrigerants that are up to 2,000 times more damaging than CO₂ in terms of global warming potential (GWP).
Despite their severe environmental impact, F-Gas leaks often go undetected, making them a silent contributor to climate change. The HVAC maintenance sector, valued at $78.5 billion annually, is built on reactive, outdated maintenance methods, leaving leaks unchecked for months or even years.
What Are F-Gases & Why Should We Care?
F-Gases are used in air conditioning, refrigeration, and heat pumps to cool or heat buildings efficiently. Unlike natural refrigerants, they don’t deplete the ozone layer, which led to their widespread adoption. However, their high GWP makes them a significant climate threat when leaked into the atmosphere.
To put this into perspective:
CO₂ has a GWP of 1 (the baseline for measuring greenhouse gases).
R-410A, a common F-Gas in air conditioning, has a GWP of 2,088—meaning just 1kg of R-410A leaked into the atmosphere is equivalent to emitting 2,088kg of CO₂.
R-404A, used in refrigeration, is even worse, with a GWP of 3,922.
Despite these staggering numbers, F-Gas leaks are rarely addressed proactively because detection methods are manual, costly, and infrequent.
Why Are F-Gas Leaks Such a Big Problem?
F-Gases don’t just disappear—once released, they persist in the atmosphere for decades, trapping heat and accelerating global warming.
The sheer scale of the problem is staggering:
HVAC systems account for 15% of global energy-related emissions, and a major contributor to this is F-Gas leakage.
The UK’s Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps (RACHP) sector accounts for nearly 80% of all F-Gas emissions.
A single supermarket refrigeration leak can cause over 100,000 kg of CO₂ equivalent emissions per year—the same as driving 25 petrol cars for a year.
Regulations are tightening worldwide, but the reality is that many businesses and building owners still have no efficient way of monitoring and preventing leaks.
The Challenge of Monitoring F-Gas Levels
Despite the environmental risks, monitoring F-Gas levels is deeply flawed—largely due to outdated, manual processes and the lack of regulation for smaller systems.
Large Commercial & Industrial Systems (e.g., Supermarkets, Data Centers, Airports)
✅ Mandated to install leak detection systems if they contain over 500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent F-Gases.
🚨 Challenge: These detection systems are extremely expensive and require specialist engineers for installation and maintenance.
💰 Cost: Some systems cost tens of thousands per site—forcing businesses to take a reactive approach rather than a proactive one.
Medium-Sized HVAC Systems (e.g., Office Buildings, Hospitals, Schools)
✅ Leak checks are required every 6-12 months, depending on the system size.
🚨 Challenge: Infrequent manual checks mean leaks can go undetected for months, leading to significant emissions and inefficiencies.
💰 Cost: Routine servicing is expensive, and businesses often overpay for maintenance that isn't always necessary.
Small Systems (e.g., Residential AC, Small Businesses, Retail Shops)
🚨 No mandatory F-Gas detection requirements—even though these units contribute significantly to overall leakage.
🚨 Challenge: Leaks often go unnoticed until performance drops or energy bills spike.
💰 Cost: With no monitoring in place, users typically only take action when the system fails—resulting in costly repairs or full replacements.
The bottom line? F-Gas levels are not monitored in real-time, leaving businesses and building owners exposed to inefficiencies, high costs, and regulatory risks.
The $78.5 Billion Problem: Why HVAC Maintenance Needs an Overhaul
The HVAC maintenance industry is valued at $78.5 billion annually—but much of this spending is wasted on reactive, outdated maintenance models.
🔴 Current approach: Companies send engineers because a contract says they should, not because an issue has been detected. This results in unnecessary site visits, increased Scope 3 emissions, and wasted money.
✅ What should happen? HVAC systems should be monitored in real-time, allowing for maintenance only when needed—reducing costs, emissions, and inefficiencies.
This is where Verv is making a game-changing difference.
How Verv is Revolutionising F-Gas Monitoring
Verv has recently patented a process that is a data-driven, real-time, non-invasive way to detect F-Gas leaks and monitor F-Gas levels. We need your help to scale this solution in more buildings to train our systems.
🟢 We use AI and power harmonic analysis—measuring voltage and current patterns to identify when a system’s refrigerant levels drop or when a leak occurs.
🟢 Our hardware works with any HVAC system, even without a Building Management System (BMS)—bringing real-time monitoring to the 87% of buildings that lack one.
🟢 No need for manual checks or expensive equipment—businesses get instant alerts if an F-Gas leak is detected, preventing costly emissions and repairs.
Join our mission to identify F-Gas leaks and levels, by supporting us on Crowdcube
A Smart Solution for Every Sector
✅ Large commercial sites can replace expensive, invasive leak detection systems with a smarter, AI-driven solution.
✅ Office buildings and hospitals can reduce unnecessary maintenance costs while ensuring compliance.
✅ Retail and residential units can finally detect F-Gas leaks in real-time, stopping environmental damage before it happens.
The Time to Act is Now
F-Gas emissions are a hidden but urgent climate threat—one that traditional HVAC maintenance has failed to address. With regulations tightening and businesses seeking to reduce costs and emissions, a smarter, data-driven approach is needed.
Verv is leading this change. Our patented technology will make real-time F-Gas leak detection and level monitoring the new industry standard—helping businesses save money, reduce emissions, and build a more sustainable future.
🚀 Now, we need your support to bring this game-changing solution to market.
