Q3 2025 Newsletter
Dear REEF Community,
Q3 2025 marked a defining period for REEF: one of visibility, growth, and national impact. From convening global leaders during Climate Week NYC to expanding our team and Board, REEF continues to drive refrigerant leadership across policy, industry, and innovation. With new leadership, expanded capacity, and a growing coalition of partners, REEF is poised to enter 2026 as the leading voice for refrigerant action across the built environment.
At Climate Week NYC, REEF hosted “Refrigerant 0: Powering a Net-Zero Future.” The event convened leaders from building operators, corporate sustainability teams, innovators, to investors. Together, they explored pathways to decarbonize cooling and accelerate innovation. Read more here.
Explore how design decisions in HVAC systems can unlock major climate gains. Our recent webinar took a deep dive into strategic approaches—covering procurement specs, refrigerant lifecycle-management, and building owner engagement—to help attendees lead the low-impact cooling charge. Watch here.
Industry Engagement
REEF expanded state-level engagement in New York, Maryland, Vermont, and Washington, helping shape policies for refrigerant recovery and lifecycle management beyond AIM Act compliance. We continue working with partners like EIA, IGSD, NRDC, NASRC, and CCLab to align national codes and accelerate PFAS-free, ultra-low GWP technologies.
Public Education & Thought Leadership
REEF also released new thought leadership through our digital channels and blog series, focusing on the role of building owners and operators in advancing refrigerant management. We expanded our Library of Resources with new educational materials and model procurement language aligned with SPLC’s Sustainable Refrigerant Purchasing Guidelines, helping procurement and sustainability teams embed refrigerant criteria into climate strategies. Read More Here
Membership
REEF soft-launched its 2026 Membership Model, introducing a new tiered structure for Members, Leaders, and Partners. This model unites diverse stakeholders around shared goals of innovation, market transformation, and emissions reduction. Early outreach to supporters in HVAC, real estate, and technology sectors has already generated strong momentum and new commitments for 2026.
Organizational Growth & Leadership
REEF continues to grow its leadership capacity and operational strength. This quarter, we welcomed Behzad Torabifar, PE, Senior Director of Sustainable Operations at Genentech, and Ethan Arbiser, Senior Manager of Energy & Sustainability at CBRE, to our Board of Directors. We also added a part-time Program Associate, Lindsay Mewes to support project coordination and member services, reflecting REEF’s expanding reach and program scale.
Mark your calendar for March 5-6, 2026 at Yale School of Management. This year, we are focusing on the role of innovation and finance in scaling Lifecycle Refrigerant Management and Alternative Cooling Technologies. More detailed information on conference logistics forthcoming in the near future.
Save the Date 2025 Synthesis Report
Join us Thursday, October 30 as SPLC and REEF launch the first part of a two-part series on sustainable refrigerant procurement. Learn why refrigerants are a hidden climate lever and how your procurement decisions can reduce emissions, walk through our new Guidelines with technical experts, and connect directly with peers advancing low-impact cooling.
Register for Part 1 Register for Part 2
