2025 Q4 Recap Newsletter
Progress Powered by Collaboration
Dear REEF Community,
Q4 ended the year on a strong note and positioned REEF for an exciting start to 2026. From co-launching the Sustainable Refrigerant Procurement Guidelines with the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC) to compiling REEF's first annual report highlighting our growth, impact, and vision for the future, this quarter underscored the power of collaboration, community, and leadership across sectors. We're energized by what we've accomplished together and look forward to continuing the momentum through the new year.
REEF in Action: From the Field
Expert Advice for Everyday Cooling
Power of Procurement Webinar Series
In Q4, REEF continued to share valuable industry perspectives through our expert blog series, featuring interviews from two of REEF's Board Members.
Ethan Arbiser, Senior Manager of Energy & Sustainability at CBRE, discusses how commercial buildings, ESG drivers, and procurement decisions can shape the future of refrigerant management and recovery.
Ramé Hemstreet, Kaiser Permanente's Senior Advisor to the VP of Facilities, shares his perspective on reliable decarbonization, policy and procurement alignment, and the future of the refrigerant economy.
Read the interviews here.
This series introduced the Sustainable Refrigerant Procurement Guidelines—a first-of-its-kind resource that empowers procurement teams, facility managers, and sustainability professionals to integrate climate-friendly refrigerant strategies into purchasing decisions.
With development co-led by REEF and the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC), these practical tools provide clear specifications, policy language, and templates designed to help organizations avoid high-GWP refrigerants, reduce lifecycle emissions, and lead the market toward sustainable innovation through the power of procurement. Check out the series to learn more about the Guidelines' practical applications.
Watch the series here.
Collaborative Engagement
Education & Thought Leadership
Along with sharing valuable industry perspectives through our expert blogs and quarterly webinar series, REEF took advantage of the multiple opportunities Q4 provided to engage with new audiences, presenting to the We Mean Business Coalition, the Maryland Green Purchasing Committee, and the Federation of American Scientists.
Industry & Policy Engagement
In Q4, REEF further stepped into its role as a recognized and trusted convener bridging government, industry, and advocacy to accelerate the transition to lower-emission refrigerant solutions and management best practices. Notable REEF engagements include contributing peer review to research work by both Yale and Columbia and penning a public letter to UL, ASHRAE, and associated HVAC safety standard committee participants in support of the incorporation of ultra-low, non-PFAS options in refrigerant standards.
Community Building
REEF's community continued to grow as a result of our 2026 Membership Drive, welcoming new interest and maintaining a 100% retention rate for returning commitments. Our new tiered membership model based on community, leadership, and partnership provides a purpose-driven structure that unites diverse stakeholders around shared goals of driving refrigerant climate solutions across the built environment. Whether you are a REEF Member, Leader, or Partner, you are part of a network of industry leaders working to safeguard our climate and create a sustainable future. Your commitment, collaboration, and urgency are what make this movement possible.
We are thrilled to highlight Therm as a new valued member of the REEF community!
Therm brings together a team with rich industry backgrounds in HVAC/R, energy efficiency, carbon credits, facilities management, and cooling technology, developing and marketing carbon credits--including their flagship, award-winning Refrigerant Carbon Credits that promote the adoption of climate-friendly refrigerants--to reward grocery retailers, food distributors, and dairy farmers for their climate-conscious decisions in refrigeration systems and food waste management. Therm’s work resonates deeply with REEF's mission to eliminate the environmental impact of super-polluting refrigerants.
2025 marked a turning point for REEF, transitioning from a nascent initiative into a recognized, end user-driven voice in refrigerant and HVAC decarbonization. The 2025 Annual Report reflects on the education, empowerment, and engagement that defined our year and the community that made it all possible.
Upcoming Events & Highlights
Yale Cooling Conference
March 5-6, 2026
ATMOsphere America
June 2-3, 2026
REEF is looking forward to co-hosting the second annual Yale Cooling Conference alongside the Carbon Containment Lab.
Returning to the Yale School of Management on March 5-6, 2026, this year's conference will focus on the role of innovation and finance in scaling Lifecycle Refrigerant Management and Alternative Cooling Technologies.
Join industry experts, funding providers, policy makers and innovators as they explore the latest advancements, discuss financing, and identify opportunities to chart a path to more sustainable cooling.
Learn more and register here.
Read the 2025 Synthesis Report here.
REEF is excited be a partner of the ATMOsphere America Summit taking place north of New York City on June 2-3, 2026.
From the safety impacts of PFAS refrigerants to the latest innovations in caloric cooling solutions, the Summit offers a unique chance to engage with leaders from across the HVAC&R industry and explore the business case for clean cooling and heating.
ATMO is also looking for technology case studies by manufacturers showcasing natural refrigerants. The case studies must be presented along with end-users or installers.
Learn more and register here.
Submit a case study here.
