Greenhouse Gas tracking will soon become mandatory in the United States, with the first reports due in early 2011 for the 2010 year. The federal law affects businesses and governments with heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, as well as those who produce industrial chemicals, fossil fuels, cars and engines. It is the responsibility of companies to review and comply with the new EPA regulations or face substantial fines.

The far-reaching Climate Registry Protocol covers greenhouse gas tracking and details the need for mandatory monitoring and tracking. The aim of the US Clean Air Act is to improve air quality whilst lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

A major part of the greenhouse gas tracking requirement involves a focus on refrigerant gases which are used in refrigeration and cooling systems at numerous facilities. Targets include food processors, grocery stores, hospitals, office buildings, retailers and municipalities. Refrigerant gases include significant levels of carbon in the form of hydrochlorofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons. These compounds have been regulated under the US Clean Air Act for several years now.

It is accepted that greenhouse gases absorb and release radiation into the atmosphere which is a significant contributory factor to the global warming effect. Greenhouse gas tracking will help to pinpoint the main origin of these greenhouse gases and monitor the amount which is discharged. Environmental officials have a baseline of information against which to measure future usage. Accurate and timely information will help determine if the guidelines are effective in lowering the effects of these substances on the ozone layer.

Greenhouse Gas tracking involves measuring direct and indirect emissions and keeping extensive records on its usage, maintenance, leak containment and disposal. Heating and cooling systems, as well as other energy consumption, are defined as direct emissions.

In the United States, the Obama administration lists greenhouse gas tracking as an important consideration. The objective is to protect our environmental future by taking action to reduce the carbon footprint. The world’s make up would be significantly affected if no action were taken, with a severely detrimental effect on life in general.

As a number of man-made compounds materially contribute to global warming, greenhouse gas tracking is essential. Those substances are carbon dioxide, chlorine, bromine, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, methyl chloroform, sulfur hexafluoride, halons, carbon tetrachloride and the fluorinated gases hydroflorenated ethers and nitrogen trifluoride.

Although Greenhouse Gas tracking was optional, it becomes mandatory in 2010 with the regulation requiring companies and municipalities to submit exact information on how much of the global warming substances they use everyday and if any leaks occurred. Supportive vendors who are knowledgeable in the area have developed software programs and web-based applications to assist companies in complying with the law.