The Cold Truth: Episode 1 Recap | A Candid Conversation on Industrial Refrigeration with Ryan Reardon | Blog No. 105

Payton Lemons
Dec 30, 2025
3 min read

The first episode of The Cold Truth Podcast kicks off with hosts Mike and Eli sitting down with Ryan Reardon, founder of R2 Mechanical Consultants, for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation on industrial refrigeration, system selection, and where the industry is headed.

Whether you’re an owner, engineer, contractor, or simply involved in refrigeration decision-making, this episode delivers real-world insight grounded in experience—not hype.

Getting to Know Ryan Reardon & R2 Mechanical Consultants

Early in the episode, Ryan shares his background and what led him to start R2 Mechanical Consultants. With a degree in mechanical engineering and nearly a decade of hands-on experience designing and working with large industrial ammonia systems, Ryan brings a pragmatic, field-tested perspective.

After spending years at a design-build contractor, Ryan launched R2 to provide independent engineering and consulting support across the industry—working with end users, contractors, and manufacturers alike. His firm supports projects involving ammonia, CO₂, and synthetic refrigerant systems, primarily in the food and beverage space, but extending into other industrial and chemical processes as well.

Ammonia, CO₂, and Low-Charge Systems: What Actually Makes Sense?

One of the standout moments of the episode is Ryan’s breakdown of a comparative study he co-authored with Evapco, analyzing three refrigeration system designs for the same facility:

Low-charge packaged ammonia
Transcritical CO₂
Field-erected ammonia

Rather than promoting one solution as universally “best,” Ryan walks through the tradeoffs—from structural requirements and machine room needs to water usage and long-term operating costs.

A key takeaway: while CO₂ systems can appear cheaper upfront, long-term utility costs can significantly change the picture over a 30-year lifecycle. Ryan also explains why low-charge ammonia systems (generally under 500 lbs of ammonia) can dramatically reduce regulatory burden and off-site risk compared to traditional large ammonia systems.

This portion of the conversation alone is worth watching for anyone evaluating new refrigeration infrastructure.

Regulations, Refrigerants, and Industry Uncertainty

Ryan also dives into how regulatory pressure—especially in California—is reshaping system selection. With CARB regulations effectively eliminating high-GWP synthetic refrigerants from new facilities, CO₂ has gained traction on the West Coast.

The discussion then expands to the EPA’s AIM Act, which Ryan believes will further tighten refrigerant rules nationwide. One important nuance he highlights: increasing the capacity of an existing system may now trigger compliance with newer, lower-GWP requirements—something many facility owners may not be anticipating.

Why Data Centers Don’t Use Ammonia (and Probably Won’t)

The episode closes with an insightful discussion on data centers, a sector where ammonia’s efficiency might seem appealing—but rarely makes sense in practice.

Ryan explains how synthetic refrigerants excel in the narrow operating window data centers require, providing efficient sensible cooling without unnecessary moisture removal. While ammonia could be engineered to work, the resulting system would likely exceed low-charge thresholds and introduce major PSM and RMP challenges, making synthetics the more practical choice.

Watch the Full Episode

This recap only scratches the surface. The full conversation includes detailed explanations, real project context, and candid opinions you won’t get from a white paper or sales brochure.

Watch Episode 1 of The Cold Truth Podcast featuring Ryan Reardon to hear the full discussion and gain practical insight into today’s industrial refrigeration challenges and opportunities.

Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for more!

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