In this study, first energy and exergy analysis for supermarket cooling applications having high refrigerant capacity are examined and next, based on these analyses and different gases used. CO2 emission effect caused by these systems have been evaluated according to two parameters. The study investigated thermodynamic and environmental effects at medium (10/0 degrees C) and low (-35/0 degrees C) evaporation temperatures by reference to a supermarket cooling application with a 4000-5000 m(2) store size. The study revealed that, refrigerant R-404A is proved to have far worse results than R-22, and proposed alternatives for R-404A, the R-407C and R-152a refrigerants have better average exergetic efficiency ratio. 8.73% and 13.58% respectively. In addition, according to the TEWI and ICF parameters, emission potentials of these refrigerants were found to be lower being average 27.49% and 25.47 and 34.1% and 51.19 respectively. The study concluded with assessment of how the exegry and environmental effect analyses impact system preference. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.