IIR supports REAL Alternatives for LIFE training across the globe

European Commission environment and climate action programme supports REAL Alternatives for LIFE

Financed by the EU's funding instrument for the environment and climate action, the REAL Alternatives for LIFE consortium met in June for the project kick-off meeting.

The REAL Alternatives for LIFE project, an extension of the previous Real Alternatives project, is funded by the EU's funding instrument for the environment and climate action, the LIFE programme.

As part of this funding programme, the European Commission is co-financing a consortium of European training centres, associations in partnership with the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) to provide “train the trainer” sessions on low GWP refrigerants (hydrocarbons, CO₂, ammonia, HFOs, R32) in order to ensure safe, efficient, reliable and cost-effective implementation.

The kick off meeting

Launched in mid-June 2017, the UK Institute of Refrigeration (IOR), a corporate member of the IIR, hosted the consortium kick-off meeting on June 20-21, 2017 in Carshalton (UK) (see photo). The partners took the opportunity to discuss in depth the actions to be carried out over the three-year project in order to successfully achieve the deliverables as agreed with the EU funding body, and how to effectively collaborate with the different stakeholders involved in the project.

Project objectives

The objective of the project is to develop new and update existing training material, as well as to introduce a range of practical exercises and assessments with an aim to standardising skills sets and requirements for handling low GWP refrigerants across the globe.

The project will promote the best practice in training in this field whilst equally increasing awareness, experience and knowledge at all levels by ensuring a presence at key national, EU and international meetings, conferences and events.

Confirming its international scope, courses will be conducted in 13 languages and 15 countries are involved in the project.

The Project Management team includes:

• UK - Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) and London South Bank University
• Belgium - University College Limburg and AREA European Contractors Association
• Italy – ATF Trade Association in Italy
• Germany - IKKE Regional Training Centre,
• Poland - PROZON Foundation for climate protection refrigerant reclamation organization
• France - International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR)

Visit www.realalternatives.eu and sign-up to receive the latest project news and updates.

Would you like to get in involved? The consortium is looking for the participation of future stakeholder countries outside the EU.

For more information, contact Dr Ina Colombo (IIR Deputy Director) at i.colombo@iifiir.org

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