Press Release: REAL Alternatives for LIFE project on blended learning for alternative refrigerants gets started

Press Release: REAL Alternatives for LIFE project on blended learning for alternative refrigerants gets started

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 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.


Launched in mid-June 2017, the UK Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) hosted the consortium kick-off meeting on June 20-21, 2017 in Carshalton (UK). 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.

Photo: REAL Alternatives for LIFE consortium at the kick-off meeting in Carshalton, June 2017


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


Although this project is funded by the European Commission, the consortium is looking for the participation of additional stakeholder countries outside the EU. 


For more information, visit www.realalternatives.eu and sign-up to receive the latest project news and updates.

 

If you have any enquiries about this EU funded project please contact Mandy Caruana on mandy@ior.org.uk