The cooling industry awards 2004: celebrating excellence in environmentally friendlier cooling

The very first Cooling Industry Awards was organized by Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) magazine on September 15, 2004. It proved to be a success as nearly 400 RAC professionals from across the industry and major end-users were present. The new event is designed to stimulate, reward and celebrate the best of the new approaches to environmentally friendlier refrigeration and air conditioning now coming on-stream. It sets a new benchmark - for fresh approaches that both safeguard the environment and make commercial sense. 12 outstanding winners were honoured: - Calor Ltd received the award for their environmental marketing campaign following the launch of their hydrocarbon-based CARE range of refrigerants - Arctic Circle Ltd received the training Initiative award for their modern apprenticeship scheme - Star Refrigeration Ltd, a corporate member of the IIR, received the award for commercial installation of the year for the conversion of the air conditioning system at the International Maritime Organisation headquarters, on the banks of the Thames in central London, from R11 to ammonia - Associated Cooling Services received the award for retail installation of the year for the installation of a Sanyo GHP system at Wibbas Down Inn, Wimbledon - Star Refrigeration Ltd received the award for industrial installation of the year for its carbon dioxide vertical plate freezer at Prosper de Mulder - Somerfield Stores Ltd received the award for green end-user of the year award (small projects) for a research project to assess efficiency and life expectancy of refrigerated cases - Asda Stores Ltd received the award for green end-user of the year award (large projects) for its carbon dioxide cooled distribution cold store, Falkirk - Daikin Air conditioning UK received the award for environmental pioneer-air conditioning with its pioneering global adoption of R-410A refrigerant for use in its VRV II air conditioning systems - Star Refrigeration Ltd received the award for environmental pioneer- refrigeration for the leadership role that the company has taken in pioneering alternative approaches to cooling - which not only help safeguard the environment, but provide practical, commercially viable solutions that convince end users of their merit - Eddie Gittoes from Arctic Circle Ltd received the award for environmental pioneer- individual for his "vision to deliver environmentally sustainable products through innovation which demonstrates what is possible with committed leadership and passionate motivation" - ebm papst UK Ltd received the environmental product of the year award for its energy saving fans and fan motors - S Forbes Pearson, member of IIR Commission B2, received the RAC gold award who is "unique in combining outstanding academic knowledge of refrigeration systems and refrigerants with practical application in real world cooling systems" The organisers are already planning an even bigger and more spectacular event for 2005.