REAL Zero REAL Skills

The IOR's REAL Zero project has now been extended with input from European partners to develop multilingual guides, tools and e-learning, called REAL Skills Europe.

The original concept of REAL Zero was developed in 2009 when the Institute of Refrigeration joined forces with the Carbon Trust and sponsors, in a major initiative to cut refrigerant leakage andimprove the environmental performance of refrigeration plant."The F-Gas Regulation is sensibly based on the principle of containment, on the basis that refrigerant contained inside plant poses no threat to the environment," said IOR President Jane Gartshore "However, it is now vital that the industry delivers on this."

REAL Skills Europe, which incorporates REAL Zero, provides owners of refrigeration equipment with practical, independent guidance on how to reduce carbon emissions through improved system design, maintenance and servicing. It provides tools to help make a strong case for reducing leakage to save money in replacing refrigerant, to prevent operating inefficiencies and to reduce the global warming impact of systems.

The REAL Zero approach benefits our industry by:

• providing tools to help reduce the environmental impact of refrigeration equipment
• raising awareness among end users of their responsibilities in ensuring refrigeration equipment operates efficiently
• gaining data to demonstrate success in containing refrigerants under the F-Gas Regulations.
• proving training support materials, an e-learning programme and recognition of study through CPD Certification to improve our knowledge and understanding of why and how systems leak and how to prevent this.

The IOR has worked closely with other key trade associations in the UK and the rest of Europe to promote emissions reduction.

For more details and to download the guidance see the dedicated websites:

REAL Zero www.realzero.org.uk

REAL Skills Europe e-learning www.realskillseurope.com

WINNER OF THE 2009 COOLING AWARDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING, TRAINING AND THE OVERALL GOLD AWARD