Three years ago, the European Commission announced that it would be co-funding REAL Alternatives 4 LIFE, a project to develop EU wide training on low GWP (Global Warming Potential) alternatives refrigerants as part of its LIFE climate action program. The project would incorporate the principles of blended learning program (booklets, e-learning and practical teaching). In addition, it would run a program of train the trainer events and study days across Europe.
After three years on and a total of over 1600 working days between the eight organizations, the project has resulted in 9 free learning modules available on line – with 5000 individual learners registered; 7 training events and 4 study day events for teachers resulting in 200 certified trainers; 23 national organizations now able to accredit trainers and their courses has so far resulted in 500 certificates being issued to technicians; and each of the national organisations has had regular meetings with their national and international policy makers including various presentations at COP global summit meetings, the International Congress of Refrigeration and ASHRAE meetings.
These training resources have been translated and are now available in 17 languages to make them accessible throughout most of the EU and, in the future, globally. REAL Alternatives is also operating a network of licensed training providers and National Leads worldwide to monitor training take up and certification standards.
Earlier this year the project carried out a survey of the market to see how attitudes to the use of low GWP refrigerants have changed over the past 3 years. The findings support the need for the kinds of free accessible resources that the project developed and a growing demand for these refrigerants in the future. We found that the transition to low GWP refrigerant technologies is happening rapidly. The main driver for this change is of course legislative action by policy makers but there is an increasing awareness that climate friendly alternatives are available and businesses are under more social pressure to address climate change impact of their activity.