11 Sep 2023
The 2023 Parliament Environment Audit Committee inquiry that closed on 17th August 2023 focussed on the issues of the relationship between heat and health, Government policies in relation to current and future need for cooling and what measures could be taken to increase adaptation and resilience to rising temperatures - sustainable cooling solutions and adaptation strategies that minimise overheating, reduce energy consumption and prevent overloading the electricity grid. MPs are aiming to understand how communities can better adapt to increased temperatures without relying on energy-intensive solutions, such as air conditioning units.
The IOR submitted a response drafted by members of our Beyond Refrigeration Environment Committee and Technical Committees that highlighted the importance of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps technologies to address overheating, energy management and emissions reduction matters. The IOR response has been published on the Environment Audit Committee website at https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/123183/html/
The IOR will be holding a Business Technical Briefing on Extreme Heat on 14th November in Birmingham where these issues and examples from other countries who are managing cooling in a wider temperature envelope will be discussed further. Registrations for this event are now open
Read more about IOR's Beyond Refrigeration policy work
Where are emissions coming from in transport, industrial and commerical refrigeration (TICR) and what can be done to reduce them? What new technologies are coming that will have an impact? What skills are needed for the future? Follow the TICR project, led by LSBU on behalf of DESNZ, with IOR support and involvment at www.netzerorefrigeration.uk
9 Feb 2026
The IOR has released a new guidance note for those involved in recruitment, development or training within the UK RACHP sector, outlining how to harness the valuable skills that Veterans and Service Leavers bring to the industry and support their introduction into the RACHP profession.
5 Feb 2026
The Institute of Refrigeration has just released a report summarising the key findings and conclusions from its The Future of Training – Right Skills for the Right Job Survey, which it conducted among IOR members in October 2025 to explore future skills and qualification needs within the sector.
5 Feb 2026
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has recently released a series of upskilling videos for heat networks. These videos are to support upskilling operation and maintenance in the heat networks sector.
4 Feb 2026
Just downloaded the IOR Technician App? This video walks you through the essentials of using our app, step by step. You’ll see exactly where to tap, how to navigate key tools, and how to get the most out of the app’s main functions. It’s designed to help you feel confident and ready to use the app smoothly from the very start.
3 Feb 2026
The IOR and CIBSE are pleased to announce that they will be working together to provide their respective members with access to relevant technical events in 2026 as part of their commitment to members’ professional development and sharing of expertise.