Train Once. Save Annually.
Refrigeration Efficiency Academy (REA) is an online training program for refrigeration professionals at food processing, cold storage, and distribution facilities. Through 10 self-paced courses, interactive tools, and live expert sessions, you'll learn to find the energy your system is wasting and leave with a plan to fix it.
10
self-paced courses, 30-60 minutes each
8-10
weeks to complete the full program
~1.5 hrs
per week, primarily on your own schedule
3
live online expert sessions included
0
travel required to participate
What’s in it for you?
By the end of the program, you’ll have more than knowledge – you’ll have tangible outputs you can use at your facility right away.
Understand Your Refrigeration System on a Deeper Level
Learn how industrial refrigeration systems really behave, where energy gets wasted, and which operating decisions have the biggest impact on performance and cost.
Turn “I Think” Into “Here’s the Proof”
Use real calculations, decision trees, and system data to back up your recommendations with numbers management can act on.
Leave With a Facility-Specific Action Plan
Using everything you’ve learned coupled with a guided, interactive tool, you’ll build a prioritized list of energy opportunities specific to your facility with estimated savings and a clear picture of where to start.
Build Expertise Your Facility Keeps for Years
Train your team to consistently identify, evaluate, and prioritize energy efficiency opportunities so the knowledge remains in-house rather than relying on outside consultants.
Training Built Around the Reality of Facility Operations
Your systems are unique. Your teams are short on time.
REA was designed around that reality.
Pause and pick back up
Every course is built around short 5–10 minute lessons. Stop when you need to and pick up exactly where you left off.
Skip what you already know
No sitting through content you mastered years ago. Passing a quick knowledge check at the start lets experienced learners move ahead.
No travel.
No all-day sessions.
Everything is online and on your schedule. Live expert sessions are recorded so you never miss a thing.
Apply it the
same week
You're not just learning, you're doing. Every course contains concrete actions you can take at your facility right away.
Built by People Who’ve Done the Work
This program was developed by Cascade Energy engineers and coaches who have spent their careers working with and on industrial refrigeration systems.
The content was shaped with input from experienced trainers and technicians who understand what it’s like to get a call at 2:30 a.m. when a system goes down.
Every recommendation in this program is grounded in how real systems actually behave, not just theory.
What's Inside the Program
A structured path from energy fundamentals to a completed opportunity plan for your facility.
Course 1:
Introduction to the Refrigeration Efficiency Academy
Get set up and build your learning plan
Course 2:
Energy Basics for Industrial Refrigeration
Utility bills, kWh, demand charges, and what they mean for your facility
Course 3:
Refrigeration System Fundamentals
The refrigeration cycle, where energy goes, and why it matters
Course 4:
Compressor Lift and Energy Impact
Where most facilities find their biggest savings opportunity
Course 5:
Barriers to Optimizing Pressures
Real constraints vs. habits and how to tell the difference
Course 6:
Compressor Types and Part-Load Performance
Sequencing, VFDs, and efficiency under real operating conditions
Course 7:
Condenser Performance Basics
What your condenser is doing to your compressor energy and what to do about it
Course 8:
Evaporator Types and Control Strategies
Control strategies, fan affinity law, and the VFD case made simple
Course 9:
Energy Opportunity Identification and Documentation
Your prioritized opportunity list with savings estimates
Course 10:
Conclusion, Evaluation & Certificate
Wrap up, reflect on what you've learned, and earn your credentials
Freqently Asked Questions
Do I need prior experience with energy efficiency?
No. This program is designed for refrigeration professionals from a variety of backgrounds. If you work with ammonia refrigeration systems, you already have the foundation needed to benefit from the program.
What if I already know a lot of this?
The first two courses have a knowledge check that lets experienced learners skip ahead. The rest of the courses are built around application – you’re working with your own facility data throughout, so even familiar topics will have practical value.
How much time does this actually take?
About 1 to 1.5 hours per week over 8–10 weeks. The courses are self-paced, so you can pause and restart them as your schedule allows. The three online sessions have scheduled dates, but if you miss one, you’ll have access to the recording.
How much does the program cost?
Pricing varies depending on the number of participants and your organization’s needs. Contact Cascade Energy for a quote.
Who is this program for?
REA is designed for refrigeration operators, technicians, engineers, and facility managers who work with large industrial ammonia refrigeration systems at food processing, cold storage, and distribution facilities.
How do I enroll?
Fill out the application form and a member of the Cascade Energy team will be in touch to discuss next steps and confirm your enrollment.
What happens after I complete the program?
You’ll receive a certificate of completion and RETA-endorsed professional development hours. You’ll also leave with a completed energy opportunity plan for your facility—ready to share with management and start acting on.
Do I need my facility's energy data to participate?
You’ll get more out of the program if you can work with your own facility data – the courses are designed around real system inputs, not generic examples. For exercises where you don’t have access to your facility’s numbers, sample data is available so you can still complete the work.
What technology do I need?
An email address and a computer. The platform also works on a phone, though the interactive tools and calculators are easier to use on a larger screen.
Does this program count toward my professional development hours (PDH)
Yes. REA is endorsed by RETA (Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association) and awards Professional Development Hours (PDHs) based on your participation. You can earn up to 11 PDHs by completing all 10 courses and attending all three live Ask-an-Expert sessions.