2.II.vi. Information campaigns / complementary policies – OVERVIEW

Since the introduction of the EPBD, comprehensive efforts (annual energy and building exhibitions¹¹, congresses¹², international conferences and competitions¹³) have been undertaken in Austria to provide information to the public and to professionals. The Austrian regions and their regional energy agencies develop and implement training programmes for different target groups in the building sector and offer comprehensive information campaigns, competitions and energy advice services for building owners and users. For example, the “Energy Academy” in Upper Austria offers more than 30 courses every year on building-related technologies and services. In the context of the “Arge Eba”, the nine (9) Austrian regions offer standardised training for energy advisers¹⁴. A detailed list and description of all consultancy programmes and information campaigns of the Austrian regions can be found in the Long Term Renovation Strategy (LTRS) from March 2020.

The “klimaaktiv” initiative of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management and especially its “Building and renovation” programme (launched in 2008) is a main promoter of energy efficiency in buildings in Austria. Since 2012, the yearly granted state prize for architecture and sustainability¹⁵ is awarded to outstanding achievements in energy-efficient buildings.

A new campaign was run during 2019 regarding inspection of heating systems to promote the advantages of complying with the mandatory inspection. The campaign was broadcasted on the radio and through colourful posters displayed in public places (subways, bus stops, bars) (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Information campaign for citizens about the mandatory control of boilers.

Regarding certification, no campaign has been launched yet, but a public online register of EPCs was implemented. The aim of this register is to allow potential buyers or tenants to check the validity of the paper-version EPC and to allow landlords to find out whether an EPC exists and is still valid for their own dwelling.

Details on EPCs can be obtained through the EPC unique number or the address which makes information more accessible. The development of the register required a fair amount of legal work.

The register is available on: https://www.peb-epb.brussels/certificats-certificaten/.

The communication about the EPBD mainly focuses on the E-level to be achieved by law, and minimum performance levels financial incentives as well as the path to NZEB (E30 for houses) by 2021. In recent years, for new buildings, the communication focused on BEN-bouwen (BEN = Bijna EnergieNeutraal = NZEB) and the levels to be achieved. The Flemish Region focuses on the frontrunners (companies, public authorities, architects, material producers, registered on www.energiesparen.be/BEN). The slogan is 'ik BEN mee' (I get it).

Since monitoring of the as-built performance started, a constant over-performance was noticed compared to the actual legal requirements, showing that builders can successfully achieve ambitious performance objectives if the legal framework is clear and stable.

For deep renovations, since the end of 2016, several waves of a new campaign called 'BENOveren' (Figure 18) started. 'BENOveren' means 'to renovate better' and focuses on the long-term goals for 2050. Communication material is developed and made available to various stakeholders.

Figure 18. Branding deep renovations with long-term goals towards 2050.

In December 2018, the 'Woningpas', a free individual housing passport, was launched, showing all the data of the house and the building plots that is available in public databases, including the Energy Performance Certificate. This last one was updated and launched early 2019, showing the energy performance in terms of labels (F to A) and offering a more detailed advice for (staged) renovation for the 2050 goal. In 2020, a free online demo-tool will be launched which will give the public the possibility to get an indicative energy performance score together with some benchmark data.

A general communication campaign, called 'Walloreno'¹¹ has been launched in 2020, which aims to promote all the actions linked to the renovation of buildings in Wallonia and to raise citizens' awareness of energy renovation. It includes videos on several types of media, press articles, posters and flyers.

Meanwhile, the Walloon Region continuously provides information on EPCs, energy performance in buildings requirements, energy efficiency, etc. to the general public as well as to professionals through different communication tools:

Figure 6. Information campaigns – Magazine 'Les échos du logement'.

Targeted and specialised information campaigns, for the enhancement of the energy performance of buildings, have been conducted through several projects. These campaigns were implemented by the SEDA and NGOs within the framework of the EU-funded Intelligent Energy-Europe II programme.

Information days were held during 2015 and 2016 for beneficiaries under two grant schemes, for funding public and residential buildings, within the framework of Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014-2020.

A list of financing mechanisms and schemes promoting energy efficiency in buildings has been published and is regularly updated on the SEDA’s website (www.seea.government.bg/en). This includes information on the relevant regulations, procedures and conditions of certification, a database of auditing companies and experts, and information on training in the field of energy efficiency and existing qualification schemes. Most of the databases developed and maintained by the SEDA are also freely available, although some of them require online registration. Nevertheless, the SEDA’s regional offices currently provide information to various interested parties on the possibilities of energy efficiency measures.

Information campaigns for energy efficiency are a continuous activity, adjusted to the needs of the professional and the general audience, and directed to support strategic goals of energy efficiency policies. To achieve the set goals, different tools were employed – from continuous stakeholder dialogue, a charter on cooperation in decarbonisation of building stock, conferences, presentations, and development of different guidelines for both professionals and building owners.

• The open stakeholder dialogues:

With the goal of creating a wide network of experts who are ready for a joint dialogue and contribution to the decarbonisation of the existing building stock until 2050, MCPP has initiated the open stakeholder dialogue and prepared the charter on co-operation towards a decarbonised building stock by 2050, by the signing of which symbolically makes signatories stakeholders. 

So far, five open dialogues have been held with the following topics:

1. the energy efficiency in buildings (09/2018);
2. energy poverty (02/2019);
3. the application of modern solutions and rules of fire protection and risk of increased seismic activity during energy renovation of buildings (04/2019);
4. amendments to the Construction Act related to the transposition of Directive 2018/844 (10/2019);
5. the energy renovation of buildings and the long-term strategy for the energy renovation of buildings (02/2020).

• Charter on co-operation:

The contents of the charter on co-operation towards a decarbonised building stock by 2050 refers to the achievement of energy and climate goals at national and EU level through the decarbonisation of the building stock, the renovation of buildings and the construction of NZEB. It raises awareness on the importance of additional greenhouse gas emission reductions, increasing the share of RES, improving energy security, and introducing innovation and smart technologies that enable buildings to contribute to the overall decarbonisation of the economy. By signing the charter, continuous cooperation is enhanced to develop a long-term renovation strategy to support the renovation of the national building stock and the transition to the construction standard of NZEB.

By the end of March 2020, the charter had been signed by more than 60 stakeholders from the business and public sectors.

• CEI expert conference ‘Energy Efficiency in buildings - for a better tomorrow’:

The Ministry of Construction and Physical Planning organised in September 2018 the expert conference on energy efficiency in buildings for a better tomorrow⁶

• Guidelines for NZEB - PART ONE,

(intended for the interested public) – December 2019⁷

• Guidelines for NZEB - PART TWO:

(intended for the experts) – December 2019⁸

The MECI is informing the public through leaflets and advertising flyers about EPCs, NZEB, and the inspection of central heating and AC systems. Additionally, the annual exhibition 'SAVENERGY' is likely the most important public event in the energy efficiency of buildings. The exhibition started in 2004 and is co-organised by the MECI and the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation. It gives the public an opportunity to come in direct contact with the companies that sell and install energy saving and RES systems, mainly in the building sector.

The MECI organises and/or participates in seminars and presentations especially directed at professionals in the building industry, such as engineers, construction companies, real estate agents, and the financial sector.

In 2019, the MECI has made an energy-efficiency information campaign which focuses on homes and business establishments. The campaign mainly included billboards in public areas, a dedicated website and advertisement on TV, radio and social media.

Also, an online energy saving tool was created to help citizens easily identify the costs and benefits of implementing various energy saving measures and RES⁶. The tool offers to users a range of functions to estimate energy consumption and suggests ways to save energy. Among other features, it includes options for providing advice on building renovations, electrical appliances and RES integration in buildings.  

The EFEKT Programme, which is ongoing since the 90s, is one of the tools of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to achieve the current goal set by the European Directive No. 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency. The EFEKT Programme is a programme complementary to operational and national energy programmes aimed at increasing energy savings. Minor investment and non-investment projects are promoted throughout a five-year period. Non-investment projects assist with energy consulting, implementing energy management, preparing energy efficiency projects, hosting events and providing books and pamphlets, all of which are free to the public. The EFEKT Programme⁶ also supports the EPC system, for example, by providing essential books as learning materials for applicants who wish to obtain a licence to issue EPCs and inspect heating and AC systems. The programme also supports energy auditors.

Under this programme, the ministry runs energy consulting and information centres. Energy consulting is provided as a free service to the public, which serves to achieve energy savings and increased deployment of RES. It is designed for citizens, public administrations, businesses and entrepreneurs. The information centres are represented in all regions of the country and provide advice from qualified energy consultants.

Energy Savings short-term campaign

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has prepared a short-term campaign aimed at the following target groups:

Households

Youth 18-35 years

Families 35-60 years old

Elderly and seniors 60+

Business management

With production

Without production

Public administration

Mayors

Directors of the Investment and Property Management

The objective is to run a campaign focused on rapidly raising awareness about energy savings among the Czech public. The campaign is planned to last two years.

Given that the campaign is short-term and focused on the rapid achievement of the goals set, it should appeal more to the so-called quick thinking and decision-making in the near future. Quick thinking is a fast, emotional, mostly unconscious and intuitive decision-making system. Therefore, the short-term campaign should support this rapid decision-making process, which also leads to rapid change.

Examples of strategic learning are described in Table 8.

Table 8: Strategic insights per target group for the Energy Savings short-term campaign.

Additional information can be found in the LTRS (see https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficient-buildings/long-term-renovation-strategies_en).

Improving building energy efficiency and modifying behaviour regarding building usage is a priority of the Danish consumer information campaign. The Danish Energy Agreement of June 2018 includes measures to improve consumer information and awareness, targeted at end users. Furthermore, the agreement includes measures for improving data and digitalisation usage, to promote energy efficiency.

Previous and current activities aim at producing information material in cooperation with relevant actors dealing with energy saving. The importance of the local perspective and private ownership is a significant part of the activities. This involves preparing material on energy efficient solutions, information on building regulations, and better access to information and knowledge about energy renovation.

Figure 3. Sample of popular guides targeting private households.  

The Danish Energy Agency's website www.SparEnergi.dk is the backbone of communication with end users concerning energy efficient solutions, both in private households and in public and private enterprises. The website contains a variety of tools, information and knowledge that supports energy saving. The Danish Energy Agency also offers free-of-charge telephone support and email advice, as well as information activities about available energy-consulting services for private households.

 Figure 4. Campaign on SparEnergi.dk.

Furthermore, a number of initiatives have been launched to promote the EPC and to reduce energy consumption in buildings, e.g., 'BetterHouses' and several information campaigns. 'BetterHouses' is a Danish national consultancy scheme, which is voluntary and market driven. It extends the EPC scheme and aims to promote the refurbishment of private residential buildings by removing barriers and making it easier and more manageable to refurbish and reduce the buildings' energy consumption through counselling during the building process.

Public awareness for energy efficiency and energy certification systems is at quite a good level in the case of renting or buying buildings. People generally ask for the EPC, and the building law states that, in the case where a buyer or tenant enquires about the EPC, the seller has to provide it.

CPTRA is monitoring how the EPC information is published in real estate advertisements and is working closely with the real estate portals in providing input (such as articles) for their newsletters. Some examples:

• https://blog.kinnisvara24.delfi.ee/miks-on-energiamargis-oluline/
• https://www.city24.ee/et/kinnisvarauudised/15497/labi-hoonefondi-rekonstrueerimise-kliimaneutraalseks-eestiks--miks-on-energiamargis-oluline

Fund KredEx and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, together with the Tartu Regional Energy Agency, organise a national energy week once a year. Fund KredEx has also carried out several other information campaigns, mostly targeted at apartment buildings, as their share is roughly 70% of the total residential building stock. These campaigns have been organised on an annual basis to inform apartment building tenants about energy saving measures and the potential magnitude of the savings, in order to give expert advice and to inform them about support provided by the state (subsidy programmes). Several methods have been used in these campaigns. Information has been distributed through TV, radio, print media, internet, street advertisements, training courses for persons responsible for building maintenance, etc. As a result of these campaigns, energy saving activities have taken off and renovation grants have become very popular among apartment associations and detached house owners.

To further raise awareness and knowledge, the CPTRA together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications organise seminars for local municipalities and housing associations at least once a year in different cities. Energy efficiency is always a major part of these seminars.

Finland has information campaigns and advice programmes in place for both energy efficiency and renovation. “Kuluttajien energianeuvonta” (consumer energy advice programme) is aimed at homes and households and promotes energy efficiency and RES in housing as well as transport, with advisors in several regions (Figure 3). The advisory programme is nationally funded by the Energy Authority of Finland.

Figure 3: Information and advisory campaigns on energy efficiency in construction and housing targeting consumers.

Renovation advice is provided through www.Korjaustieto.fi; there is also a network of local advisors, with special emphasis on advice to elderly people (Vanhustyön Keskusliitto). The renovation advice is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment.

In 2016, the Ministry of the Environment launched with several prominent actors in the housing sector an information campaign that targets housing companies. The aim of the campaign was to help implement simple and affordable energy efficiency measures. The campaign is featured on the website www.energiahukka.fi, where advice and information is given according to building type (Figure 4).

Figure 4: National campaign on energy efficiency in housing companies,”Energiahukka”. 

In 2019, the Ministry of the Environment, together with Motiva Oy, started a project piloting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in advising housing companies in energy efficiency related issues. The aim is to widen the use of AI to renovation advise after the first pilot. Improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings is also very much at the centre of the voluntary energy efficiency agreements in the property sector (rental housing and commercial buildings). The third term of the energy efficiency agreement started in 2017 (2017-2025), continuing the success of the previous 2008-2016 term (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Yearly heating and fuel savings and electricity savings by type of measures, reported in the Property Sector Voluntary Energy Efficiency Agreement in 2018.

To inform and support energy renovation actions for housing and small non-residential buildings the SARE programme (which stands for Energy renovation support service) was created. The service is led by ADEME (Environment and energy management agency), both at the national as well as at the regional level, and is a declination of a larger programme, so-called ‘FAIRE’ (Expedite, support and inform on energy renovation). FAIRE aims at supporting every information action but also gathering all the resources on a single and easy to access website. On the platform, individuals can find a multitude of advice on how to reduce their energy consumption and resolve issues which arise during renovation operation, and contact a professional to provide them with specific answers for free.

Both the ministry and ADEME (the French Energy Agency) publish guides which aim either at providing information about all new financial schemes or at facilitating the understanding of new regulation.

On top of that, several television programmes, e.g., ‘consomag’, are financed by the state, in order to reach the largest possible number of households.

As a complementary policy, there is an obligation to insulate the roof or the facade of a building whenever other restoration works are undertaken. This obligation aims at lowering the cost of a thermal renovation by including it in a package of planned renovation works. However, this obligation does not apply in case of light restoration (e.g., cleaning), or when the façade is of remarkable architectural or patrimonial value.

Figure 2. Example of information guide about financial incentives.

The Federal Government financially supports the advice given by energy experts to building owners. The Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) supports on-site-advice for residential buildings ('Energieberatung für Wohngebäude'), energy advice for medium-sized enterprises ('Energieberatung Mittelstand') and energy advice for municipal non-residential buildings ('Energieberatung für Nichtwohngebäude von Kommunen und gemeinnützigen Organisationen'). The advice of listed energy efficiency experts can also be financially supported by the KfW.

In addition, the 'Verbraucherzentrale' (publicly supported organisation providing advice to consumers) provides information and energy checks for households.

Since 2016, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy informs private households, companies and public bodies with its campaign 'Germany makes it efficient'. Everyone should be motivated to use heat and electricity as efficiently as possible. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is backing the campaign by providing information and funding.

Potential funding recipients are often insufficiently informed about the funding programmes available to strengthen energy efficiency and to foster the use of RES in building heating, industrial processes and plants. Moreover, the application process for funding is often seen as being too complex.

Therefore, BMWi, BAFA and KfW established an online tool called 'Energy efficiency funding guide' ('Förderwegweiser Energieeffizienz') which by means of a question-answer system guides the user towards a suitable funding programme for the corresponding target group.

Information material about the KENAK, the EPC and the energy efficiency of buildings has been produced by the YPEN and is found at the ministry’s website http://www.ypeka.gr/Default.aspx?tabid=282&language=el-GR. Additionally, the implemented financing scheme 'Energy Savings in Households II' (see previous section) provides information related to EPCs.

In 2015, the Ministry for National Development has adopted the Action Plan to Improve Awareness for Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection¹⁸. Certain communication and education actions as well as monitoring mechanisms are put in place to control the implementation of the action plan. The plan envisages several opportunities to submit applications for the implementation of awareness-raising programmes to be co-financed by the EU, which are also able to contribute to numerous programmes to encourage the reduction of energy consumption.

The ÉMI Non-profit Limited Liability Company for Quality Control and Innovation in Building (ÉMI)¹⁹ operating as the background institute of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology in Hungary, in cooperation with the Municipal Government of Szentendre town and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) won the right to organise the Solar Decathlon Europe 2019 in the designated city of Szentendre, the prestigious international innovative house-building competition of universities.

Hungary was the first in the region to host this international event, which is held between universities and surrounded by high public attention, in the summer of 2019. As the main professional subject matter, the Hungarian organiser emphasised solutions for the renovation of the existing building stock. It posed a number of new challenges to the competitors: the application of local recycled materials, the high-level integration of solar photovoltaic and solar cell systems, the issue and solution of the summer overheating of buildings, bioclimatic planning and nature-based solutions, as well as the use of high-performance composite materials. The event was held at the ÉMI’s Science and Technology Industrial Park in Szentendre, including the fourteen days of the competition and the extended exhibition of two months.

The Solar Decathlon Europe is an international competition that challenges collegiate teams to design and build houses powered exclusively by renewable energy sources: the main aim of the competition is to promote architectural solutions related to solar energy, renewable energies and innovative technologies through the houses built by the university teams.

Figure 5. Solar Decathlon Europe 2019, Location: Szentendre, ÉMI Nonprofit Ltd.

ÉMI is actively taking part in many related international projects. ÉMI acted as the coordinator of the Hungarian Build Up Skills Pillar I. project²⁰ where a roadmap has been developed to improve training in the construction field. ÉMI also coordinated the Build Up Skills Pillar II. TRAINBUD project²¹ which elaborated a crosscraft type (nZEB related) training programme and high-quality training material for HVAC skilled workers to improve their skills in energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. Additionally, it established a Sustainable Construction Skills Alliance involving more than 70 stakeholders from the field of education and construction. In the recently ended NEWCOM project²², ÉMI worked on an nZEB training material and training scheme (flat roofing) and conducted a series of pilot training for flat roofers, ventilation installers and building inspectors. In the actual BIMzeED project²³, ÉMI is responsible for the conduction of pilot training in the field of nZEB and BIM for educators, HEI and VET students, and workers of SMEs in the construction field.

Through the support of SEAI, communities are improving the energy efficiency of shared community buildings, and businesses are becoming more competitive through reduced energy costs. In addition, homes are being upgraded making them more comfortable and helping alleviate the effects of energy poverty. SEAI delivers free energy efficiency upgrades to homeowners who receive certain welfare payments. In 2019, SEAI offered grant support to 57 community energy projects to a value of over €60 million. This helped support the upgrade of over 650 homes and 450 community buildings and businesses right across Ireland.

Figure 1 Sustainable Energy Communities.

A diverse selection of organisations working together, such as clubs and other sports facilities, local authorities, retail outlets, factories, community centres, charities, hotels, public sector facilities and schools participate in the projects. By bringing together groups of buildings under the same retrofit project, community-wide energy improvements can be achieved more efficiently and cost effectively than might otherwise be possible. Innovative and pioneering partnerships between sectors are encouraged. This might include collaborations between public and private sectors, residential and non-residential sectors, commercial and not-for-profit organisations, or financing entities and energy suppliers. Projects that are part of a larger energy efficiency project or that engage with other SEAI programmes are welcome. Participant buildings are required to achieve a B2 BER or better after energy upgrade.

The energy efficiency and renewable energy agencies ENEA and GSE (Energy Service Manager) have the mandate to manage the governmental incentives for building energy renovation and the related communication campaigns. Beyond several publications and workshops, ENEA annually releases an energy efficiency report (RAEE) that also monitors trends and best practices on policy and technology advancements in the building sector with the participation of key national stakeholders.

In compliance with the 2015 inter-ministerial Decrees, ENEA developed a guideline to the new EPC. A technical group composed of the different ministries has been established to update the EPC guidelines with Eurostat 2018 indications, taking into account the current legislation in terms of public procurement.

Sections of the ENEA website address EPCs, energy audits, incentives, guidelines for building renovations, technical building systems operation and inspection.

Figure 1. Institutional portal on tax deductions for building renovations.

Pursuant to Art. 5 of Legislative Decree 102/2014, modified by Legislative Decree 73/2020, ENEA published the guidelines for executing energy diagnoses in public buildings.

As part of the obligation to draw up an energy audit pursuant to Art. 8 of Legislative Decree 102/2014, modified by Legislative Decree 73/2020, ENEA managed to activate the sectoral technical roundtables that provide support to operators, and this activity has led to the development of various sectoral guidelines for conducting the energy audit.

Within the EED implementation, the ITALIA IN CLASSE A campaign includes a series of training and information activities targeting public administrations, large companies and SMEs, banking institutions, households and students; these were carried out from 2016 to 2020 throughout the national territory. Since 2015, the results achieved by the campaign are estimated at 0.1 Mtoe; given its importance, a new enhanced information and training programme for the 2021-2030 period has been adopted by the government. Social media and a dedicated ENEA web channel are also used to disseminate relevant information.

Figure 2. 'Italia in classe A' ENEA web channel.

To fill the knowledge gap and complement competences in energy efficiency, the Italian Agency of Territorial Cohesion has been funding ENEA’s project ES-PA (Energy and Sustainability for Public Administrations) in the 2018-2023 period, which aims to provide free tools and guidelines that support public administrations in developing and implementing their energy and environmental policies.

A campaign named ‘Living warmer’¹⁷ for promoting the energy performance of buildings in Latvia (Figure 2) has been running since 2010. The key objective of the Living warmer campaign is to inform households about the existence and the conditions of support programmes in the EU 2007-2013 and EU 2014-2020 planning periods. More than 200 informative events have been held throughout Latvia, which included a variety of public debates, seminars, conferences and exhibitions, involving more than 8,500 participants in total. The campaign has been running successfully for ten years and informative events – seminars, conferences, exhibitions – have been regularly held throughout the country. Some of the seminars were also web-streamed; videos can be found at www.youtube.com/siltinam. The measures have covered different themes, e.g.: the need to improve the technical condition of your home, how to pass decisions at general meetings of apartment owners, how to carry out high-quality renovation of housing, sharing experiences related to already renovated houses, etc. The implementation of such measures has clearly increased public awareness and knowledge of the need for energy efficiency measures and has triggered cooperation between clients and service providers, which has thereby resulted in an increase of the number of buildings being renovated throughout Latvia.

Figure 2. 'Living warmer' campaign.

Since 2011, the annual competition ‘Energy efficient buildings in Latvia’¹⁸ has been held to promote the good practice of implementing energy efficiency in the building sector, as well as implementing energy-efficient building construction, renovation and reconstruction.

The Energy Efficiency Center¹⁹ of the public energy generation company JSC Latvenergo and Zemgales Regional Energy Agency²⁰ advises the public and private sectors about ways to energy efficiently use electricity and heating.
The Energy Efficiency Information Center of Riga’s municipality agency organises seminars on the quality of renovations and provides information and advice about energy efficiency, including free advice about preparing applications for renovations and energy audits.

Over the last few years, Luxembourg has made numerous efforts to provide detailed information on energy savings and the use of RES to energy consumers.

These efforts are illustrated by the achievements of the public energy advisory and information provider myenergy, whose activities include raising awareness as well as informing and assisting households, companies, municipalities and professionals regarding energy savings, the use of renewable and sustainable energy and the development of sustainable residential buildings.

The website www.myenergy.lu is the major official tool for informing all the aforementioned target groups.

The free, impartial and basic advice to private individuals is provided over phone (hotline number 8002 11 90) or in personal advisory sessions held in one of the numerous regional myenergy information points. These information points are part of a large network of myenergy’s local advice centres.

Representatives of myenergy also organise action weeks, on-site consultations and information events with presentations and awareness-raising activities, attend national trade shows, create information flyers and internet platforms and ensure a regular presence in the national media. myenergy has also developed virtual interactive gamification tools, providing key messages in the conception of energy-efficient buildings.

While the energy performance of buildings is adhered to by means of regulation and enforcement, it has been acknowledged that renovations, the installation of RES in private residences and other buildings as well as the shift towards NZEB may be greatly aided by an increase in public demand for such buildings, even though these may not pay off in the short term. Central government authorities responsible for energy efficiency have therefore attempted to promote the benefits of energy efficiency in property values. An example where this strategy has worked is in glazing, where, due to high consumer demand, most new buildings are now being fitted with glazing systems which go beyond the newly updated minimum requirements set according to cost-optimal levels.

Information campaigns targeting energy efficiency over recent years have included:

• disseminating the NZEB Plan for Malta1 to both the general public and all building professionals via local printed newspapers;
• distributing brochures that detail EPC requirements and contain information regarding energy efficiency in general to all households in Malta;
• publishing articles in local printed media to promote energy efficiency and outline requirements of the EPBD;
• participating in radio and television broadcasts, including live phone-ins from the public, to promote various aspects of the EPBD such as the value of EPCs for energy efficiency;
• distributing brochures with information on EPC requirements for selling and advertising a property in local printed national newspapers;
• delivering a series of in-service courses regarding climate change and energy efficiency to teachers;
• delivering public lectures regarding the EPBD and energy efficiency to events organised by local councils;
• providing the latest information about various aspects of the EPBD and energy efficiency through official websites.

Figure 6. An article in local printed media to promote energy efficiency and outline requirements of the EPBD.

Climate campaign ‘Iedereen doet wat’ (Everyone does something)

 In September 2019, the national government launched a long-term campaign on the climate transition together with companies and social organisations. Under the title ‘Everyone does something’, the campaign helps people make sustainable choices in and around their house. The campaign makes it clear that everyone can contribute something: big or small, cheap or more expensive. The question is not whether people can do something for the climate, but what they can do.

The campaign offers targeted tools for people who want to make their lives more sustainable. On the website www.iedereendoetwat.nl, there are more than 20 options of what people can do to make their lives more sustainable. The options vary; where one may consider installing solar panels, someone else may want to waste less food. The website will be further enriched in the coming years and will be adapted as the climate transition progresses.

The campaign is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. The campaign also cooperates with companies and social organisations that, under the title ‘Everyone does something’ support people, for example with a concrete product action or additional information.

Figure 6. National climate campaign ‘Iedereen doet wat’.

Information campaigns generally work in synergy with financial incentives when directed towards the building owners, motivating them to make use of the incentives. There have also been information campaigns targeting the supplier side of the market which inform about new building codes, the ban on fossil fuel heating and the importance of advising the homeowner on energy upgrades when renovating.

A national information centre on energy in buildings answers approximately 60,000 questions annually via telephone, webchat, social media and e-mail. The centre also contributes to certain web-based discussion forums, offering expert advice to homeowners regarding the renovation of private homes, certification, subsidies, technical building issues, etc.

The Norwegian EPC database has been further developed to facilitate an easy mapping of EPCs for banks. This is paving the road for preferential green loans from banks to finance construction of energy efficient buildings or the upgrading of old buildings to a high level of energy efficiency.

Figure 3. Lavenergiprogrammet (Programme for low energy buildings 2007-2017) comprised information campaigns targeting building professionals, craftsmen, etc. This example is of moisture in the construction.

Activities promoting energy efficiency in buildings in Poland include:

• • The 'Clean Air - A Healthy Choice!'⁹ campaign conducted by the Ministry of Climate is not only aiming to investigate the causes of the smog phenomenon, but above all to encourage individuals and groups to take actions that reduce the emission of harmful pollutants into the air.
  • Actions by educational faculties to increase research capacity in the scope of environmental technologies;
  • The 'House Without Bills'¹⁰ social campaign, conducted by the Polish Organisation for the Development of Heat Pump Technology 'PORT PC' under the auspices of the Ministry of Development addresses people who intend to build a house in the near future. The goal of the 'House Without Bills' campaign is to promote the construction of single-family buildings equipped with a heat pump and a solar farm to achieve a high energy standard for the building;
  • The 'Guide to Improve the Energy Performance of Buildings'¹¹, developed in January 2020 by the Ministry of Development. The guide is aimed at a wide range of customers, including owners and users of buildings or their parts, investors, building managers, local government units, building contractors, architects, engineers, people authorised to draw up EPCs and to inspect heating and AC systems, and energy auditors.

In addition, there are many other organisations, associations, institutions, etc., that provide services of information and consultancy to promote energy conservation issues.

A marketing campaign specifically focusing on EPC recommendations was drafted and put into practice in 2016. After analysing all issued EPCs, and particularly the almost two (2) million proposed recommendations, the top ten (10) measures were identified, five (5) of which relate to the building envelope – wall insulation, roof insulation, windows, solar shading and ventilation, and five (5) to technical building systems – solar thermal collectors, wood stoves, boilers, heat pumps and PV, and a set of small brochures were designed (around ten (10) pages each¹⁶).

These brochures were designed to provide the building owner with a better understanding of the building features that can be improved to achieve energy reduction or costs savings. Each of the brochures follows the same structure and has a coherent design which allows homeowners to understand the impact of that specific recommendation as well as any possible constraints or difficulties in implementing it. Figure 3 presents the covers of the brochures for roof insulation and solar thermal collectors.

Figure 3: Covers of the brochures for roof insulation and for solar thermal collectors.

In 2018, and after a submission to POSEUR funding, ADENE was able to put into practice a communication campaign, titled 'To certify is to value' (Certificar é Valorizar), which mostly targeted residential buildings. The campaign was designed to communicate the advantages of having an EPC, namely by addressing the detailed information about a dwelling, as well as the possibility to access funding or fiscal benefits from having an EPC.

Complementing those messages, a simulator¹⁹ was developed in order to engage home users to understand the home survey and energy analysis. This tool was not designed to substitute the work and analysis of the qualified expert, nor to effectively issue an EPC, but nonetheless, the results are not expected to diverge more than one energy label, for average buildings.

As for the media supporting the campaign and among different actions, a TV advertisement²⁰ was specifically created and focused on the necessary home survey, with a humorous approach for viewers to retain the message.

Information campaigns are organised through TV specials (broadcasted monthly on public service channel), focusing on energy certification, measures recommended for major and deep building renovations, construction products, as well as information about technical building systems and components. Similarly, there are also radio broadcasts focusing on energy certification. Information about the energy performance of buildings is available at www.mindop.sk. There are already some ongoing information campaigns and professional advice activities, e.g. 'Live with Energy'¹⁹ and 'Efficient with energy'²⁰, organised by the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA). In cooperation with SIEA, the private channel TA3 prepares, as of mid-2019, a monthly television report on the usage of devices utilising renewable sources and the efficient use of energy.

Based on the Act on Energy Efficiency (2020), the state-owned company BORZEN promotes energy efficiency in all sectors via the web portal ‘Trajnostna energija’¹⁵, with events, publications and television broadcasts on energy efficiency and RES.

Eco Fund manages the energy advisory network ENSVET¹⁶ for buildings and households and partly for municipalities. The ENSVET network operates in municipal offices and on major events and fairs; it is free of charge for the end-user. The Eco Fund web portal gives an abundance of information on financing and technical details on the measures.

The LIFE IP CARE4CLIMATE¹⁷ project is a multi-year project (2019-2026) under the coordination of the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning. Among several topics, in cooperation with the Ministry, criteria for the sustainable construction of buildings in Slovenia are being prepared by the Building and Civil Engineering Institute ZRMK and the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG). The key principle in the development of criteria is the participation of specialists and end-users. Other important actions are the development of new categories of the national green label, Quality Label in Building and Civil Engineering (ZKG), and extensive training sessions for all stakeholders engaged in the sustainable construction process and maintenance of buildings, capacity building for green public procurement, energy management and retro-commissioning. All activities are widely promoted through dedicated information campaigns.

The participation of Slovenian partners in consortia of EU funded projects raises the general knowledge on important topics for EPBD implementation and often stimulates beneficiaries to become front-runners in building renovations and other projects. The building industry and the private sector contribute to the information by establishing energy technology exhibitions and training centres.

To achieve the planned energy savings and energy performance of buildings in Spain, annual communication campaigns have been highlighting the most critical aspects and their related potential.

Following this line, the Institute for Diversification and Energy Savings (IDAE) holds yearly communication campaigns which are published and broadcast via television media, press and radio (Figure 2).

The link to one of the communication campaign programmes is indicated here:

https://www.idae.es/informacion-y-publicaciones/campanas-y-acciones-de-comunicacion

Figure 2. IDAE advertising campaigns.

In 2017, Boverket was commissioned by the government to perform a procurement to establish and run the ‘national information centre for sustainable buildings’. Focus for the information centre was to be on improving energy efficiency while performing renovation works, and on energy-efficient construction with the use of sustainable materials with low environmental impact from a life-cycle perspective.

To fulfil these purposes, the information centre shall collect and review data, ensure quality and disseminate information to target groups within the building industry. The information is distributed free of charge. The information centre is expected to improve the conditions for more renovation measures, leading to more efficient energy use, reduced climate impact, increased robustness for climate change and contribute to the fulfilment of EU directives on the energy performance and energy efficiency of buildings.

The private information service company Svensk Byggtjänst with partners was commissioned to run the website Information Centre for Sustainable Construction (ICHB) for two years (2018-2020). In 2020, the government assessed that the assignment should be conducted with a longer-term focus requiring a different form of organisation. Boverket was then assigned the main responsible for the information centre¹⁰.

Boverket has not yet presented the future plans for the information centre.

The Simple Energy Advice Service (SEA)³⁹ was set up in 2018 to provide impartial and tailored advice to help people make their homes greener and cheaper to run. The service consists of an easy-to-use website, supported by a call centre which members of the public may contact for assistance. SEA was created in response to the Government-commissioned Each Home Counts Review⁴⁰, which emphasised the importance of consumers receiving trusted, impartial advice on energy efficiency. SEA’s ‘core’ offer is an assessment of users’ behavioural traits and of the fabric of their homes (using EPC data), resulting in tailored energy saving advice. Where relevant, users are also directed towards financial support and qualified installers. There is further information, for example on smart meters, and specific advice for tenants and landlords. The Government is continuing to develop the service to broaden and further improve its functionality.

As discussed in section 2.IV.i, smart meters are being rolled out across Great Britain (i.e. England, Wales and Scotland). Smart Energy GB⁴¹ is responsible for the national public engagement campaign for the rollout, raising awareness, driving behaviour change, and helping consumers benefit from smart metering (see Figure 6 example below).

Figure 6: Smart Energy GB’s “Thank You” print campaign which focuses on the national benefits of smart meters.

Another UK-wide scheme, the Energy Technology List (ETL)⁴², seeks to overcome barriers to the procurement of the most energy efficient plant and machinery – such as boilers, heat pumps and lighting – in the non-domestic sector. It does so by providing consumers with information on a product’s energy performance through independent assurance of performance and by reducing transaction costs for businesses.

The Welsh Government provides advice to people living in Wales to improve their home energy efficiency. Subject to meeting certain eligibility criteria, people are provided home energy efficiency measures at no cost to the householder, to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. This contributes to the Welsh Government’s efforts to reduce fuel poverty and decarbonise Welsh homes. However, there is evidence that increased benefits could be delivered through an expansion of advice and support services, targeting people struggling to maintain a satisfactory home temperature at an affordable cost. As part of the new plan to tackle fuel poverty, the Welsh Government will implement a pilot scheme to explore how people can be supported to reduce energy demand using smart metering and other measures.

Advertising and wider promotional activities were carried out in the years following the implementation of the EPBD requirements in 2008. This included information campaigns utilising diverse outlets such as websites, advertising (radio, press and information leaflets) (Figure 8), targeted seminars, guidance documents, roadshows, and proactive enforcement. Information is also available from www.finance-ni.gov.uk.

Other initiatives to improve buildings energy efficiency that have benefited from publicity campaigns include “Energy Wise” (Figure 9) now “Energy Advice”²⁵, which provides advice for both domestic and non-domestic properties and “Invest Northern Ireland”²³ which supports companies to implement resource and energy efficiency improvements.

Figure 8. EPC information leaflet cover.

Figure 9. Previous Energy Wise campaign landing page.²⁶

The Scottish Government has invested more than £45 million (~52 million €) since 2007 to support households, businesses and organisations finance energy efficiency, renewable energy and district heating. This has generated loans more than £65 million (~75 million €) to over 4,000 applicants.

Domestic Energy Efficiency

Home Energy Scotland (HES)³¹ is Scotland’s national advice service on fuel poverty and energy efficiency and provides advice and support to those struggling with their energy bills. It comprises a network of local advice centres covering all of Scotland. Their expert advisors offer free, impartial advice on energy saving, keeping warm at home, renewable energy, greener travel, cutting water waste and more. HES is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Energy Saving Trust, and their core mission is to help people in Scotland create warmer homes, reduce their bills and help tackle climate change.

HES advisors provide a single point of access to sustainable energy and fuel poverty support in Scotland. They provide a valuable resource helping vulnerable customers make efficiencies in their fuel bills, an advocacy service with energy companies, and a broader service directing those in need to places where they can find practical help. Information on the advice service can be found online³², with further detail within section 5 of the 2019 Energy Saving Trust Scottish Home Energy Programmes Report³³.

Non-domestic Energy Efficiency

Advice and support for businesses is available through the Energy Efficiency Business Support Service³⁴ (EEBS, formerly Resource Efficient Scotland). The service is provided by Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) and funded by the Scottish Government and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The service is focused on SMEs and helps organisations to reduce costs and improve energy efficiency, by offering free advice and technical support and by sharing best practice.

Support for businesses³⁵ includes specialist advice, funding opportunities, training and specific tools, delivered online, on-site or over the phone. Funding opportunities promoted by EEBS include the SME Loan Fund³⁶. Reports on activities for the last full year indicated that 1,075 SMEs were provided with in-depth support, resulting in £5M of identified annual cost savings, and estimated annual energy savings of 40 GWh equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 25,000 tonnes.