Periodic Reporting for period 2 - REFEREE (Real ValuE oF EneRgy EfficiEncy)
Période du rapport: 2022-07-01 au 2024-06-30
The REFEREE project addresses the challenge of quantifying and leveraging the multiple non-energy benefits of energy efficiency investments. Traditionally, energy efficiency projects have been evaluated primarily based on their direct energy savings, often overlooking the broader socio-economic and environmental benefits. Understanding and promoting the multiple benefits of energy efficiency is crucial for society as it can significantly enhance the cost-effectiveness of these investments. Energy efficiency improvements can lead to job creation, health benefits, reduced public expenditure, and enhanced energy security. By highlighting these additional benefits, REFEREE aims to encourage greater investment in energy efficiency, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient society. The overall objectives of the REFEREE project are:
• To analyze and quantify the direct and indirect non-energy impacts of energy efficiency investments, demonstrating their overall value and cost-effectiveness.
• To develop user-friendly tools to support policymakers, households, businesses, and financial institutions in evaluating the multiple impacts of their energy efficiency choices.
• To design an integrated set of analysis tools, from macro to microeconomic levels, to provide meaningful investment indicators and support informed decision-making in the energy efficiency sector.
• To analyze and quantify the direct and indirect non-energy impacts of energy efficiency investments, demonstrating their overall value and cost-effectiveness.
• To develop user-friendly tools to support policymakers, households, businesses, and financial institutions in evaluating the multiple impacts of their energy efficiency choices.
• To design an integrated set of analysis tools, from macro to microeconomic levels, to provide meaningful investment indicators and support informed decision-making in the energy efficiency sector.
Key achievements of the project include:
• Development of the Policy Assessment Tool to provide the energy and non-energy benefits of energy efficiency policies at EU and national level. This has been achieved through the development and integration of a sophisticated set of models capable of quantitatively evaluating the changes brought about by these policies to the building stock, the technologies used in different activity sectors and the wider economy.
• Development of the Policy Assessment Tool to provide the energy and non-energy benefits of energy efficiency policies at regional and local level. This has been achieved by the design of a set of energy efficiency assessment methodologies that, basing upon and calibrating the data set provided by the models of the national tool, provide beyond-energy-efficiency assessments in the context of local policy making to support municipality sustainability policies in Europe. The local policy assessment tool is thus aligned with popular EU supported programs like the Covenant of Mayors
• Having provided tools that are easy to use and intuitive for users, also thanks the provision of a comprehensive set of introductory videos and online tutorials to support them.
• Involvement of a wide range of Stakeholders to increase their awareness on the potentialities and the support provided by the Policy Assessment Tools provided by the project.
Exploitation and Dissemination of Results
The results of the REFEREE project have been widely disseminated to maximise impact and ensure sustainability beyond the project's duration. Key dissemination activities included:
• Academic and Policy Publications:
o Published 5 articles in peer-reviewed academic journals.
o Released 3 policy briefs targeting national and EU policymakers.
• Workshops and Webinars:
o Organised 10 international workshops involving over 500 participants.
o Conducted 15 webinars with an average attendance of 80 stakeholders per session.
• Online Presence:
o Maintained an active project website that received over 120,000 individual visits.
o Engaged with audiences through social media channels, reaching over 100,000 people through posts, videos, and interactive content.
• Newsletters and Mailings:
o Distributed 4 major newsletters to a mailing list of over 5,000 recipients each, achieving an average open rate of 50%.
o Sent targeted mailings to key stakeholders, ensuring direct communication with policymakers, industry leaders, and academic experts.
• Media Engagement:
o Issued 3 press releases that resulted in coverage in major industry publications and online platforms.
o Secured mentions in over 10 external media articles and blogs, significantly boosting visibility.
By highlighting the multiple benefits of energy efficiency, the REFEREE project has significantly advanced the understanding and valuation of these investments, encouraging a shift towards more sustainable and economically beneficial energy practices across Europe.
• Development of the Policy Assessment Tool to provide the energy and non-energy benefits of energy efficiency policies at EU and national level. This has been achieved through the development and integration of a sophisticated set of models capable of quantitatively evaluating the changes brought about by these policies to the building stock, the technologies used in different activity sectors and the wider economy.
• Development of the Policy Assessment Tool to provide the energy and non-energy benefits of energy efficiency policies at regional and local level. This has been achieved by the design of a set of energy efficiency assessment methodologies that, basing upon and calibrating the data set provided by the models of the national tool, provide beyond-energy-efficiency assessments in the context of local policy making to support municipality sustainability policies in Europe. The local policy assessment tool is thus aligned with popular EU supported programs like the Covenant of Mayors
• Having provided tools that are easy to use and intuitive for users, also thanks the provision of a comprehensive set of introductory videos and online tutorials to support them.
• Involvement of a wide range of Stakeholders to increase their awareness on the potentialities and the support provided by the Policy Assessment Tools provided by the project.
Exploitation and Dissemination of Results
The results of the REFEREE project have been widely disseminated to maximise impact and ensure sustainability beyond the project's duration. Key dissemination activities included:
• Academic and Policy Publications:
o Published 5 articles in peer-reviewed academic journals.
o Released 3 policy briefs targeting national and EU policymakers.
• Workshops and Webinars:
o Organised 10 international workshops involving over 500 participants.
o Conducted 15 webinars with an average attendance of 80 stakeholders per session.
• Online Presence:
o Maintained an active project website that received over 120,000 individual visits.
o Engaged with audiences through social media channels, reaching over 100,000 people through posts, videos, and interactive content.
• Newsletters and Mailings:
o Distributed 4 major newsletters to a mailing list of over 5,000 recipients each, achieving an average open rate of 50%.
o Sent targeted mailings to key stakeholders, ensuring direct communication with policymakers, industry leaders, and academic experts.
• Media Engagement:
o Issued 3 press releases that resulted in coverage in major industry publications and online platforms.
o Secured mentions in over 10 external media articles and blogs, significantly boosting visibility.
By highlighting the multiple benefits of energy efficiency, the REFEREE project has significantly advanced the understanding and valuation of these investments, encouraging a shift towards more sustainable and economically beneficial energy practices across Europe.
The REFEREE project has advanced the state of publicly available modelling tools, by including an evaluation of the impact of relevant policy alongside a measure of the impact of resultant deployment of energy efficient technologies. Key advancements include:
• Integrated Modelling Tools: The project developed sophisticated policy assessment tools capable of evaluating the wide-ranging impacts of energy efficiency policies at EU, national, regional, and local levels. These tools integrate data from various sectors, providing a nuanced analysis of the socio-economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency measures.
• User-Friendly Decision Support Tools: Unlike existing models, the REFEREE tools are designed to be accessible to a broad range of users, including policymakers, businesses, financial institutions, and households. This inclusivity is achieved through an intuitive interface and comprehensive guidance materials, making complex analyses more approachable.
• Focus on Non-Energy Benefits: By explicitly quantifying the non-energy benefits, such as job creation, health improvements, reduced public expenditure, and enhanced energy security, the REFEREE project provides a more accurate reflection of the true value of energy efficiency investments. This approach supports more informed decision-making and promotes broader adoption of energy efficiency measures.
The REFEREE project is poised to deliver significant socio-economic, environmental, and policy impacts, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient society. Key potential impacts include:
• Enhanced Policy Frameworks: By providing comprehensive insights into the multiple benefits of energy efficiency, the project supports the development of more informed and effective policy decisions at all governance levels.
• Increased Investment in Energy Efficiency: The clearer understanding of the overall value of energy efficiency investments is expected to drive increased investment, leading to job creation and economic growth.
• Improved Public Health and Well-Being: Reduced energy consumption and associated emissions can lead to significant health benefits, contributing to improved public health and well-being.
• Strengthened Energy Security and Resilience: Enhanced energy efficiency reduces dependence on external energy sources, bolstering energy security and resilience.
• Promotion of Sustainable Development Practices: The project aligns with broader EU and global environmental and climate goals, promoting sustainable development practices across Europe.
The REFEREE project aims to create a significant and lasting impact on how energy efficiency investments are perceived and valued, encouraging a shift towards more sustainable and economically beneficial energy practices across Europe. By advancing the understanding of the full range of benefits associated with energy efficiency, the project supports the transition to a more resilient and sustainable energy system.
• Integrated Modelling Tools: The project developed sophisticated policy assessment tools capable of evaluating the wide-ranging impacts of energy efficiency policies at EU, national, regional, and local levels. These tools integrate data from various sectors, providing a nuanced analysis of the socio-economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency measures.
• User-Friendly Decision Support Tools: Unlike existing models, the REFEREE tools are designed to be accessible to a broad range of users, including policymakers, businesses, financial institutions, and households. This inclusivity is achieved through an intuitive interface and comprehensive guidance materials, making complex analyses more approachable.
• Focus on Non-Energy Benefits: By explicitly quantifying the non-energy benefits, such as job creation, health improvements, reduced public expenditure, and enhanced energy security, the REFEREE project provides a more accurate reflection of the true value of energy efficiency investments. This approach supports more informed decision-making and promotes broader adoption of energy efficiency measures.
The REFEREE project is poised to deliver significant socio-economic, environmental, and policy impacts, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient society. Key potential impacts include:
• Enhanced Policy Frameworks: By providing comprehensive insights into the multiple benefits of energy efficiency, the project supports the development of more informed and effective policy decisions at all governance levels.
• Increased Investment in Energy Efficiency: The clearer understanding of the overall value of energy efficiency investments is expected to drive increased investment, leading to job creation and economic growth.
• Improved Public Health and Well-Being: Reduced energy consumption and associated emissions can lead to significant health benefits, contributing to improved public health and well-being.
• Strengthened Energy Security and Resilience: Enhanced energy efficiency reduces dependence on external energy sources, bolstering energy security and resilience.
• Promotion of Sustainable Development Practices: The project aligns with broader EU and global environmental and climate goals, promoting sustainable development practices across Europe.
The REFEREE project aims to create a significant and lasting impact on how energy efficiency investments are perceived and valued, encouraging a shift towards more sustainable and economically beneficial energy practices across Europe. By advancing the understanding of the full range of benefits associated with energy efficiency, the project supports the transition to a more resilient and sustainable energy system.