Periodic Reporting for period 2 - HARP (Heating Appliances Retrofit Planning)
Période du rapport: 2021-01-01 au 2022-07-31
The HARP project, Heating Appliances Retrofit Planning, aimed at raising consumers’ awareness to the opportunities underlying the planned replacement of their old and inefficient heating appliances. This goal was achieved by supporting consumers in the identification of the energy (in)efficiency of their current heating equipment and the savings opportunities that derive from its replacement with a more energy-efficient alternative, such as renewable energy-based solutions.
By taking advantage of the heating energy label for space and water appliances, the goal was to mainstream the labelling concept to the installed heating stock, allowing the use of a well-known support decision tool to communicate and motivate consumers to replace their heating systems.
To do this, the HARP project accompanied the consumer decision process, providing an impartial message, based on the energy label and presenting technological solutions that respond to the consumer’s heating needs, providing a quantified approach for economic and non-economic benefits and bridging the gap with market providers and available national incentives.
The key to the HARP’s strategy was the development of the energy labelling methodologies to calculate the energy efficiency and respective energy class of existing space and water heating appliances. This was the basis for the development of the HARPa online application that accompanied the consumer in its decision process journey, from the labelling of the existing appliance to the identification of the most adequate replacement solutions and guidance to existing replacement incentives and professionals that can offer further support to proceed with the replacement. This application, together with a set of resources developed for consumers and professionals, was actively promoted in the five HARP focus countries throughout two heating season campaigns enrolled by the national partners.
The overall objectives of the project, namely reaching 1.5 million consumers and motivating 10 thousand consumers to the replacement of their heating appliance were surpassed, reaching nearly 9 million consumers, motivating more than 30 thousand and presenting more than 18 thousand consumers replacement solutions for their old heating system.
The results of the campaigns and the efforts endorsed at the national level allowed to define five policy integration strategies for the adoption of the energy labelling methodologies at the national level, aiming to exploit the HARP results and contribute to the harmonization of the energy transition and product regulation policies.
Five key policy integration strategies were identified:
1. Harmonize the existing systems for the energy labelling of existing heating appliances
2. Reinforce the link between product policy and the Energy Performance of Building Directive
3. One-stop-shops/renovation passports strategies to identify heating appliances replacement opportunities
4. Maintenance procedures of heating appliances
5. Prioritize energy efficiency incentives and support the energy transition of the heating sector
By taking advantage of the heating energy label for space and water appliances, the goal was to mainstream the labelling concept to the installed heating stock, allowing the use of a well-known support decision tool to communicate and motivate consumers to replace their heating systems.
To do this, the HARP project accompanied the consumer decision process, providing an impartial message, based on the energy label and presenting technological solutions that respond to the consumer’s heating needs, providing a quantified approach for economic and non-economic benefits and bridging the gap with market providers and available national incentives.
The key to the HARP’s strategy was the development of the energy labelling methodologies to calculate the energy efficiency and respective energy class of existing space and water heating appliances. This was the basis for the development of the HARPa online application that accompanied the consumer in its decision process journey, from the labelling of the existing appliance to the identification of the most adequate replacement solutions and guidance to existing replacement incentives and professionals that can offer further support to proceed with the replacement. This application, together with a set of resources developed for consumers and professionals, was actively promoted in the five HARP focus countries throughout two heating season campaigns enrolled by the national partners.
The overall objectives of the project, namely reaching 1.5 million consumers and motivating 10 thousand consumers to the replacement of their heating appliance were surpassed, reaching nearly 9 million consumers, motivating more than 30 thousand and presenting more than 18 thousand consumers replacement solutions for their old heating system.
The results of the campaigns and the efforts endorsed at the national level allowed to define five policy integration strategies for the adoption of the energy labelling methodologies at the national level, aiming to exploit the HARP results and contribute to the harmonization of the energy transition and product regulation policies.
Five key policy integration strategies were identified:
1. Harmonize the existing systems for the energy labelling of existing heating appliances
2. Reinforce the link between product policy and the Energy Performance of Building Directive
3. One-stop-shops/renovation passports strategies to identify heating appliances replacement opportunities
4. Maintenance procedures of heating appliances
5. Prioritize energy efficiency incentives and support the energy transition of the heating sector
Overall, more than 9 million consumers were reached through the campaigns, and more than 35 thousand energy labels for existing heating appliances were issued via the HARPa application, where also more than 18 thousand consumers performed a simulation for the replacement of their current heating appliance. At the professional’s level, more than 150 thousand professionals were reached with the HARP resources and nearly 1.000 professionals attend the HARP training sessions, focused on the use of the HARPa application within their professional activity and the exploitation of the additional resources provided by the HARP that facilitate the interaction with the consumer.
The most relevant and innovative results of the project are:
- The consumer behavior change model regarding the adoption of efficient heating systems is an innovative study that addresses dimensions like triggers, barriers, engagement, house characteristics, communication channels and co-benefits, providing detailed insights on how to successfully address and raise consumers awareness and interest on the efficient heating topic.
- The methodology to label space and water heating existing appliances in line with the EU regulation for new appliances is an evolution from the methodologies that are already in force in some countries regarding solely space heating. In the HARP project a common methodology was developed for existing space heating appliances and an innovative methodology was established for water and combi appliances, considering the goal of having an EU common approach to energy labelling of existing heating appliances.
- The HARPa online application provides a unique consumer experience raising consumers awareness to the need to replace their old and inefficient heating appliances, gathering in one single application the complete consumer journey from the identification of the need for change to the assessment of replacement opportunities and associated energy, economic and environmental savings.
- Policy integration scenarios for the adoption of the energy labeling methodologies for classifying existing space and water heating appliances in the five participating MS and to a wider extend at the EU level and other non-participating MS. The policy integration scenarios envisioned are:
1. Harmonize the existing systems for the energy labelling of existing heating appliances
2. Reinforce the link between product policy and the Energy Performance of Building Directive
3. One-stop-shops/renovation passports strategies to identify heating appliances replacement opportunities
4. Maintenance procedures of heating appliances
5. Prioritize energy efficiency incentives and support the energy transition of the heating sector
Overall, the HARP project reached more than 9 million consumers, raising their awareness to the energy efficient heating topic. More than 30.000 consumers were motivated to replace their heating system and more than 35.000 energy labels were issued using the HARPa online application.
The estimates gathered within the project, namely via the use of the HARPa online application indicate that the proposed replacement solutions have a potential energy saving of 442GWh/year in primary energy, foster the investment of 204Mio€ in sustainable energy and reduce 91145tCO2e/year of GHG emissions within the project duration.
- The consumer behavior change model regarding the adoption of efficient heating systems is an innovative study that addresses dimensions like triggers, barriers, engagement, house characteristics, communication channels and co-benefits, providing detailed insights on how to successfully address and raise consumers awareness and interest on the efficient heating topic.
- The methodology to label space and water heating existing appliances in line with the EU regulation for new appliances is an evolution from the methodologies that are already in force in some countries regarding solely space heating. In the HARP project a common methodology was developed for existing space heating appliances and an innovative methodology was established for water and combi appliances, considering the goal of having an EU common approach to energy labelling of existing heating appliances.
- The HARPa online application provides a unique consumer experience raising consumers awareness to the need to replace their old and inefficient heating appliances, gathering in one single application the complete consumer journey from the identification of the need for change to the assessment of replacement opportunities and associated energy, economic and environmental savings.
- Policy integration scenarios for the adoption of the energy labeling methodologies for classifying existing space and water heating appliances in the five participating MS and to a wider extend at the EU level and other non-participating MS. The policy integration scenarios envisioned are:
1. Harmonize the existing systems for the energy labelling of existing heating appliances
2. Reinforce the link between product policy and the Energy Performance of Building Directive
3. One-stop-shops/renovation passports strategies to identify heating appliances replacement opportunities
4. Maintenance procedures of heating appliances
5. Prioritize energy efficiency incentives and support the energy transition of the heating sector
Overall, the HARP project reached more than 9 million consumers, raising their awareness to the energy efficient heating topic. More than 30.000 consumers were motivated to replace their heating system and more than 35.000 energy labels were issued using the HARPa online application.
The estimates gathered within the project, namely via the use of the HARPa online application indicate that the proposed replacement solutions have a potential energy saving of 442GWh/year in primary energy, foster the investment of 204Mio€ in sustainable energy and reduce 91145tCO2e/year of GHG emissions within the project duration.