Natural Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

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The NEES Project will identify and promote products and services which aim to improve energy efficiency in existing domestic buildings, which make use primarily of renewable or recycled materials and services based on natural processes, which originate and are normally accessible in the Northern Periphery Programme region. These products and services should have the potential for being mainstreamed and commercially disseminated inside and outside the region The NEES Project differs from other previous NPP projects dealing with sustainable energy in that it is focused on energy efficiency rather than the development of renewable energy supplies. Aim & Objectives: 1. To review and map the current situation with respect to products and services aimed at improving energy efficiency in existing domestic buildings that use renewable materials and natural processes, to identify the barriers and bottlenecks to their dissemination and to gauge the potential for widespread marketing inside and outside the NPP Region. 2. To develop comprehensive sustainability criteria (environmental, economic and social) for the identification, selection, assessment and evaluation of these products and services, on the basis of a “triple bottom line”[1] (TBL) criteria. These products and services will be profiled and documented as best practice case studies and life-cycle evaluations will be carried out. In addition the human dimension will be investigated to determine what impacts human interface can have on final energy use reduction. 3. To investigate, through dialogue and consultation, the transferability of these products and services to other Partner regions, through exchange visits, strategic partnerships and practical demonstration. 3. To develop, monitor and evaluate a number (5) of practical demonstration projects based on exchange between the different regions, which demonstrate the transferability of the products and services identified. 4. To identify, validate, and establish the transferability of a number (15) selected products and services that best reflect this approach and are considered most appropriate for the different environments in the NPP Region. 5. To identify, link with and promote appropriate supports in terms of professional, advisory and training services, for enterprises delivering these products, and services, for the regional agencies that promote and support them and for the communities who might make use of them. 6. To generate a quantifiable increase in awareness and the uptake of these products and services in all NPP partner regions, and quantifiable benefits (environmental, economic and social) arising from the activities, the online portal, social media and local and European dissemination of this approach. 7. To generate tangible social and economic benefits from the promotion of these products and services, including improvements to existing dwellings, reduction in energy use and carbon footprint, development of local skills, jobs and enterprises, diversification of agricultural production and rural manufacture and service delivery by private and social enterprises, and the development of local and transnational markets for NEES products and services. 8. To identify funding streams and models that will allow the continuation of the work of the Project after end of the NPP Project. [1] Taking into account eenvironmental, social and economic indicators

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