Smart And Sustainable Energy Consumption

Closed

Energy efficiency (EE) has three key challenges: reducing energy consumption, generating energy from renewable sources and reducing gas effects. Only if viewed in an integrated way, then EE can be discussed. EE improvements and increased use of renewable energy are important for the cross-border area, which has a high potential for improvement in these fields. Both countries pursue European goals regarding EE to reach its 20% EE target by year 2020, but they are significantly lagging behind. Serbia is the last in terms of EE in Europe, consuming energy 2.5 times more than countries in the world and 4-5 times more than the EU countries. The situation is slightly better in Romania, but also significantly below the EU average. Some countries have built up distinctive know-how in terms of efficiency and renewables, which could now be usefully promoted and spread in the region, as there is often a lack of expertise. This challenge could be tackle by setting up central competence and/or advisory centres, which will contribute to climate protection concepts, energy management, know-how transfer, training and public relations work, etc. That is the main reason for establishing the Regional Centre for Energy Efficiency – Banat (RCEE), which will represent also the first „smart building“ in Serbian Banat, and together with „demo room“ it will be demonstration space of various new technologies and equipment for greater EE. The overall objective of the project is contribution to the achievement of the EU's climate and energy goals "20-20-20" through the promotion of energy sustainability in the local communities of the cross-border region, improving their capacity to plan and manage integrated energy-saving and renewable energy generation actions. The project envisages the use of a multi-dimensional approach, which will lead to: - Established institutional support for sustainable energy development and application of EE principles in cross border region; - Improved capacities of competent bodies and promoted cross border network for education and studies on environmental resources; - Raised awareness among the population about importance of energy savings and use of renewable sources in energy production - development of an energy-sustainable society. The project main outputs that were defined in the work plan are: - EE Platform - Sustainable Energy Action Plan (as a part of Master Plan) - Green pilots research actions - Participants of target groups acquire knowledge in the field of EE and sustainable use of natural resources - Participants in awareness raising activities - Established RCEE - Guidebook for best practices in EE - First “Smart building” in the Serbian Banat region with “demo room”- RCEE All of these ouputs will benefit sevral target groups, depending on their involvment in the activities thet lead to, but also on its purpose/impact that they will have in the future.

Medium