Surpassing Energy Targets through Efficient Public Buildings

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Reduction of harmful emissions and efficient use of resources are key to ensuring long term sustainable development. Energy consumption in buildings represents around 40% of total final energy use in Europe. In this context, public authorities have a key role in leading by example, as the impact of energy use in publicly owned and managed buildings is huge. Thus, SERPENTE brings together 10 partners from 10 countries with the overall objective to improve energy efficiency in different typologies of publicly owned or managed buildings through improved public policies. The focus is on existing buildings and work addresses public policy making from the top down (policy makers) and the bottom up (citizen involvement). Specific sub objectives are: • to promote theoretical understanding and practical application of energy efficiency initiatives; • to provide information to and raise awareness among policy makers and citizens; • to promote responsible energy consumption among public building users; • to foster proactive involvement of local stakeholders in public policy; • to enhance energy performance of publicly owned/managed buildings through the development of a manual which includes practical advices for policy makers and citizens SERPENTE is divided into 4 components, whose coordinators work together to ensure synergy between activities: C1, dedicated to project managements and C2, dedicated to communication activities guarantee a solid project structure and support the development of technical activities foreseen in C3, related to the exchange of good practices and C4, focused on pilot initiatives. Exchange is carried out at project level, analysing characteristics common to all buildings and in 5 sub-groups on specific building typologies: historical buildings, social housing, sports facilities, schools and offices. Partners identify and analyse good practices related to energy efficiency in public buildings, before a number of them undertake small scale testing, by selecting aspects of good practices and applying them in an integrated manner to at least 1 publicly owned/managed building of a specific typology. The results are used to provide input to Implementation Plans, detailing the mainstreaming of lessons learned. Partners are supported by end users, policy makers and relevant stakeholders, involved in project activities through regional focus groups to guarantee that territorial needs are addressed, and ensure impact on regional policies and strategies. Policy makers are brought together at interregional level for proactive debate on the theme of energy efficiency in public buildings. Through intense dissemination of project results SERPENTE has a direct impact on 10 public policies focused on energy efficiency and increases awareness and capacity among relative policy makers and end users. SERPENTE also spreads results outside the consortium. In this way, SERPENTE contributes to improved environmental conditions across the EU.

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