Search for European Projects

Energy Saving Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Regions. Social, economical and environmental approach in regional planning of rational energy use. (ESCOBALT)
Start date: Sep 2, 2004, End date: Sep 19, 2007 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The project addressed the energy saving (ES) as one of the priority problems of the BSR, which has a serious impact on the economic, social and ecological aspects of community life. The project resulted from a careful analysis of the problem in all partner countries and a series of bilateral initiatives between the partners. A transnational project was useful in addressing the challenges of ES, which are actual to all regions in the BSR, but in which different approaches had been taken. It was essential to introduce the socially-oriented methods of ES at the level of authorities, enterprises and associations in BSR, in order to share the best practices and find the optimal solutions for the conditions of each partner, comprising five municipalities, a regional and two national associations as well as a research institute. The project’s strategic objective was the introduction of the Corporate Social Responsibility Concept (CSRC) and the innovative technologies of ES, which have proved to be the effective tools for promotion of sustainable economic and social development in the EU countries. The project involved a wide range of stakeholders: national, local and regional authorities, energy agencies and enterprises, associations of workers and employers, self-government organizations, consumer organizations, technical experts, etc. This created a synergetic effect and ensured the cross-sectoral promotion of the concepts and approaches proposed by the project in all participating countries. Special focus was given on establishing the transnational network of local authorities, associations of the producers and the consumers of energy and other interested organisations. This networking activity was for the benefit of all partners and was to ensure the multiplication and the durability of the project’s results. Another important component of the project comprised the activities for dissemination of information and raising the public awareness of the need for the rational use of energy. This provided a good visibility of the project’s activities and improved the understanding between the producers of energy, the authorities and the population. System producers are also key players, because the high level technological solutions can guarantee energy efficiency in spite of irrational human behaviour. The concepts of ES and CSR, promoted by the project, were widely discussed in mass media and Internet. The project also strengthened the managerial and technical capacity of all stakeholders. This was achieved through the exchange of best practices, training in energy audits, integrated energy planning, preparing and launching pilot ES projects. It is expected that all these activities will contribute to sustainable development of the region, will improve the energy efficiency and social climate in all partner countries, and, in the long run, will have a lasting positive effect on the population of the BSR. Achievements: ESCOBALT project has established a portal of energy efficiency, which has already become a central forum of information dissemination regarding economic, environmental and social issues, the three pillars of corporate social responsibility.ESCOBALT project has educated energy auditors to the Baltic countries, In Estonia, for instance, about 100 auditors, and facilitated them with a software to help auditing. The energy audit offers a solid basis to design energy efficiency improvements. Moreover, about ten specialists on CSR were trained.ESCOBALT has implemented three pilot projects, one in each of the Baltic States, to demonstrate different aspects of corporate social responsibility. The focus of the pilots has been ESCO type financing of district heating network rehabilitation in Estonia, an action plan for implementing the national energy saving strategy in Latvia, and, assisting in corporate social responsibility development in a district heating utility in Lithuania.ESCOBALT project was presented in TV and radio programs and in newspapers in six BSR countries.ESCOBALT project issued about 10 leaflets, a brochure on CSR in 500 copies, and finally, a public report in the Uusimaa Regional Council publication series and in 1500 copies that were all broadly disseminated in the partner countries.ESCOBALT project has established a portal of energy efficiency, which has already become a central forum of information dissemination regarding economic, environmental and social issues, the three pillars of corporate social responsibility. GreennetFinland, having had been responsible for management of WP 2 and 3, was agreed upon to continue maintaining and developing the portal after September 3, 2007.ESCOBALT has organised six transnational seminars with 550 participants and lecturers, 16 workshops on CSR, networking, energy auditing with about 470 participants and a number of other meetings.ESCOBALT created a network on Energy Saving covering Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Sweden and Finland. Energy auditing was strongly established in Estonia, where about 100 auditors were trained and facilitated with auditing software.
Up2Europe Ads

Coordinator

Details

  • 60.8%   680 000,00
  • 2000 - 2006 Baltic Sea Region
  • Project on KEEP Platform
Project Website

10 Partners Participants