Save Energy

Background

The SAVE ENERGY Project aims to transform the energy consumption behaviour of public building users – focusing on public servants and citizens – by applying existing ICT-based solutions and intelligent energy management technology in an innovative user-driven perspective. The project is partly funded by the EU as part of the ICT PSP programme, which comes under the European Competitiveness and Innovation framework programme (CIP).

The project objective is to change end-user energy consumption through the use of existing ICT energy saving technology such as the provision of real-time energy use information, as well as using social media and serious games to change consumer behavior. Large-scale public building pilots in Helsinki, Leiden, Lisbon, Luleå and Manchester form an important part of the project and will be implemented following the “Living Lab” methodology.

In Helsinki, two schools have been chosen as pilot projects: Pihkapuisto Primary School and Ala-Malmi Comprehensive. Both schools aim to implement technical changes that give end-users (i.e. students and staff) the opportunity to change their energy use behaviour and allow them to interact with energy saving and energy use monitoring. Behavioural change will also be encouraged through the use of social media.

Green Net Finland is responsible for publishing and disseminating information about the Helsinki pilot schools work package, as well as participating in other work packages. During the project development stage, Green Net Finland was responsible for bringing the pilot schools into the project.

Objectives

Technical objectives:

• 5 energy efficient pilot public buildings
• integration of energy monitoring systems

Social objectives:

• provide real-time information on energy use to end users
• create a SAVE ENERGY serious game
• develop an effective and repeatable concept for changing energy use behaviour

Documentation:

• produce a manual on how to develop an effective and repeatable concept for changing energy use behaviour

Dissemination of information:

• multi-channel dissemination of project information via project videos and the creation of a SAVE ENERGY portal. Social media and Web 2.0 applications will also be used. SAVE ENRGY conferences and workshops will be organised and the project will participate in EU commission events.

Expected results

A decrease in energy use at the pilot schools is expected, with the aim being a 30% reduction compared with energy use at the beginning of the project. The objective is to change the long-term behaviour of end-users and create an energy saving concept that is both effective and repeatable in other public buildings.

Partners

The project is implemented by a consortium of 16 partners.

Finnish partners:

• Green Net Finland
• City of Helsinki Real Estate Department
• Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
• Helsinki School of Economics Center of Knowledge and Innovation Research
• Nokia Oy

International partners:

• Alfamicro, Portugal (project coordinator)
• CeTIM, Holland
• ISA, Portugal
• City of Leiden, Holland
• Community of Luleå, Sweden
• Luleå Technical University, Sweden
• Lisboa E-Nova, Portugal
• Manchester City Council, Great Britain
• RTS, Portugal
• SPI, Portugal
• Salford University, Great Britain

Project duration

The project began on 01.03.2009 and will continue for 30 months (2009-2011).

Project volume and funding

The total project budget in 4.5 MEUR and is partly funded by the ICT PSP programme in the EU’s CIP framework programme.

Contacts

SAVE ENERGY project website: ict4saveenergy.eu

Suvi Häkämies, Energy Expert, Green Net Finland (see contact information from here.)