NEES( Natural Energy Efficiency and Sustainability) - 2nd Call for Best Practices Open
The NEES (Natural Energy Efficiency and Sustainability) Project, with the support of the European Commission’'s Northern Periphery Programme (NPP) is launching its 2nd open Call for Best Practices for producers, manufacturers and service providers whose products and services that enhance energy efficiency in buildings.
The competition is open to prospective Best Practice Producers and Service Providers who promote energy efficiency in building through the use of natural renewable or recycled products and services to support these.
Qualifying enterprises should be based or active within the EU Northern Periphery, and must complete a short Pre-Qualification Questionnaire on-line, and (if eligible) download a Full Questionnaire which should be completed and returned by e-mail before the deadline. Details and Questionnaires are available on the NEES web site in English (http://neesonline.org/?page_id=1346), Swedish (http://neesonline.org/?page_id=21987) and Danish (http://neesonline.org/?page_id=21995).
Submission are sought from enterprises producing or installing locally produced ‘natural’ products, or providing services that improve the energy efficiency of new and existing domestic buildings. The term “natural” covers both renewable and recycled materials, such as, timber from renewable forests, hemp and lime, straw bales and recycled paper. The services included span a range stretching from timber-frame and bioclimatic design, to energy and sustainability assessments and training that encourages change in local behaviour.
The 2nd Call is open, on-line, from September 27th to December 6thof this year. Enterprises or practices must be based, or have significant operations, in the European Northern Periphery Programme area. This area includes the west coast of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Scandinavian countries and Greenland. A map of the Region and full details on eligibility will be found on the NEES web site Region (see http://neesonline.org/?page_id=8).
Submissions made on the Full Questionnaire will be evaluated by an Expert Panel made up of seven recognised Experts from the different partner regions, who will determine which ones in constitute Best Practice from the perspective of the NEES criteria.
The Partnership intends to select around 15 Best Practices throughout the duration of the Project (2011 to 2014). Six Best Practices have already been selected as a result of the 1st Call, earlier this year. NEES will use selected Best Practices to promote awareness of the potential of natural products for energy efficiency, and to help market and replicate them. A range of supports, exchanges, training packages and marketing initiatives are being developed, and the enterprises will be promoted throughout the NPP region and Europe. The NEES Project intends to have further Calls for Best Practices in 2013 and in 2014.
The NEES is led by the Cork Centre for Architectural Education (CCAE): an architectural school and research centre formed by University College Cork and the Cork Institute of Technology, and includes a Partnership of 7 other enterprises and agencies based in Ireland, Northern Ireland. Scotland, Sweden and Greenland.
Jose Ospina, Project Manager, NEES Project, Tel (+353) 28 21890 and Mobile (+353) 86 8224429, e-mail jose.ospina@neesonline.org
Synopsis:
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 s... More...
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.
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... More...
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
The main products and services of the Project will be: 1. 5 surveys of natural products and services promoting energy efficiency and sustainability in 5 partner regions in the NPP area. 2. A central database and online catalogue of products, producers, services and service providers in the 5 partner regions, available online, with relevant ... More...
The main products and services of the Project will be:
1. 5 surveys of natural products and services promoting energy efficiency and sustainability in 5 partner regions in the NPP area.
2. A central database and online catalogue of products, producers, services and service providers in the 5 partner regions, available online, with relevant links and background information.
3. A developed package of indicators, starting out from the baseline of the Natureplus label criteria (www.natureplus.org), and incorporating other environmental, economic and social criteria, to establish a new and unique (TBL)[1] benchmark for natural products and services.
4. An online internet portal and web site to make available products and services identified by the NEES Project, as well as for internal and external communication
5. 15 detailed profiles (3 per region), including visual records and technical fiches of selected the best practice products and services identified in the 5 partner regions, to be individually marketed and disseminated during and after the Project end. These profiles will describe a specific product, such as an external insulation product for existing dwellings, or a specific service, such as green roof or living wall design, or a service for changing behaviour in the use of domestic energy.
6. 5 feasibility studies of the application of selected products and services identified as best practise (BP) by the Project over the 5 partner regions.
7. 5 study visits by full and associate partners and other key stakeholders to selected best practice in other partner regions
8. 5 demonstration projects (one in each Partner area) identified or implemented, which illustrate the different products and services developed in the different partner regions
9. 5 demonstration projects monitored and evaluated for a significant period during the project life and results will be made available to stakeholders. A photographic and video record of selected products and technologies will be made, which will be uploaded on the project portal and released as a separate promotional video.
10. 5 local workshops and seminars. Linked to the demonstration projects, and covering the range of products and services developed
11. A final project conference, which will be combined with the first gathering of the NEES Network
12. A transnational NEES network of stakeholders that have an interest in promoting and developing the sector will be formed.
The NEES Project will develop a model for the identification and validation of innovative products and services for implementing natural energy efficiency, which will help their providers to develop and diversify their products to reach a larger market. This model will be based primarily on the 12 steps identified in section 4.1. The NEES model will be fully implemented by the end of the Project, and replicated after the end of the Project as a consultancy and support service for similar products, liked to national and European energy
1. Partnership has been established (with one Partner subsititution - South Kerry Development Partnership instead of Clean Technology Centre, Ireland). 2. Three Partner meetings have been held to date, as well as a number of regional meetings, and a half dozen Skype sessions. 3.Project Web site has been operative since end of 2011, and has over 2... More...
1. Partnership has been established (with one Partner subsititution - South Kerry Development Partnership instead of Clean Technology Centre, Ireland).
2. Three Partner meetings have been held to date, as well as a number of regional meetings, and a half dozen Skype sessions.
3.Project Web site has been operative since end of 2011, and has over 22,000 visits, as well as an electronic newsletter sent to 2,000 readers is in operation.
4. Public Launches have been held in Cork, Ireland and Edinburgh, Scotland (at the Scottosh Parliament).
5. Review and mapping of current situation with respect to products and services is underway. on the basis of public Calls for submissions of Best Practices in all partner regions. 1st Call was opened in May 2012 and closed in July 2012.
The 2nd Call opened on Septermber 27th and will close on December 6th 2012. This will be followed by a further Expert Evaluation of Best Practices.
6. A detailed "triple bottom line" sustainability criteria and evaluation process for Best Practces has been developed and an Expert panel (comprised or recognised Experts from each Region) has been constitued.
7. Evaluation of First Call completed in August 2012, with slection of 6 Best Practices. Collection of informatioon on selected BP's now taking place, in order to prepare web site documentation and exhbition materials.
8. Parnters are currently engaged in developing a) Inter-regional exchange possibilities arsing from Best Practices, b) Training and Support possibilities with respect to Best Practices, c) Pilot Projects in every partner region, including Best Practices identified d) Comprehensive Training and Dissemination Programme running to end of Project, including exploring marketing potential of Best Practices identified..
Priority: 2. Sustainable development of natural and community resources Objective: i. Environment as an asset in the periphery Theme: Natural resources (forestry, hunting, mining), raw materials, alternative use of natural resources
Total Budget: € 1 466 710,23 Total Funding Request: € 860 767,95