The general objective of the project is to empower private stakeholders and public authorities in adapting and enforcing EU and national energy efficiency policies in the sector of professional cold products. A specific objective is to ensure more energy efficient professional cold products enter the EU market and increase their market shares, thereby contributing to the EU’s energy efficiency goals and policies. The product groups concerned relate to products cooling, refrigerating or freezing foodstuff and drinks in professional premises – from public buildings, to hotels, retailers, and canteens. These represent significant energy consumption, important differences exist between various models of the same product category, but, due to lack of clear regulation and lack of information, the potential for more energy efficient models remains untapped. The specific legislation concerned is the one regulating the minimum energy performance standards (Ecodesign) and energy labelling, as well as public procurement activities. The project benefits from ideal timing, since a number of the above mentioned product groups do not have an energy efficiency regulation in place, but these are planned to be developed and the project would therefore contribute to the knowledge of public authorities and policy makers on the specific performance characteristics of these product groups, based on which an effective legislation could be implemented and monitored. Target groups of this project are threefold: empowering public authorities in implementing effective policies on energy efficiency of professional cold products; motivating product manufacturers and suppliers in delivering more efficient models to the market; and working with the food industry, retailers, building operators and other stakeholders in demanding and procuring more efficient professional cold products.

National and European energy savings in the building sector at small and medium-sized municipalities are not being met. Currently small and medium-sized municipalities in the region face significant challenges when meeting their energy savings goals due to the lack of technical and legal expertise hindering the use of advanced contracting schemes. Further challenges include scattered grants and lack of financial engineering at municipal level. BAPAURA aims to tackle these challenges by: • Supporting energy efficiency investments in 115 public buildings. • Developing advanced and centralised energy services dedicated to small and medium-sized municipalities focusing on project development assistance (legal, technical and financial). These services will support the deployment of energy performance guarantee contracts and facilitate the use of innovative financial instruments (e.g. white certificates). • Providing these services at department level through existing local energy support structures that will develop further “one-stop shop” services with the support of regional organisations. • Mobilising service providers and financial institutions at local level. • Introducing innovative financing by optimising the investment plan of municipalities, reviewing all financing options, adapting grants, harmonising subsidy request applications and mobilising white certificates. • Replicating the project results at regional, national and EU levels The main results that BAPAURA will trigger during the project’s lifetime are: • 23,627,000 € of total energy efficiency investments, with an average leverage factor of 16 • 7.8 GWh/year of primary energy savings • 1,437 t CO2 e/ year.