"While experts in demography and urbanism projected that the world population will double by 2050 and that by 2020, 80% of people will live in cities and produce nearly 80% of the CO2, it is estimated that the overall investment in new technologies will reach in 2020 the fabulous sum of 110 billion dollars. Another statistic shows that by the year 2050 the final energy demand for buildings sector will increase with 60% while the energy related greenhouse gas emissions will more than double.European Union crosses a period of changing policies to reduce dependence on imported primary energy. Among other related directives, Directive 2010/31/EU stipulates: ""Measures are needed to increase the number of buildings which not only fulfil current minimum energy performance requirements, but are also more energy efficient, thereby reducing both energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. For this purpose, Member States should draw up national plans for increasing the number of nearly zero-energy buildings and regularly report such plans to the Commission"".In this context, the project Educational Laboratories Platform for Complex Engineering Processes with Remote Access (EduLabFrame) addresses the development of sense-making skills through e-learning concerning the design, configuration and administration of complex technological settings. Our objective was to develop an educational framework for essential disciplines related to power and mechanical engineering through e-learning and virtual experience. Throughout project results we pursued the positive impact on the students which would increase the level of:1.Digital competence2.Positive attitude towards the EU values3.Understanding complex engineering processes.4.Competence in foreign languagesThe project consortium was composed of four partners:CO – University Politehnica of Bucharest is the oldest and prestigious engineering school in Romania being recognized at national and European level. Its activity has been started 195 years ago. UPB has more than 25000 students and 1650 academic, 15 faculties, 57 departments, 38 research centres.P1 – University of Ljubljana is an institution with a very rich tradition. It was established in 1919 on the foundations of a long-established pedagogical tradition. It is a very large university, with 50.000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, taking over 300 different undergraduate and postgraduate study programmes. It employs approximately 6,000 higher education teachers, researchers, assistants and administrative staff in 23 faculties and 3 arts academies.P2 – Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving Foundation is a non profit entity founded in 1987 and supervised by the Ministry of Environment, Energy & Climate Change. CRES is by Law the National Centre for Coordination in the fields of RES, RUE, and Energy Saving (ES), its primary aim being to promote technological applications in these fields both at a national and international level. It acts as an advisor to the Greek State, while during the years has established a highly visible profile.P3 – Soft Tehnica is a software company that covers a large area of activities related to computer science and computer engineering, such as: specialized consulting services, analysis and software development, installation and configuration of networks, integration of systems and ready-to-use, customized, software solutions.The project undertaken main activities were:1.Training of the trainees2.Development of virtual laboratories 3.Developing of handbook material4.Implementation of e-learning platform for training purposes5.Dissemination of the project resultsThe carry out of the intellectual outputs has generated a positive impact which is reflected on the real beneficiaries of the project results, namely:Project teams which are the direct beneficiaries of the project results. The personnel involved in either administrative or teaching matters gained greater experience in working in such projects and updating course materials and establishing new connections.Participating organizations are also the beneficiaries of the project results. The institutions gained experience in managing European projects.Students are also the direct beneficiaries of the project results. Throughout training sessions, they had the opportunity to learn the current technologies existing in Europe, learning from best practices that are successfully applied in EU countries. Additionally, results gained along the project will have a great impact on students learning and more attractive education tools in different fields will be generated. The long-term benefits of the projects result we believe to be better prepared engineers, which will have access to better jobs and this will bring benefits to national economies of the partner countries and a better immersion into Industry 4.0 through project efforts to integrate digital technologies in laboratory activities."

Circular Economy integration into climate action and policy is limiting the EU's advancement to achieve carbon neutrality as fast as possible. Widely applied TIMES energy-climate mitigation models detail the use of technology and technological advances in its GHG abatement pathways. Because CE practices are technical, CO2NSTRUCT deems TIMES the ideal proxy model to shift climate mitigation models from linear to circular. This project will delineate a “circular climate mitigation” framework to augment TIMES models at a first stage, but that can serve as an imprint for other climate mitigation models. The focus will be on six pervasive carbon-intensive construction materials – steel, cement, brick, glass, wood, and insulation – to map six value chains with explicit feedback loops and quantified rebound effects, key of CE practices. Social and environmental externalities will be accounted for, including GHG & air pollutants emissions, water usage, embodied energy, energy poverty, employment, and inequalities. Once these and other CE measures are identified in the key industries of the six materials, CE tools as LCA and MFAs can be coupled to the TIMES model. TIMES will run several CE scenarios to quantify the role of CE for EU+ climate mitigation in the near-term and future, always ensuring carbon. Outcomes will be translated into useful and effective policy support information for sustainable climate mitigation, minimising conflicts across SDGs (both in EU+ and rest of the world). Although the framework is applied to the whole EU+ energy production and consumption system (disaggregated per country), CO2NSTRUCT will emphasize two economic case studies or clusters: (1) offshore renewable energy production and (2) buildings. CO2NSTRUCT anticipates that the framework can be used globally by climate mitigation modelers and policy makers. CE integration into climate action will drive EC’s goal to increase EU GDP by 0.5% by 2030.

Water scarcity is a serious problem for many regions of Europe with some 45% of European territory expected to face water scarcity problems by 2030, where damages caused by floods may increase five-fold by 2050. This is driving growing attention and increasing regulation on water efficiency and water management across Europe, being particularly important in cities and buildings in general, given the estimated water savings of 30%, with consequent reductions on energy and CO2 emissions (“The Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Water Resources”). The implementation of water and energy saving measures requires adequate training, capacity building and qualification of construction professionals, sustained on reliable and independent accreditation schemes attesting technical knowledge and social competences, towards market recognition and confidence. The project “WATTer Skills” aimed to develop, implement and propose a common curricula, qualification framework and accreditation scheme at the European level, for training and skills upgrading of construction and green professionals on water efficiency and water energy nexus for construction and retrofit in buildings. The harmonised water efficiency and water-energy nexus competences in building construction and retrofit, was achieved with two proposed qualification frameworks: the water efficiency technician (WET) and the water efficiency expert (WEE). This was materialised in 4 intellectual outputs (in 5 languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and Greek): IO1 - Setting the Perimeter and definition of the WATTer skills map, IO2 - European Qualification Framework, IO3 - Training Courses Curricula, Contents and Pilots and IO4 - Accreditation System based on European Qualification Framework and European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training, supported by 2 Handbooks with the training contents (six competence areas corresponding to 100 lecture hours for the WET and 4 competence areas corresponding to 50 lecture hours for the WEE) 5 transnational meetings (3 in-person and 2 online), 9 multiplier events (7 training pilots with 144 attendees and 60 lectured hours, 1 Infoday with 28 participants and 1 Final conference with more than 100 participants), the presence at 10 dissemination events (oral communications, poster presentations and scientific publications) and numerous parallel dedicated meetings with the national advisory boards and stakeholder groups. As project outcomes, it can be highlighted the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding by all partners, with a Roadmap of the WATTer Skills follow-up activities, namely the compromise of all partners in continuing the work on the possible integration of the proposed accreditation framework into the national catalogues of the consortium countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece. In Portugal, another project outcome already guaranteed is the approval of the “long term strategy for building renovation” (Resolution of the Council of Ministers No 8-A/2021 of 3rd of February 2021), where it is stated that the qualification frameworks produced by the WATTer Skills consortium will be promoted. In addition, ADENE is making the effort to include this topic in the agenda and events of the current Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The Energy Savings Insurance (ESI) Europe 2.0 project aims to: (i) replicate the successful innovative financing scheme ESI (currently being implemented in Italy, Portugal and Spain with the ESI Europe funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme) in three high potential countries in Europe – Croatia, Greece & Slovakia; (ii) hold capacity building, and marketing and promotion activities targeting key market stakeholders to help them understand the model and facilitate access to EE finance; & (iii) to create tools to promote & enable the further replication of ESI across Europe. The ESI model consists of financial & non-financial mechanisms designed to work together to improve the risk-return profile of EE investments & overcome the associated barriers to stimulate the demand for EE projects. It consists of: (i) a standardised contract, which clearly establishes the setup to guarantee energy savings to the SME; (ii) a performance insurance that is used to compensate the SME in case the EE project does not reach the expected energy savings; & (iii) validation mechanisms that provides an independent assessment & verification of the project. These three mechanisms work together to create trust & credibility between actors, & convince SMEs to invest in EE. The model is supported by communications, dissemination & outreach activities, as well as capacity building & EE investment roundtables targeting key market stakeholders, including technology providers with EE solutions, financial institutions, SMEs & others, to create dialogue between the relevant stakeholders & facilitate access to EE finance. The ESI model presents a proven & unique, market based approach that makes use of distribution channels & products that are already available on the market. The ESI mechanisms is complementary to other schemes & available funding, such as green credit lines, credit guarantees, or energy audits.

CONTEXT: Europe wants to lead the clean energy transition, committed to cut CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030. The new regulatory framework includes an energy efficiency target for the EU for 2030 of 32.5% with an upwards revision clause by 2023. A successful clean energy transition requires citizens to take ownership, to benefit from new technologies and to participate actively in the market. In addition, a transition should ensure that vulnerable consumers are protected from energy poverty, a situation that According to the Energy Poverty Observatory, affects more than 50 million households in the EUThe EC wants to help consumers to embrace this transition by helping them with everyday operations like billing and changing suppliers. The EU supports MS to reduce consumers’ energy costs, monitor and report when energy poverty cases are detected. There is a large range of solutions to help consumers to reduce their energy demand, the energy billing, the carbon emissions and thus energy povertyOBJECTIVES: In this context, a group or partners propose to create the Training for Energy Consumers Empowerment (TRECE). This training addresses energy poverty through actively involving citizens and social agents in the design and development of its solutions, as well as by tailoring information to user characteristics, ensuring acceptability, uptake and active participation. The objectives of the project are: - Create a training program to for social agents and public authorities, to be addressed to a vulnerable sector such people in energy poverty situation. - Provide these entities several tools to detect energy poverty cases in the population, such the analysis of consumption patterns- Reduce the energy poverty of the population by improving the understanding of their energy consumption and presenting them with solutions, all thanks to the training that will be given to the intermediate agents who will be able to facilitate these changes in habits.- Change the energy consumers behaviour to increase the energy efficiency of their houses- Empower the final private consumers towards the decision to improve their energy efficiency and to foster the purchase of Renewable Energies via the different energy suppliers - Reduce energy consumption and thus CO2 emissions- Create an attractive training based on a MOOC that social agents and public authorities can easily disseminate through the target groups, taking a approach of training for trainersPARTICIPANTSThe project will be carried out by 5 entities from 5 EU member states- SGS- Spain (Applicant), a multinational group and energy efficiency expert, with long expertise in the development of training programs for VET. - Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving- Greece: Is the official Greek government consultant on matters of RES/RUE/ES national policy, strategy and planning. - ENERO- Romania- An independent non-profit technical consultancy and research centre active in the energy field, whose activity focuses on renewables and energy efficiency promotion- Sofia Energy Agency- Bulgaria: a non-governmental organisation and non-profit legal entity established in 2001 to assists local and national authorities in developing a sustainable energy policy - Local Energy Agency of Gorenjska- Slovenia: founded as a public institution by the City Municipality of Kranj in 2009, they offer consultation with municipalities and companies on energy management and use of Renewable Energy Sources ACTIVITIES and METHODOLOGYConsortium will build this training program through 3 main activities:1- A first assesment of energy consumers and trainers needs’, which will lead to an strategy for the training development2- The development of the training programme: which facilitates the empowerment of energy consumers and behavioural change.3- The development of a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) for several social agents such NGOs and municipalities to tackle energy povertyFirstly, the partners will define strategies for approaching and engaging the groups that will interact with TRECE training program (social agents, public bodies, and the final beneficiaries (people susceptible of suffering energy poverty, ), with special attention to these groups motivations and barriers to participateThe consortium will develop a training program embedded in a MOOC. The training materials that will be designed in order to be compatible with the most common e-learning environments and to be uploaded on MOOC and OER repositories.RESULTS, IMPACT and LONG TERM BENEFITSThe TRECE project will bring several benefits to society:-New tools for social agents, NGOs, municipalities and energy agencies to detect and tackle energy poverty-Creation of a training program to address energy consumers’ needs-Reduction of the energy bill of these consumers-Detect the main points of energy losses-Improvement of the learning methods through innovative training matter