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Services:
European Energy Awards®
(eea)
| European
Energy Awards®:
Ireland
..... the European
certification and quality
management system for municipalities making a significant contribution
to increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy
technologies
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WHAT ARE THE
EUROPEAN ENERGY AWARDS®?
The
European Energy Awards®
(eea) is a programme
designed to assess and benchmark
municipalities
contributing to the
environmentally
sustainable development of society through energy
efficiency and the
increased use of
renewable energy sources.
Like
commercial quality management systems such as Total
Quality Management (TQM), the eea programme is a process which is
carried out in a series of stages in order to
- identify
weaknesses and areas that can be improved,
- integrate
quality processes into current administration work,
- further
improve the administration processes,
- establish
a process of continuous improvement,
- strengthen
public participation in key decision-making processes relating to
energy policy.
The
key elements of this programme, namely defining
positions (energy reviews), defining goals and decision criteria,
preparing energy policy as well as continually monitoring the success
of measures means that a process-orientated approach is essential.
WHAT DOES THE
EUROPEAN ENERGY AWARDS®
PROGRAMME OFFER?
- Access
to
energy policy expertise from sample communities throughout Europe,
- Special
co-operative partnerships with innovative communities,
- Successful
publicising of “energy work” carried out by
communities
through a system of international evaluation and recognition,
- On-going
expert supervision by an eea advisor and the national eea coordinator
for the entire participation in the programme,
- Assessment
and recognition for previous energy work carried out,
- Benchmarking
possibilities with other eea communities.
WHAT ARE THE
BENEFITS TO COMMUNITIES?
- Continual
increases in energy efficiency and associated cost savings
- Fulfilment
of responsibility to safeguard public interests through the
implementation of environmentally sustainable energy policies
- Optimisation
of internal energy structures and processes in the community
- Integration
of problem-solving capabilities and enabling committed members of the
public to take a responsible and creative role through public
involvement
WHAT ARE THE
CONDITIONS FOR TAKING PART?
- Official
approval from community representatives to take part in the programme.
- The
establishment of a consultancy agreement or contract between the
community and an accredited eea advisor.
- The
establishment of a consultancy agreement or contract between the
community and and the national eea coordinator.
- The
establishment of an energy team which will be responsible for
overseeing the programme and which will participate in designing the
community’s energy policy work.
- Payment
of the membership and advisor fees to guarantee expert and
organisational advice.
HOW MUCH DOES
IT COST TO TAKE PART?
Taking
part in the eea programme is subject to the size
of the community. Information is available in a separate document
“eea Participation Fees” available from the
national eea
coordinator.
WHAT ARE THE
TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EEA COMMUNITY?
- In
communities participating in the eea programme there is a continuous
process of ensuring efficient energy use.
- A
community participating in the programme formulates definite energy
policies and targets and allocates the necessary human and financial
resources in order to ensure their implementation.
- Communities
taking part in the programme are prepared to share their knowledge and
experiences with other communities in the programme on a regular basis
as part of the exchange of experiences forum.
- At
least
every three years, programme communities participate in an external
commissioning process (audit) in relation to their energy policies.
Select
Energy
Solutions can provide an
eea Advisor to guide municipalities
through
the eea programme.
Further
information:
For further information contact
Select
Energy Solutions or the National
Coordinators (SWS Group)
SWS Group
(National eea
Coordinators Ireland)
Jitske
Burgers (European Projects
Coordinator)
Shinagh House
Bandon
West Cork
Tel. (0)23 412 71
eea@sws.ie
Select Energy Solutions
Andrew Shepherd (accredited eea Advisor)
Silverhill
Ballyderown
Kilworth
Co. Cork
Tel (0)25 279 34
andrew.shepherd@select-energy-solutions.net
and/or
see the EU eea official website http://www.european-energy-award.org
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