Sustainable Energy Europe

Continuing the European campaign to raise

awareness and change the landscape of energy 2005-2008

Directorate-General EUROPEAN
for Energy and Transport COMMISSION
 Campaigning for more
intelligent use and production
of energy in Europe
Energy affects every aspect of our life – it gives us light, heating, and provides us with
fuel for transport and other appliances. More than ever before, however, we need to
think about the security of our energy supply, as well as the environmental impact of
energy produced from fossil fuels.
The landscape of European energy production and use is undoubtedly changing. As we
look towards greater use of renewable energy sources and begin to use energy more
efficiently, we can be proud of the fact that Europe is already a leading developer of new
technologies and pioneering initiatives.
However, much work remains to be done in spreading the message about the intelligent
use of energy. Both consumers and social stakeholders need to be persuaded of the
benefits of sustainable energy production and use.
The Commission has set out targets for both renewable energy and energy intensity that,
whilst indicative, have been endorsed by national governments. It has also recently
published the ambitious Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, involving all stakeholders. Set
against this context, Sustainable Energy Europe 2005-2008 gives a strong endorsement
of these goals, by ensuring greater public awareness, understanding and support of a
wide range of outstanding European initiatives.
Published by European Commission
Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, B-1049 Brussels.
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/index_en.html On behalf of the European Commission and in my role as Commissioner responsible for
Luxembourg Office for Official Publications of the European Commission, 2006. energy, I am therefore deeply committed to the success of this Campaign and I kindly
ask you to join us in this effort.
ISBN 92-79-02761-1
© European Communities, 2006.
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
Andris Piebalgs
Manuscript completed, June 2006. European Commissioner for Energy
2 3
Printed in Belgium.
Changing the landscape of energy
Sustainable Energy Europe 2005-2008 is about imagining a
better energy future for Europe and its children. The majority of
Europeans now understand that we face an irreversible envi-
ronmental crisis unless we begin to change the way in which
energy is produced and used, which means that in the future
we will have to make much greater use of renewable energy
sources and focus more upon energy-efficiency. The purpose
of this Campaign is to reinforce this message to the widest
possible audience and to highlight ways in which we can
ensure positive change in the landscape of European energy.
Since its launch in 2005, this initiative has successfully brought
together a wide range of stakeholders around a series of key
Sustainable Energy Partnership
Building & promoting a European Network
Showcasing Europe’s best energy solutions.
Energy Days
Promoting ‘grassroots’ awareness actions
̶Citizen awareness, understanding and support
̶̶Changing the landscape of energy !
An introduction
to the Campaign
events and initiatives, including energy experts involved in
developing and implementing pioneering projects to members
of the general public wanting to find out more about how they
can make a difference.
Crucially, the Campaign has also received the support of major
and well-established umbrella organisations involving sustain-
able energy actors. These ‘Campaign Associates’ are key
allies of the European Commission in the pursuit of a common
vision, offering a range of multiplier actions that ensure the
continued visibility of the Campaign and the effective promotion
of its key messages.
Campaign Associates
Amplifying impact of the Campaign,
identifying sector priorities
and country based partners.
Campaign Media Desk
Amplifying impact of Campaign actions
EU background and legislation
Today, half of Europe’s energy consumption derives
from imported fossil fuels. If current trends continue,
over two-thirds of our energy consumption will come
from outside the EU by 2030. Fossil fuels, used
in both the energy and transport sectors, are also
the main cause of CO2 being released into
the atmosphere, which is the most important
greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.
In 1997, the European Union signed the Kyoto
Protocol and committed itself to reducing
greenhouse-gas emissions in 2012 by 8%, relative
to the levels emitted in 1990 (although present
trends point to an increase). On 16 February 2005,
the Kyoto Protocol entered into force.
In support of this commitment, since 2000 the EU
has adopted a number of legislative measures to
foster the market penetration of both renewable
and energy efficient technologies. Today, there
is a common understanding between EU Member
States that recent increases in sustainable energy
production and sustainable energy consumption
patterns are having a beneficial impact on
the environment. However, there is still great scope
for positive change.
It is in the context of this commitment to change
the landscape of energy that the Sustainable
Energy Europe 2005-2008 Campaign has been
launched.
 Showcasing Europe’s The Sustainable
best energy solutions Energy Partnership

Campaigning for positive change can sometimes feel a daunting

task and even the most pioneering or innovative initiatives
often struggle to achieve the level of visibility that they deserve.
At the heart of the Sustainable Energy Europe 2005-2008
Campaign is therefore the principle of partnership in pursuit of
a common vision.
Are you involved in any of the following types of activities?
The Sustainable Energy Partnership
offers a common European programme of Rewarding Europe’s best
• Sustainable energy communities: Working together at a local, regional or national level, towards a genuine
visibility, giving greater strength and in sustainable energy:
change in energy supply and energy use on the basis of a coherent plan, involving a range of public and private
stakeholders cohesion to European sustainable energy Annual Award Competition
stakeholders and their initiatives.

Across Europe today, many projects and programmes have
been launched, offering a range of outstanding good practices
in the field of sustainable energy. Our commitment, via the
launch of the Sustainable Energy Partnership, is to showcase
and publicly recognise the pioneers that model effective sus-
tainable energy development, in the expectation that it will lead
to large-scale replication at local, regional, national and European
level. We truly believe that the key to success is having strong,
efficient and coherent communication channels that can
increase the visibility of these actions and create a ‘network of
excellence’ at European level.
The Sustainable Energy Partnership is also intended to motivate
new initiatives, encouraging organisations – by providing
support, sharing good practice and putting at their disposal a
range of promotional and communication tools – to consider
their own contribution to this European effort.
4 5
©Jim Lopes
• Market transformation activities: Working to reduce market barriers and effect positive lasting change
in the market for energy efficient goods, appliances and services, with the objectives of increasing their market
share and informing the consumer of their advantages
• Cooperation programmes: Working to transfer sustainable energy know-how to developing countries.
Who can become a Sustainable Energy Partner?
• Promotional, communication and educational actions: Working to increase public awareness on a range In principle, any public or private organisation, company or
of sustainable energy issues and products organisation implementing or planning to implement sustainable
energy actions can contribute to the Sustainable Energy Europe
• Actions in the buildings sector: Improving the energy performance of existing buildings and new building stock,
Campaign and is invited to join the Partnership. The proposed
or showcasing and promoting new concepts in sustainable living
actions must be of relevant quality, have replication potential,
• Actions in the transport sector: Working to promote action and policy measures that lead to the market uptake and should aim towards concrete (preferable quantified) objec-
of alternative fuels, sustainable mobility patterns and increased knowledge on energy issues in this sector
tives in energy and environmental terms.
and among consumers
• Promotion of renewable energy installations and projects: Working to ensure effective implementation What are the benefits of becoming
of a range of technologies, including wind energy projects, solar technologies, biomass powered plants, a Sustainable Energy Partner?
and geothermal applications Partnerships are publicly recognised at EU level as leading
examples of good practice and acknowledged for their commit-
The Campaign wants to support you in your efforts. ment to sustainable energy models. Partners are given exclusive
rights to use the Campaign logo for any communication
Join the Sustainable Energy Partnership today! concerning their partnership. Partners also benefit from receipt
of a promotional toolbox and official Campaign Acknowledge-
ment signed by the European Commission, exclusive inclusion
in the Annual Catalogue (comprising a description of all Partner-
ship programmes or projects), a bi-annual Campaign Newsletter
showcasing project results, as well as European-level network-
ing opportunities. They will also be the contenders in the Annual
Competition.
How do I become a Sustainable Energy Partner?
Applications are made online. All Partnerships are required
to sign and complete the Partnership Declaration and online
Application Form. All applications are decided after full
consideration by the European Commission. Once accepted,
the organisation becomes a full Partner of the campaign.
Organisations wishing to join the Partnership should visit the
website www.sustenergy.org
This site provides clear and straightforward guidelines on
how to complete the Application Form and a comprehensive
description of the Partnership scheme. The Sustainable
Energy Europe Campaign team also offers a free support
desk for questions relating to the Partnership scheme and
application process. Contact: pr@sustenergy.org
Europe is a leading light in implementing
sustainable energy initiatives and, as ingenious
and replicable methods are successfully
implemented across the Union, the European
Commission wishes to reward the best examples
of sustainable energy schemes and promote their
achievements to a wider audience.
All Sustainable Energy Partners are therefore
eligible to participate in a prestigious Award
Competition. This annual event provides a unique
opportunity to highlight the successes of the most
outstanding, ambitious and innovative programmes
or actions and to reward those Partners who are
setting an example for others to follow.
The event also serves to further promote to a wide
public audience the objectives of the Campaign
and motivate energy actors outside the Campaign
to join this European movement.
 Taking a day to change tomorrow
Decision makers from industry, business and research have
been central in ensuring that Europe is now a world leader in
sustainable energy projects and technologies. Our task is now
to ensure that European citizens grasp the opportunities offered
through these technologies and common sense practices in
such a way that the potential for intelligent use of energy is fully
exploited.
The Sustainable Energy Europe 2005-2008 Campaign is
committed to ensuring that we as Europe’s citizens are better
informed about the intelligent use of energy in all aspects
of our daily lives - our homes, schools, offices and modes of
Sustainable
energy days
Spreading the message Sustainable energy
media actions
sustainable energy days across Europe. Energy days mobi-
lize consumers, businesses and decisions-makers to take a day
across Europe
to think about the future of European energy production and
use. They are public events, demonstrating to a wide audience Old habits die hard and it is often all too easy for us to stick Included in the media services that we offer are Video News
that sustainable energy technologies and patterns of behaviour with the status quo. This Campaign sets out to convince the Releases (video reports on a European issue based on real-life
are viable, cost effective and better for the environment. public at large that making a commitment to sustainable stories), photos, background facts sheets and regular press
energy is an investment for Europe’s future. To encourage this releases. Analysis shows that this service considerably
The commitment to sustainable energy on the part of energy level of involvement on the part of European citizens, we count increases the television coverage of the Campaign, whether it
day organisers is publicly recognised by the European on the media to play a pivotal role in raising public awareness be in news broadcasts or in specialised programmes on EU
Commission, and the visibility of each event is greatly and bringing actions at a local and regional level to the widest affairs, the environment or energy issues.
enhanced through exclusive use of the logo, inclusion in our possible audience.
calendar of EU events, announcement of the event on the In recognition of the important role of media services in the

©Edyta Linek
transportation.
With this objective in mind the European Commission supports,
within the framework of the Campaign, the organisation of
Campaign website and media relations support. Guidelines A special Campaign Media Desk regularly alerts press and Campaign, the European Commission officially acknowledges
are also available on the website, providing detailed information television journalists to the latest information on sustainable a number of organisations and agencies as Media
and ideas for anyone wishing to set up an energy day initiative energy issues and success stories of the Campaign. The Associates. Media Associates express their commitment to
in their area. Media Desk also provides journalists with networking opportu- the promotion of sustainable energy use and technologies and

CLICK to find out more…
Visit www.sustenergy.org for direct access to
comprehensive, user-friendly information and links
on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Here you will even find our 10 top tips for saving
energy in your home!
By consulting our latest online news, you can
also keep track of the most recent Campaign
developments, stay informed about the latest
Campaign partners and associates, and learning of
forthcoming events related to sustainable energy.
©Olga Kolos
nities and access to interviews with the main energy actors support the objectives of the Campaign by agreeing to cover
during key Campaign events. Campaign events and ‘stories’ through regular articles and
other dissemination activities.
Look out for the following initiatives in your area:
A professional media service for journalists
• Open door days View first hand the innovative ways in which organisations are taking steps towards greater Getting the story published is not always easy, however Support in promoting your sustainable energy initiative
energy efficiency and use of renewable energy. compelling the message. What is key is to provide the right Our media team is also dedicated to giving specialised
Visit the Campaign website now and view tools to the right people. Our Media Desk is operated by a assistance and advice, as well as a range of promotional and
• Guided visits Visit local private homes, companies or organisations that are successfully producing the latest audiovisual material on a range of highly experienced team, with extensive experience in providing communication tools, aimed at improving media exposure and
or implementing sustainable energy innovations. subjects from biomass to sustainable energy
all types of media on an international scale to more than 5000 European-level visibility for a range of local, regional and
cities, energy efficient buildings to wind
• Educational activities and programmes Motivating students to consider the importance of energy efficiency contacts in Europe and beyond. Crucially, they also have national energy initiatives.
turbine manufacture.
and renewable energy and make positive choices about the future of energy production and consumption. established strong relationships with all the leading European
www.sustenergy.org broadcasters and understand what is required.
• Exhibitions and fairs Public or private organisations demonstrating their latest energy technologies to consumers.

Remember that even the smallest contribution can
go a long way towards achieving European and
national sustainable energy targets. On a daily basis,
you can help us reach our objectives. So act now
6 and use your energy intelligently!
• Opening ceremonies and inaugurations Showcasing outstanding renewable energy technologies,
energy efficient methods or alternative methods or products of transport to a wide public audience.
Visit the Campaign website to get latest information about forthcoming energy day initiatives in your area www.sustenergy.org 7
Together we can make a difference

KO-76-06-282-EN-C
Finding out more about
how you can be involved
Sustainable Energy Europe 2005-2008 is about ensuring that
Alternatively you can contact the Campaign team:
an important message is heard and securing a sustainable
future for European energy production and use. Faced with
General inquiries:
the depletion of the earth’s natural resources and the fight
info@sustenergy.org
against climate change, we know that this is a message we
cannot afford to ignore.
Public Relations Desk for Partners and Associates inquiries:
pr@sustenergy.org
To achieve our goals, however, all of us need to get involved, as
individuals, communities, industry representatives or members
Energy Days Desk for organizers of Energy Days/Week events:
of public authorities. Together we can make a difference and
energydays@sustenergy.org
no contribution is too small in the drive to change the landscape
of energy.
Media Desk for Press inquiries:
mr@sustenergy.org
For the latest information on all aspects of the Campaign,
including details of key events and how to join the campaign, visit
our website:
www.sustenergy.org

The Sustainable Energy Europe 2005-2008 Campaign is an EU initiative in the framework of the Intelligent Energy –
Europe programme, which aims to raise public awareness and promote sustainable energy among individuals and organisations,
private companies and public authorities, professional and energy agencies, industry associations and NGOs, across Europe.

For further information: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/index_en.html