Already in 2008 The EU brought its Climate Package on its way. With the 20-20-20 targets as relevant part of the Europe 2020 Strategy the CO2 emissions shall be reduced until 202 by 20 per cent, the share of renewable energies shall be raised by 20 per cent and the energy efficiency shall be increased by 20 per cent. Apart from increasing the efficiency in all energy applications and in energy transition as well as the extended replacing of fossil energy sources by Regenerative energy sources - as technological colums of climate protection - the behaviour of households and other user groups must change as well. Particularly households with a low income are not able to compensate the increasing prices for energy through the reduction of their energy consumption. However, they do also not have the financial means to invest in energy and power saving devices. Thus, relevant saving potentials remain unused. This is the starting point of our project that will be implemented by partner organisations from Germany, Spain, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy and Romania. The Power Saving Check that has been offered all over Germany since 2008 consists of the mediation of knowledge for users in households with low income for their conscious dealing with energy in heating, cooking, lighting and the use of electronical devices, media and communication devices and sensitises them for a raised awareness in the purchase of those items in relation to their energy needs. This knowledge and skill mediation is done in form of a free consultation - the Power Saving Check. Through the change in the user behaviour and low investive measures the power, water and heating energy consumption of those households can be relevantly reduced what is proven. The consultation is assigned to the so-called Power Saving Checkers - unemployed, particularly long-term unemployed and unemployed young people - and requires an according qualification. An adequate further education is not possible in the partner countries at the moment. Project results are: 1. The concept "Power Saving Check" including the curriculum for the training of Power Saving Checkers was transferred to ES, GB, HU, IT and RO. 2. 6 preparing and 12 special training modules generating the curriculum for the training of Power Saving Checkers was adopted in time and contents to the national needs in ES, GB, HU, IT and RO 3. The adopted curricula were translated into one blended learning course each. 4. A Power Saving Calculator (online-tool) for the investigating and visibility of power savings and CO2 reductions due to the work of the Power Saving Checkers was developed and can be used in the frame of the Power Saving Checks in ES, GB, HU, IT and RO 5. After the Pilot Training 20 experienced adult educators from ES, GB, HU, IT and RO are able to use the gained skills and competences in the education practise of their countries and to multiply them. 6. The adopted curricula for the training of Power Saving Checkers were tested in practise in ES, GB, HU, IT and RO. The trained Power Saving Checkers have implemented Power Saving Checks in ES, GB, HU, IT and RO. The achieved energy savings and CO2 reductions were examined with the Power Saving Calculator and are visible. 7. The Curricula have been acknowledged by the according institutions in ES, GB, HU, IT and RO. 8. Project results and products were disseminated and are available. In the long run POWER SAVING CHECK contributes to enabling relevant stakeholders and decision makers at national level to use the existing potentials and resources in the partner countries better, to extend their systems of general education (ET 2020), to raise the employment rate, to reduce CO2 emissions and to increase energy efficiency (Europe 2020).
Already in 2008, the EU introduced its climate package. With the 20-20-20 targets as relevant part of the Europe 2020 Strategy, the CO2 emissions shall be reduced by 20 per cent until 2020, the share of Renewable Energies shall be increased by 20 per cent and the energy efficiency shall be raised by 20 per cent. Apart from the energy efficiency raise in all energy appliances and in the energy transition as well as the increasing replacing of fossil energy sources by Regenerative ones – as technological columns of climate protection – the behaviour of the households and other consumer groups needs to change. However, particularly low-income households are not able to balance the increasing energy prices with a reduction of electricity consumption. They also do not obtain the financial means to invest in electricity and energy saving devices. Relevant saving potentials remain unused. This was the starting point of our project Power Saving Check that was implemented by one association of craftsmen, one municipality and five educational institutions from Germany, Spain, Hungary, Italy and Romania. The Power Saving Check, that has been already been offered nationwide in Germany, consists of the transfer of knowledge aimed at consumers in low income households, enabling them to deal consciously with energy for heating, cooking, lighting and the use of electronic devices, media and communication devices and to sensitise them for a higher attention in the purchase of according devices relating to their need of energy. This knowledge transfer was done in form of a free consultation – the Power Saving Check. By the change of the user behaviour and low investments (Direct Installations), the electricity, water and heating energy consumption of those households is greatly reduced. The consultation is implemented by so-called Power Saving Checkers – unemployed people, particularly long-term unemployed people and unemployed young people – and requires an appropriate qualification. An adequate further education was not offered in the partner countries before our project. In the course of the project, the following results were achieved: • Based on the transfer of the concept Power Saving Check, curricula and handbooks for the training of Power Saving Checkers were transferred to Spain, Hungary, Italy and Romania, tested in practice, optimised and submitted to the responsible institutions for certification. • In addition, newly developed blended-learning courses make a qualification as Power Saving Checkers in the partner countries possible – independent from the place and in any case cost and time saving. • In the frame of a pilot training, 16 experienced adult educators from Spain, Hungary, Italy and Romania were enabled to train Power Saving Checkers and to disseminate their knowledge to multipliers. • During the test phases in the partner countries, 59 unemployed people and 11 staff members of handicraft enterprises were qualified as Power-Saving-Checkers. They implemented Power Saving Checks in 104 low-income households. • Due to the 768 Direct Installations (energy saving lamps, shower saving heads, socket boards etc.) that were fixed during their course, within one year 89.311 kWh electrical energy and 1.955 m³ water will be saved in those households. The CO² emission will in the same year be reduced by 77.828 kg. • The Online Power Saving Calculator that was also developed during the project elaborated the calculation and publication of those savings. • The close co-operation with different stakeholders, particularly SME, during the implementation of the project activities in the partner countries led to the fact that new forms of partnerships between education and employment could be developed. In the long-term, Power Saving Check contributes to enable relevant stakeholders and decision makers at the national level to use the potentials and resources existing in the partner countries better to extend their systems of general education (ET 2020), to increase their employment rate, to reduce CO2 emissions and to improve the energy efficiency (Europe 2020).