"Energy Efficiency on the road", a five-month operating plan report across Italy

From Bolzano to Rome, with stop-overs along the entire Peninsula up to Sicily to recount and disseminate the flow of knowledge in using energy: this is ENEA's "Energy Efficiency on the road" project, a real  trip in ten cities in five months from October to March, during which the Agency's experts met citizens, students, businesses and public administrations on the territory during fifty events which involved thousands of people.

Five events designed for different settings were organized in every city involved in the roadshow. EE, a precondition for an optimal use of renewable energy technologies was very successful with reference to the theatrical performance of the comedian and writer Parassole Diego on sustainability, which involved over 3,000 students during the 10 stop-overs (Bolzano, Turin, Ferrara, Ascoli Piceno, Viterbo, Matera, Naples, Bari, Palermo and Rome).

Information campaigns targeting behaviour change on energy use were organised for Citizens. The good practices to be adopted to eliminate waste in basic systems (for example household appliances and boilers) and incentives currently in force to improve the performance of complex systems were identified (buildings in which we live, the means of transport).

Approach to SMES are equally pragmatic, as competitive as efficient to which allocated tools and facilities were shown. The PA meetings focused on the achievement of the objectives set in 2030 and 2050 and the role of energy efficiency in the new National Energy Strategy.

The talk, "the vital energy of art", was an established event in all 10 stop-overs based on the relationship between "art and energy", with which ENEA experienced a new mode of communication to approach two seemingly distant worlds.

The art historian and popularizer Claudio Strinati and Antonio Disi, expert in energy efficiency discussed on history, arts and scientific issues, making heritage buildings more sustainable. "Anthony Disi stated that by comparing culture and science, urban regeneration for innovative approaches was analysed carefully, improving the energy efficiency of heritage buildings and enhancing sustainable development in the country".

Through a capillary social campaign that has conveyed messages, photos and video with 150,000 views, it has been possible to facilitate the development of Energy Efficiency on the road”, by creating new stakeholders in the sector.

According to Roberto Moneta, head of the ENEA Energy Efficiency Unit Department - "thanks to the roadshow we have laid the foundations to build an alliance that involves all stakeholders in the energy efficiency of heritage buildings, to create employment and new growth opportunities in Italy, where the tax break (ecobonus) and news related to condominiums was disclosed."

"Moneta further affirmed that "with projects such as the roadshow and Italy in Class A, - we have shown how it is possible to test new forms of communication with 24/24h support services, start participatory processes and develop an important report network.

The stamina drawn from the experience these last months encourages us to continue to strengthen the practical tools available." "Energy Efficiency on the road is part of the wider three-year training and information campaign "Italy in Class A", set up by ENEA and promoted by the Ministry of Economic Development, launched in 2016 highlighting the importance of sustainable energy and efficiency, but also providing the tools and opportunities to achieve them.