11 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY CoNSUMPTIoN AND ENERGY PoVERTY …
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Non-governmental organisations are often an important driving force in
energy campaigns. For example, the environmental Association Za Zemiata
(Friends of the Earth—Bulgaria) focuses on developing strategies to involve
citizens in energy management, and brings together representatives of civil
society, local authorities, business, and scientists to help build local energy
cooperatives. 4 one of the rare examples of larger-scale cooperation on
the local level is the Municipal Energy Efficiency Network (EcoEnergy).
Registered in 2003, the network brings together Bulgarian municipalities
to promote the efficient use of fossil fuels, increase the use of renewable
energy and improve the energy security of municipalities. EcoEnergy is a
supporting structure of the Covenant of Mayors and implements a number
of energy related projects funded by European programmes. 5
Nonetheless, community based sustainable energy initiatives in
Bulgaria are often hindered by the inert political and bureaucratic system, numerous administrative barriers and legal hurdles, high investment
costs, and unpredictability of the energy sector.
Case stuDy: european Citizens CLimate Cup (eCCC) 6
European Citizens Climate Cup (ECCC) was a competition of private
households within and between countries with the target to achieve the
highest energy savings. The competition attracted 8400 households from
11 European countries and regions. It was financially supported by the
Intelligent Energy Europe programme. The competition lasted from
April 2011 to April 2012.
A variety of incentives motivated households to participate. These
included an appeal to patriotic feelings (being part of a national team and
compete against other countries), a possibility to win attractive awards, a
financial incentive (saving energy in order to save money), and a chance to
contribute to a better and healthier environment. Following a disappointing response to initial recruitment efforts, Sofia Energy Agency (SoFENA),
the Bulgarian partner in ECCC, enlisted the help of municipalities and
corporate businesses to recruit households. In the end, 1006 Bulgarian
households participated in the initiative, easily exceeding the target of 750.
4 See https://www.zazemiata.org/.
5 See http://www.ecoenergy-bg.net/en.
6 See https://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/projects/en/projects/eccc for more
information.
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Non-governmental organisations are often an important driving force in
energy campaigns. For example, the environmental Association Za Zemiata
(Friends of the Earth—Bulgaria) focuses on developing strategies to involve
citizens in energy management, and brings together representatives of civil
society, local authorities, business, and scientists to help build local energy
cooperatives. 4 one of the rare examples of larger-scale cooperation on
the local level is the Municipal Energy Efficiency Network (EcoEnergy).
Registered in 2003, the network brings together Bulgarian municipalities
to promote the efficient use of fossil fuels, increase the use of renewable
energy and improve the energy security of municipalities. EcoEnergy is a
supporting structure of the Covenant of Mayors and implements a number
of energy related projects funded by European programmes. 5
Nonetheless, community based sustainable energy initiatives in
Bulgaria are often hindered by the inert political and bureaucratic system, numerous administrative barriers and legal hurdles, high investment
costs, and unpredictability of the energy sector.
Case stuDy: european Citizens CLimate Cup (eCCC) 6
European Citizens Climate Cup (ECCC) was a competition of private
households within and between countries with the target to achieve the
highest energy savings. The competition attracted 8400 households from
11 European countries and regions. It was financially supported by the
Intelligent Energy Europe programme. The competition lasted from
April 2011 to April 2012.
A variety of incentives motivated households to participate. These
included an appeal to patriotic feelings (being part of a national team and
compete against other countries), a possibility to win attractive awards, a
financial incentive (saving energy in order to save money), and a chance to
contribute to a better and healthier environment. Following a disappointing response to initial recruitment efforts, Sofia Energy Agency (SoFENA),
the Bulgarian partner in ECCC, enlisted the help of municipalities and
corporate businesses to recruit households. In the end, 1006 Bulgarian
households participated in the initiative, easily exceeding the target of 750.
4 See https://www.zazemiata.org/.
5 See http://www.ecoenergy-bg.net/en.
6 See https://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/projects/en/projects/eccc for more
information.