The European Energy Award (eea) -Systematically contributing to municipal climate protection

The European Energy Award (eea) is a quality management and certification scheme aimed at municipalities and regions committed to sustainable energy, climate protection and transport policies. The process, the tools provided and the actors involved form a consistent and effective approach to promote climate protection at local level. From spatial planning to energy supply, mobility to communication – the eea provides tested and proven energy and climate protection measures, which municipalities can implement on local level.

It not only takes into account the characteristics of individual regions and countries, but also enables benchmarking between municipalities at national and European level. It can also be used as a tool for implementing the Covenant of Mayors, and it allows the integration of Smart City projects. The eea is therefore the most comprehensive quality management system for municipalities in the field of energy efficiency with more than 25 years of experience and 1,639 municipalities participating in European member states.

In Germany 313 municipalities and regions, with more than 22 million inhabitants involved, participate in the European Energy Award. They receive support from a network of federal state carriers, federal state offices, regional offices, eea consultants and accredited auditors. The national office of the eea, which is operated by B.&S.U.mbH, is responsible for coordination and cooperation with federal state carriers, federal state offices, regional offices, eea consultants, eea auditors and eea municipalities throughout Germany. At the end of the process, successful participation leads to the European Energy Award. The eea makes municipalities’ success in energy efficiency and climate protection measurable and visible. Many municipalities therefore use the eea to set a high[1]profile example of their commitment to energy efficiency and climate protection.