Energy and Climate Agency of Podravje

Energy and Climate Agency of Podravje (ENERGAP) was established in June 2006 by the Municipality of Maribor under the European Commission programme, Intelligent Energy Europe.  

ENERGAP is the regional centre of knowledge and ideas that supports the implementation of sustainable energy and climate projects. It supports the introduction of good energy management practices, advocates for the concept of sustainability, provides information and guidance, and offers a number of other local services based on specific local energy needs. 

ENERGAP operates impartially on both energy demand and supply issues. The agency also reflects on the local situations, economic and social circumstances and the geographical size of the relevant local area. 

ENERGAP is located in the second biggest city in Slovenia, Maribor, the economic, university, cultural and sports centre of the North-Eastern part of the country. The agency covers an area of 200,000 inhabitants and 17 municipalities around the city of Maribor. It is financed by the Municipality of Maribor and other municipalities and projects.  

The decision-making body of ENERGAP consists of the agency Council and the Council of Experts. With ENERGAP, the Municipality of Maribor is one of the most advanced local authorities in sustainable energy management in Slovenia. 

ENERGAP acts as a contact point for relations with European networks and institutions as well as an intermediary to local, regional and national players. ENERGAP also has the function of energy manager for the Municipality of Maribor for local communities in order to carry out all activities and to achieve the goals set in the Local Climate Energy Concept. 

Mission 

ENERGAP’s vision is, together with experts, to prepare an effective energy strategy, lay the foundation for its implementation in the Drava region, and establish a centre of projects, knowledge, and ideas based on the principles of sustainable development. The mission of the agency is also to disseminate knowledge and be active in the fields of climate change, energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy sources (RES). 

The agency helps develop ideas, projects and deepens knowledge of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy, which leads to a reduction in emissions gases, mainly in areas where market mechanisms are not sufficiently effective. Citizens and businesses are considered means of energy management, which are key to lowering energy costs and increasing the competitiveness of the business sector.  

ENERGAP also assists in the interpretation and implementation of European and Slovenian legislation at the local level, as well as in obtaining financial resources, particularly in RES and RUE investments. 

Activities 

ENERGAP’s main activities are: 

• Providing strategic planning for sustainable energy and climate development in the public and private sectors, action plan preparation for RES, EE, buildings, mobility; 

• Supporting the implementation of energy and climate action plans and monitoring their achievements and progress; 

• Searching for energy-management incentive funds at the national and international level and studying innovative financial mechanisms; 

• Offering expertise for financing resources and mechanisms for investments in energy and climate projects; 

• Cooperation in EU and international projects to share ideas, knowledge, best practices, implement projects, and find financial resources; 

• Raising awareness on climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and sustainable mobility issues; 

• Offering information, advice and training on energy management issues; 

• Energy and mobility management for local authorities, public and private companies; 

• Giving wide-ranging advice on all aspects of energy, as well as technical assistance in the design of energy projects, heritage and infrastructure and provision of public information on these topics; 

• Support the development of in-depth energy management systems and connections with smart metering and smart grids. 

Achievements 

In April 2011, the Mayor of Maribor signed a declaration to the EU Covenant of Mayors with the help of ENERGAP. The city of Maribor committed to reaching energy savings of more than 20%, increasing the share of renewable energies to more than 30%, and reducing CO2 emissions.  

ENERGAP won the ManagEnergy Local Action Award in 2010 for having one of the three best practices for the central management energy system for Maribor, the second biggest in Slovenia. The same project was also nominated as the best energy-efficient project in Slovenia in 2010. 

ENERGAP was in 2013, twice recognised by the European Commission in being nominated for two awards: the “Sustainable Energy Europe Award” and the “ManagEnergy Local Energy Action Award 2013”. The first nomination was as one of the top five projects at the EU level in the context of awareness and education in the field of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. The second for being one of the best 10 projects for activities implemented at the local level. 

With the support of ENERGAP, Maribor implemented one of the first central energy management systems for public buildings in Slovenia.  

Projects 

ENERGAP acts as a contact point for relations with European networks and institutions, as well as an intermediary to local, regional and national players. ENERGAP is involved in many local and national projects and EU co-financed projects. Below you can find some of them: 

• REMARKABLE – Climate leaders. 

• PROSPECT+ – Capacity building for cities and regions. 

• SISMA PLUS – Subsidy Evaluation Tool UPtake. 

• TRIO – Three4Climate – Think European-Act Local. 

• ALPGRIDS – Increasing RES uptake through Microgrids in the Alps. 

• INTENSIFY – Increase carbon reductions through increased community engagement. 

• EMPOWER – More carbon reduction by dynamically monitoring energy efficiency. 

• PEGASUS – Promoting Effective Generation and Sustainable Uses of electricity. 

• RESOLVE – Sustainable mobility and the transition to a low-carbon retailing economy. 

• EPC – STREETLIGHT – Creating demand and supply for EPC projects in 9 regions by setting up. 

Awareness Campaigns 

ENERGAP actively shares information and raises awareness among citizens and the wider public. Promotional campaigns to encourage citizens to change their everyday behaviour, think about possible changes in their lifestyle, and consider possible investments to reduce energy consumption can be effective in mobilising citizens to achieve this potential. 

Notably, ENERGAP has implemented two very high-profile awareness campaigns. 

• The first was called the Ice challenge and was undertaken in spring 2012 to demonstrate the importance of energy efficiency in practice, in particular, the impact of a well-insulated, low-energy, or passive house. A model of an “insulated house˝ was filled with a mass of 1m³ of ice and placed in one of the most frequented places in the city centre. During the one-month campaign, citizens were challenged to guess how much water would melt. 

• The second campaign was called 1 ton of CO2 and was undertaken in spring 2013. The main object of the campaign was an 8.22 m high cube representing the volume of 1 ton of CO₂ placed at one of the main city squares. The purpose of the campaign was to visualise the CO₂ connected to energy use and, at the same time, highlight the possibilities to reduce emissions. More than 100.000 people were reached during each campaign many were actively involved in specific activities. 

ENERGAP is also very active in providing education at primary and secondary schools. The use of initiatives in schools to promote energy awareness and inspire behavioural changes links with many aspects of the formal educational curriculum. 

One innovative educational approach for preschool children by ENERGAP encouraged kindergarten children to think about environmental issues through a variety of different games, homemade tools, and Slovene folk fairy tales. 

• To engage pre-school children with environmental issues, in particular energy conservation, one example used a Slovenian folk fairy tale to demonstrate, identify, and explain energy inefficient behaviour. This initiative encouraged children to start thinking about environmental issues linked to energy. It also demonstrated several different approaches to integrate environmental content into the preschool curriculum and encouraged teachers to plan similar activities for children in the future, highlighting the importance of energy efficiency in buildings.