Transferring knowledge on energy efficiency
Progress in improving EE in buildings is blocked when companies do not have access to the necessary information and technology to implement change. For this challenge to be addressed, knowledge must flow freely among agents in the value chain of the EE market. This is especially true in the case of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The aim of the EE-WISE (Energy efficiency knowledge transfer framework for building retrofitting in the Mediterranean area) project was to develop a Knowledge Transfer Framework (KTF) that facilitates knowledge sharing towards Energy-Efficient buildings.. The study paid particular attention to SMEs and was applied specifically to the Mediterranean area. This was because the area's unique weather conditions require EE to be implemented using solutions specific to the region. Project partners focused on retrofitting rather than new buildings because of the high incidence of carbon dioxide emissions from the existing building stock. Moreover, a large number of SMEs participate in this part of the construction sector. Analysis of the agents' behaviours and their knowledge transfer needs resulted in development of the EE-WiSE KTF. The tool was designed as an interactive platform that enables users to exchange knowledge and experience. The EE content was organised by different topics, including skills and awareness, knowledge management, research and development approach, and financial, institutional and administrative information. The KTF was tested in validation workshops in seven Mediterranean countries. The result was a profile of value chain agents, which revealed breaks in the communication process and identified the main strategies for plugging these gaps. EE-WISE also highlighted the need to build knowledge, encourage new business models in the EE market, and promote certification and cooperation between different agents. The online KTF tool will therefore play a vital role in the drive for an effective EE building retrofitting sector. The success of the EE-WISE project will help in the effective exchange of knowledge and best practice among SMEs in the Mediterranean area through the KTF. It will encourage new business models and cooperation and lead to energy-efficient solutions for one homogenous climatic area.
Keywords
Energy efficiency, construction sector, Mediterranean, knowledge transfer, building retrofitting
