II - Shifting consumer behaviour

Conversations about the energy transition tend to focus on technology: renewable energy infrastructure, efficiency measures for buildings, electric vehicles, green hydrogen and carbon capture. This focus on technological solutions overlooks the lynchpin of the clean energy transition: us.

Whether it is renovating a home to reduce energy use, purchasing energy-efficient appliances, or switching to an electric vehicle, the change to clean energy will only work with the active participation of citizens.

Making this change doesn’t need to be complex or costly. According to the CAMPAIGNers project, it could be as simple as eating less meat or cycling to work. To help, the project is challenging citizens to make tailored, climate-conscious changes to their daily routines.

If each of us makes just small changes to our everyday lives, the net result will be a big reduction in carbon emissions. To prove it, the EU 1.5 Lifestyles project is working to provide data-backed evidence on how a potential small lifestyle change could have a substantial environmental impact.

An inclusive transition

Encouraging everyone to get active in the energy transition is the idea behind energy citizenship. To promote this concept across the EU, the GRETA project is studying the conditions of and barriers to energy citizenship.

One of those barriers is energy poverty – an issue being addressed by the STEP project. The project is using information campaigns, tailored training and one-on-one advice to help those in or at risk of energy poverty benefit from the energy transition.

From energy citizens to energy communities

Citizens engaged with their energy use are a stepping stone to building energy-minded communities, initiatives that bring together citizens, local businesses, and organisations to produce and consume locally generated, renewable energy. The LIFE_LETsGO4Climate project estimates that these energy communities have the potential to substantially increase renewable energy production.

This impact could be even bigger, thanks to the work happening in the ACCEPT and DUT projects. The former is developing digital tools and smart devices to help these communities reduce their dependency on fossil fuels, while the latter is providing the skills and tools needed to turn global strategies into local action that promises to keep people at the centre of the clean energy transition.