Periodic Reporting for period 1 - nZEB Ready (Enhancing Market Readiness for nZEB Implementation)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2021-09-01 do 2023-02-28
While there are many initiatives for development of educational and training programmes regarding energy efficiency and RES in buildings and integrating them in the national curricula, the current training schemes are still not satisfactory for effective nZEB implementation, while the recourse to skilled professionals for renovations and new constructions of buildings is not usual practice. At the same time, the interest of the young generation towards the construction sector is continuously decreasing, due to unfavourable reputation of the profession and lack of awareness of the opportunities for career development and professional growth.
Within this context, the overall goal of the nZEB Ready project is to stimulate the demand for energy-related skills of construction workers, specialists in the 5 involved countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Portugal, Poland, and Romania) and to increase the market readiness for an effective nZEB implementation: (1) by addressing the key identified barriers of nZEB implementation in focused markets, (2) by supporting the enhancement of skills framework by new market-driven mutual recognition training and certification scheme for nZEB deployment that will facilitate the necessary legislative changes, and (3) through development and communication of toolboxes, tailored guidance and practical support to engage homeowners and public authorities to reach the nZEB benefits.
This is achieved through the preparation of ready to use frameworks to answer the needs related to lack of awareness, skilled professionals and support instruments, by implementing the nZEB ready labelled procedures in the target/pilot countries in order to obtain a broader range of results, for further replication in a wider use at the European level.
Within this context, the overall goal of the nZEB Ready project is to stimulate the demand for energy-related skills of construction workers, specialists in the 5 involved countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Portugal, Poland, and Romania) and to increase the market readiness for an effective nZEB implementation: (1) by addressing the key identified barriers of nZEB implementation in focused markets, (2) by supporting the enhancement of skills framework by new market-driven mutual recognition training and certification scheme for nZEB deployment that will facilitate the necessary legislative changes, and (3) through development and communication of toolboxes, tailored guidance and practical support to engage homeowners and public authorities to reach the nZEB benefits.
This is achieved through the preparation of ready to use frameworks to answer the needs related to lack of awareness, skilled professionals and support instruments, by implementing the nZEB ready labelled procedures in the target/pilot countries in order to obtain a broader range of results, for further replication in a wider use at the European level.
Currently, the progress of the work has already enabled the start of the targeted awareness campaigns and implementation of pilot sessions for the nZEB training programs. This achievement required a number of preparation activities in terms of: 1) target groups research and identification of the needs, 2) definition of awareness strategy pillars and implementation of awareness campaigns in high schools and universities, and 3) definition of a complex set of learning frameworks for nZEB concept, design, evaluation, execution and exploitation.
The first major achievement of the project was the benchmarking analysis of the current and previous education initiatives on professional trainings for reinforcing the links between skills/education and energy performance of nZEB construction in the five nZEB Ready pilot countries, and identification of best practices. A technical e-library with previous sustainable energy or nZEB initiatives (in English) has been deployed (https://platform.nzebready.eu/previous-initiatives/) as the first module of the nZEB Ready Platform and contains 19 bibliographical notes of previous initiatives and 43 linked outcomes. Users can filter the database to find relevant materials, while the module is open to be completed with further initiatives and additional information.
The needs identification of key target groups to become nZEB ready was performed based on targeted questionnaire and focus groups meetings in each project country, while the first awareness campaign for new generations was successfully implemented, with more than 1000 visitors in the 13 events with demonstration sessions organised by project partners.
The nZEB Ready project provides a complex set of learning/training frameworks for nZEB concept, design, evaluation, execution and exploitation by gathering together the already existing courses from previous initiatives (e.g. BUILD UP Skills) with new courses addressing domains not covered yet, to fully complete an nZEB approach. The developed set of learning programs is structured in 13 modules for different target categories with the necessary nZEB-Ready competences for white collar category (designers or execution engineers), for blue collars category and decision makers / public authorities, but also new programs are designed for nZEB expert evaluators while the piloted courses in each target country will prove their feasibility and upskill over 1500 trainees.
The nZEB Ready Cities Working group was set-up as a peer-to-peer exchange group, bringing together 14 cities, spread over the 5 partner countries of the project. The group gathers beginners from middle-advanced cities on nZEB, and they are all keen to know more about nZEB concept and how it could be implemented at the local scale.
Together with all communication and dissemination activities the project succeeded to involve around 3300 visitors of dissemination events, of which almost 350 official representatives of public authorities and more than 400 representatives of various knowledge providers. Other prominent actors were also involved, representing associations of construction companies, professional chambers, producers and distributors on nZEB-suitable components and materials, financial institutions, NGOs and the media.
The first major achievement of the project was the benchmarking analysis of the current and previous education initiatives on professional trainings for reinforcing the links between skills/education and energy performance of nZEB construction in the five nZEB Ready pilot countries, and identification of best practices. A technical e-library with previous sustainable energy or nZEB initiatives (in English) has been deployed (https://platform.nzebready.eu/previous-initiatives/) as the first module of the nZEB Ready Platform and contains 19 bibliographical notes of previous initiatives and 43 linked outcomes. Users can filter the database to find relevant materials, while the module is open to be completed with further initiatives and additional information.
The needs identification of key target groups to become nZEB ready was performed based on targeted questionnaire and focus groups meetings in each project country, while the first awareness campaign for new generations was successfully implemented, with more than 1000 visitors in the 13 events with demonstration sessions organised by project partners.
The nZEB Ready project provides a complex set of learning/training frameworks for nZEB concept, design, evaluation, execution and exploitation by gathering together the already existing courses from previous initiatives (e.g. BUILD UP Skills) with new courses addressing domains not covered yet, to fully complete an nZEB approach. The developed set of learning programs is structured in 13 modules for different target categories with the necessary nZEB-Ready competences for white collar category (designers or execution engineers), for blue collars category and decision makers / public authorities, but also new programs are designed for nZEB expert evaluators while the piloted courses in each target country will prove their feasibility and upskill over 1500 trainees.
The nZEB Ready Cities Working group was set-up as a peer-to-peer exchange group, bringing together 14 cities, spread over the 5 partner countries of the project. The group gathers beginners from middle-advanced cities on nZEB, and they are all keen to know more about nZEB concept and how it could be implemented at the local scale.
Together with all communication and dissemination activities the project succeeded to involve around 3300 visitors of dissemination events, of which almost 350 official representatives of public authorities and more than 400 representatives of various knowledge providers. Other prominent actors were also involved, representing associations of construction companies, professional chambers, producers and distributors on nZEB-suitable components and materials, financial institutions, NGOs and the media.
The nZEB Ready has invested significant efforts to develop knowledge repository, awareness raising campaigns and key nZEB training programs for specialisation of already qualified workforce and support tools for facilitating the implementation of nZEB standard in current administration and financing practice, involving partners in a collaborative process enabled by intensive peer review activities, thus improving the understanding of the needs and demands of the targeted stakeholders’ groups.
A set of educational programs for nZEB professionals and public administration, together with awareness raising activities related to the sustainable use of energy are set, as well as a communication and dissemination strategy of NZEB Ready to support the market demand for nZEBs for promoting the demand for training and educational services on nZEB-related issues. The implementation of the strategy aims to attract local users and to engage new industrial and educational partners to stimulate the demand of nZEB-related skills and competences in the construction sector.
As a result, a total of 7 national conferences were organised in the 5 countries reaching 600+ participants, 6 regional workshops were organised reaching 232 participants (4 in Bulgaria, 1 in Poland and 1 in Romania), and 2 study tours were already performed in Bulgaria and Croatia with 85 participants, while other 73 participants were directly involved in 2 webinars organised in Poland and Portugal. Almost 100 Media publications were produced about nZEB Ready during the first reporting period, while the posts in social media generated more than 42 000 reactions.
Already 14 collaborations with public authorities at joint events organised in Bulgaria, Croatia, Portugal and Romania are reported in the first half of the project, while during the implementation of communication and dissemination strategy already 347 representatives of public authorities were involved in more than 50 national and international events.
The market acceptance of the offered VET schemes on sustainable energy skills is already shown by the 16 collaborations at events with various joint activities implemented with producers and retailers and by the 8 cooperation agreements signed, and will be evidenced further through endorsement by market and institutional bodies. The activities are expected to continue in the next stage of the project.
A set of educational programs for nZEB professionals and public administration, together with awareness raising activities related to the sustainable use of energy are set, as well as a communication and dissemination strategy of NZEB Ready to support the market demand for nZEBs for promoting the demand for training and educational services on nZEB-related issues. The implementation of the strategy aims to attract local users and to engage new industrial and educational partners to stimulate the demand of nZEB-related skills and competences in the construction sector.
As a result, a total of 7 national conferences were organised in the 5 countries reaching 600+ participants, 6 regional workshops were organised reaching 232 participants (4 in Bulgaria, 1 in Poland and 1 in Romania), and 2 study tours were already performed in Bulgaria and Croatia with 85 participants, while other 73 participants were directly involved in 2 webinars organised in Poland and Portugal. Almost 100 Media publications were produced about nZEB Ready during the first reporting period, while the posts in social media generated more than 42 000 reactions.
Already 14 collaborations with public authorities at joint events organised in Bulgaria, Croatia, Portugal and Romania are reported in the first half of the project, while during the implementation of communication and dissemination strategy already 347 representatives of public authorities were involved in more than 50 national and international events.
The market acceptance of the offered VET schemes on sustainable energy skills is already shown by the 16 collaborations at events with various joint activities implemented with producers and retailers and by the 8 cooperation agreements signed, and will be evidenced further through endorsement by market and institutional bodies. The activities are expected to continue in the next stage of the project.