Periodic Reporting for period 2 - INSTRUCT (Evidence-based market and policy instruments Implementation across EU to increase the demand for eNergy Skills across conSTRUCTion sector value chain)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-06-01 al 2023-02-28
The European Construction sector faces unprecedented challenges to achieve ambitious energy efficiency objectives, that can be met only if successful training initiatives and supporting policy instruments are put in place, acting as a springboard to stimulate the demand for energy efficiency skills.
Key project objectives include: (a) gathering of evidences that corroborate and reinforce the correlation between skills and education and energy performance and quality; (b) informing about tools and instruments facilitating the mutual recognition of energy skills and qualifications in the construction sector; (c) showcasing the usefulness of the deployed instruments for recognition of energy skills and qualifications in real-world demonstrations in 5 geographical European areas; (d) paving the way to new legislative frameworks enabling reliance on skilled workers in public / private procurement and (e) dissemination and awareness raising actions at European level to increase the impact of outcomes generated by the INSTRUCT project.
Key project objectives include: (a) gathering of evidences that corroborate and reinforce the correlation between skills and education and energy performance and quality; (b) informing about tools and instruments facilitating the mutual recognition of energy skills and qualifications in the construction sector; (c) showcasing the usefulness of the deployed instruments for recognition of energy skills and qualifications in real-world demonstrations in 5 geographical European areas; (d) paving the way to new legislative frameworks enabling reliance on skilled workers in public / private procurement and (e) dissemination and awareness raising actions at European level to increase the impact of outcomes generated by the INSTRUCT project.
The following results were generated within the project duration which are also described in detail in project deliverables available on the project website:
• Interaction with key projects and stakeholders at a national and European level to evidence positive links between training/education and energy efficiency in the construction sector. Case studies have been presented that illustrate the positive correlation between training and energy efficiency, e.g. one study involving a construction company in Spain that provided energy efficiency training to its employees and as a result, the company was able to reduce its energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 10% and 13%, respectively, or an example of renovation in Dublin with the use of EnerPhit approach.
• Development of the taxonomy of current training offers for energy efficiency in the EU. Besides, the meta-framework, a methodology aiming at embracing a large set of training initiatives, and associated qualification frameworks, with a focus on digital skills and BIM have been set.
• Definition of qualifications for energy efficiency informed by the earlier project results with regards the understanding of the correlation between training and energy efficiency, and the training landscape for energy efficiency across Europe. The learning outcomes were benchmarked between the countries involved in the INSTRUCT project and extended to other European countries.
• Definition of the requirements towards skills-enabled new instruments.
• Definition and development of crosscutting instruments meant to support the various upskilling-oriented interventions foreseen in the project’s pilots. These instruments were of various types, incl. digital systems, training modules, legislative frameworks or types of partnerships but also extend to awareness raising approaches.
• 8 Demonstration activities to promote positive attitude toward energy efficiency in the different context:
o Demo 1 focused on increasing energy skills certification in Helsinki, Finland. The task involved designing energy efficiency schemes with local clusters and implementing them in courses to enable certification.
o Demo 2, led by LIST in Luxembourg, focused on developing BIM training material and modules for design teams, construction stakeholders, and owners, and producing certification schemes and courses.
o Demo 3 took place in Poland and aimed to create training events for the construction industry, increase awareness of energy efficiency, and produce collaboration frameworks between stakeholders in the construction value chain.
o Demo 4, in Poland, involved analyzing the national market and developing recommendations for public authorities to develop new legislative frameworks for skilled workers.
o Demo 5, based in Italy, focused on sustainable and energy-efficient renovation, providing examples and real cases of benefits such as economic savings and tax reduction.
o Demo 6 was focused to reduce the gap between designed and actual energy performance through better energy skills, demonstrating real case examples in a European-wide network for building owners and providing guidance to support sustainable change.
o Demo 7 took place in Bulgaria and was dedicated to increase interest in nZEB and deep retrofit and qualified specialists and workers.
o Demo 8, in Bulgaria, was focused on developing a modular training platform with practical training experience and creating capacities for on-site training and demos.
• Implementation of dissemination and communication activities including promotional materials where project results are described; management of INSTRUCT website www.instructproject.eu and social media profiles: LinkedIn and Twitter, establishment of collaboration with other EU projects which provided numerous activities like joint meetings and publications.
• Exploitation activities including exploitation plans, strategy as well as business plans and roadmaps for project instruments. The following 7 exploitable solutions were based on the results and findings coming from the 8 INSTRUCT demonstration and/ or development of the INSTRUCT portal (Energy Education platform):
o One-stop-shop training platform
o eLearning module production – with certification
o Training modules on new-generation EPCs – with certification
o Training requirements for public procurement projects
o Integration of skills verifying methods to procurement process
o Scalable and replicable workshops and framework and recommendations around new partnerships among value chain
o A knowledge base around materials for homeowners/professionals from the construction value chain.
• An "EU-level forum" has been established to create a space for knowledge sharing and mutual support among stakeholders who are interested in expanding energy efficiency skills in the construction value chain.
• Interaction with key projects and stakeholders at a national and European level to evidence positive links between training/education and energy efficiency in the construction sector. Case studies have been presented that illustrate the positive correlation between training and energy efficiency, e.g. one study involving a construction company in Spain that provided energy efficiency training to its employees and as a result, the company was able to reduce its energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 10% and 13%, respectively, or an example of renovation in Dublin with the use of EnerPhit approach.
• Development of the taxonomy of current training offers for energy efficiency in the EU. Besides, the meta-framework, a methodology aiming at embracing a large set of training initiatives, and associated qualification frameworks, with a focus on digital skills and BIM have been set.
• Definition of qualifications for energy efficiency informed by the earlier project results with regards the understanding of the correlation between training and energy efficiency, and the training landscape for energy efficiency across Europe. The learning outcomes were benchmarked between the countries involved in the INSTRUCT project and extended to other European countries.
• Definition of the requirements towards skills-enabled new instruments.
• Definition and development of crosscutting instruments meant to support the various upskilling-oriented interventions foreseen in the project’s pilots. These instruments were of various types, incl. digital systems, training modules, legislative frameworks or types of partnerships but also extend to awareness raising approaches.
• 8 Demonstration activities to promote positive attitude toward energy efficiency in the different context:
o Demo 1 focused on increasing energy skills certification in Helsinki, Finland. The task involved designing energy efficiency schemes with local clusters and implementing them in courses to enable certification.
o Demo 2, led by LIST in Luxembourg, focused on developing BIM training material and modules for design teams, construction stakeholders, and owners, and producing certification schemes and courses.
o Demo 3 took place in Poland and aimed to create training events for the construction industry, increase awareness of energy efficiency, and produce collaboration frameworks between stakeholders in the construction value chain.
o Demo 4, in Poland, involved analyzing the national market and developing recommendations for public authorities to develop new legislative frameworks for skilled workers.
o Demo 5, based in Italy, focused on sustainable and energy-efficient renovation, providing examples and real cases of benefits such as economic savings and tax reduction.
o Demo 6 was focused to reduce the gap between designed and actual energy performance through better energy skills, demonstrating real case examples in a European-wide network for building owners and providing guidance to support sustainable change.
o Demo 7 took place in Bulgaria and was dedicated to increase interest in nZEB and deep retrofit and qualified specialists and workers.
o Demo 8, in Bulgaria, was focused on developing a modular training platform with practical training experience and creating capacities for on-site training and demos.
• Implementation of dissemination and communication activities including promotional materials where project results are described; management of INSTRUCT website www.instructproject.eu and social media profiles: LinkedIn and Twitter, establishment of collaboration with other EU projects which provided numerous activities like joint meetings and publications.
• Exploitation activities including exploitation plans, strategy as well as business plans and roadmaps for project instruments. The following 7 exploitable solutions were based on the results and findings coming from the 8 INSTRUCT demonstration and/ or development of the INSTRUCT portal (Energy Education platform):
o One-stop-shop training platform
o eLearning module production – with certification
o Training modules on new-generation EPCs – with certification
o Training requirements for public procurement projects
o Integration of skills verifying methods to procurement process
o Scalable and replicable workshops and framework and recommendations around new partnerships among value chain
o A knowledge base around materials for homeowners/professionals from the construction value chain.
• An "EU-level forum" has been established to create a space for knowledge sharing and mutual support among stakeholders who are interested in expanding energy efficiency skills in the construction value chain.
The INSTRUCT project, an EU-funded project, aimed to facilitate the mutual recognition of energy skills and qualifications in the construction sector. The project has made significant progress beyond the state of the art in this area, delivering a set of tools and instruments that showcase how these skills and qualifications can be recognized and utilized within the construction industry. The expected results until the end of the project included policy recommendations and new legislative frameworks that enable reliance on skilled workers in public and private procurement.
The project has also demonstrated its effectiveness through eight demonstration cases in seven countries, representing different geographical, cultural, and social regions in Europe.
The potential impacts of the INSTRUCT project are significant, particularly in the areas of socio-economic impact and wider societal implications. The project's outcomes have the potential to lead to a reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a cleaner and healthier environment. Moreover, the project has the potential to boost the construction industry's competitiveness, as well as the labor market, by recognizing and utilizing skilled workers in public and private procurement. Additionally, the project's outcomes have implications for the quality of life of citizens, as energy-efficient buildings can lead to lower energy bills, improved indoor air quality, and increased comfort.
The project has also demonstrated its effectiveness through eight demonstration cases in seven countries, representing different geographical, cultural, and social regions in Europe.
The potential impacts of the INSTRUCT project are significant, particularly in the areas of socio-economic impact and wider societal implications. The project's outcomes have the potential to lead to a reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a cleaner and healthier environment. Moreover, the project has the potential to boost the construction industry's competitiveness, as well as the labor market, by recognizing and utilizing skilled workers in public and private procurement. Additionally, the project's outcomes have implications for the quality of life of citizens, as energy-efficient buildings can lead to lower energy bills, improved indoor air quality, and increased comfort.