Area 21

The main target groups are local and regional public authorities that are involved in energy planning processes in two ways: as strategic energy planners setting the strategic frame for energy efficiency measures and as property owners that can act as frontrunners in developing and implementing energy efficiency measures from the energy consumer perspective. AREA 21 addresses two concrete needs: the need of local and regional public authorities to cooperate with energy utilities and co-design integrated approaches to energy efficiency in order to exploit the full energy savings potential at district level and the need to engage energy consumers in strategic energy planning and thus raise awareness and promote behavioural change.

AREA 21 increases the energy efficiency of BSR cities and regions by developing, piloting and disseminating innovative cooperative approaches and instruments or integrated energy planning and implementation at the level of urban districts. AREA 21 shifts the focus from single-building/single-infrastructure solutions to a holistic system perspective on energy efficiency and energy consumption. It develops new approaches and tools for collaboration of local and regional public authorities with energy utilities and for active involvement of citizens as building users and energy consumers in cooperative planning, decision making and implementation processes. AREA 21 opens energy planning for new actors to develop and implement more effective energy efficiency solutions, exploit synergies at district level and reduce sectoral fragmentation.