Interreg Europe funded CLEAN project partner SCIC 7 Vents from Normandy (France) will adapt a good practice discovered during a CLEAN study visit in Västernorrland (Sweden). The education-based good practice was developed through the United for Sustainable Development project, in Sundsvall. The action titled ‘Training to Daily Ecological Practices’, outlines a pedagogical apartment that will be created in the Manche department, to raise awareness on energy efficiency and consumption, as well as waste.
Awareness raising initiatives already exist in Normandy, however these will be complemented by a physical place that will be used to deepen the approach. The educational site will be equipped with pedagogical signs and communication on energy, water and waste management. The domestic setting will serve as a facility for training and awareness-raising actions offering education to schools and distribution also of pedagogical material such as stickers and posters, to promote awareness. The success of the development will be disseminated amongst local and regional communities.
The overall aim of the action is to educate diverse groups such as immigrants and students about energy efficiency with pedagogical houses where methods are taught to address common domestic environmental issues (such as dust) and also to save energy.
The SCIC 7 Vents action will help to improve the region’s policy instrument of the ERDF 2014-2020 “Investment for Growth and Jobs” and especially the third axis "Making Lower Normandy an attractive eco-region". Involving citizens by raising awareness on the importance of low energy use -- “sobriété énergétique”, energy efficiency, and SMART management of energy, are actions that would improve and contribute to the ERDF policy instrument by increasing the visibility and networking of actors in Normandy.
Pedagogical sites like these are a new method invoked to empower communities to develop more energy-efficient behaviours that have a long-term impact on CO2 emission reduction in EU regions. Facilities that provide practical education through an innovative pedagogical approach remove the barriers of language and allow greater opportunity to educate minority groups and citizens of all ages.
