Good practice:

EURONET 50/50 MAX

EURONET 50/50 MAX aimed at mobilizing energy savings in schools and other public buildings through the implementation of the innovative 50/50 methodology which increases energy awareness of the building users and actively involves them in energy-saving actions. And what is important – achieved financial savings are shared equally between the building users and the local authority which covers the energy bills!
The aim of 16 partners from 13 different European countries involved was the implementation of the 50/50 concept in at least 500 (primary and secondary) schools around Europe and in around 50 other public buildings, extending the number and typology of buildings engaged in energy saving within the first edition of the project.
The project focus was also on improving and extending educational materials and tools concerning the 50/50 concept, as well as on integrating this concept into national, regional and local policies and plans.
It was expected that important energy savings (reaching at least 8%!) will be achieved in public buildings involved in the project as a result of the implementation of the 50/50 methodology. More sustainable energy behaviors will be promoted in order to reduce the use of energy and to contribute to the mitigation of climate change at a European scale.

For KSSENA - Energy Agency of Savinjska, Šaleška and Koroška Region:
72.790 € (contribution of 75% from IEE Programme 54.593 €)

66,65 % schools achieved savings. Each of these schools saved:
• 11.61%
• 40 538 kWh
• 2 760 EUR
• 12.71 t CO2
on average.

In total, these schools saved 17 799 288 kWh and 1 289 292 Euro and 5 636 t CO2.

Then the EURONET 50/50 MAX project started with the aim to involve 500 new schools in the 50/50 Network and test the 50/50 concept in non-school public buildings. The 50/50 methodology is a 9-step methodology aiming at the achievement of energy and financial savings in a building.

The 50/50 concept gives schools and other public buildings a methodology that helps them to learn about energy and to save it, mainly through a behavioral change of the users of the building. The idea to involve schools and other public buildings in energy-saving activities by creating economic incentive both for schools/buildings and for managers of schools or buildings (usually local authorities): 50% of financial savings achieved thanks to the energy efficiency measures taken by pupils and teachers is returned to school through a financial payment; 50% of financial savings is a net saving for the local authority that pays the energy bills.
As a result, everybody wins! The school teaches pupils how to save energy by changing behaviors and gets additional financial resources, the local authorities have less energy costs and the local community gets cleaner local environment.