Good practice:

50/50 energy-saving methodology- Saving energy in European schools

The 50/50 methodology aims at achieving energy and financial savings in a public building without larger investments. It actively involves buildings’ users in the process of energy management and teaches them proper behaviour through practical actions. Achieved financial savings are shared equally between the building users and the local authority that covers the energy bills. Its objective is to share economic incentives for saving energy between schools and municipalities: 50% of energy savings achieved are returned through a financial payout. The other 50% will be a net saving for the public authority that pays the bills. In the case of schools an energy team is created and special equipment is provided. After in-depth analysis of the energy situation of their school, the pupils look for possible energy-saving solutions, implement them and monitor their results. Energy teams share their findings with the whole school community and teach their colleagues energy efficient behaviours. After the full year of activities, energy and financial savings are calculated. Half of the savings achieved is paid back to the school. In other types of public building the methodology is very similar, although specific purpose and use of the building needs to be strongly considered when establishing the energy team and planning optimization measures. The 50/50 methodology can help local authorities demonstrate their role in energy saving and in reaching local climate & energy targets.

Implementing 50/50 methodology requires minimum funding since it focuses on the change of behavior and energy management. Schools’ Energy teams should be equipped with 2-3 sets of metering devices enabling them to check and monitor basic parameters of the building (costs approx. 100 EUR per set).

Quantitative results:
Reduced energy consumption in kWh/year > 1.100 MWh
€ saved per school
70% of the Buildings improved energy classification
339 tn less greenhouse gases emitted
Qualitative results:
Define a common 50/50 methodology and educational material.
Create a 50/50 network of educational centers.
Increase pupils’ knowledge and awareness.
Involve the educational community and change energy consumption habits.
Promote co-responsibility: council, pupils, teachers

New collaborative method ensuring that building owner (local authorities), building manager (e.g. school principal) and building users (energy team) are working together on reducing energy consumption and related CO2 emissions.

The model contract on the 50/50 implementation (signed between the local authority and the building manager) is available on-line and can be adapted to different local conditions.
The 50/50 methodology can be implemented in any public building; provided that its energy bills are covered from municipal budget (therefore achieved savings mean savings both for the Local Authorities and the building itself).
The methodology for calculating energy and financial savings is very simple (yet includes all important aspects, like weather conditions in a given year) and can be applied to any kind of buildings. The calculations can be based on the data gathered from invoices or energy meters, so no sophisticated energy monitoring systems are necessary.
Large part of the methodology is focusing on capacitating building users to optimise energy use. A lot of useful methodological and educational material is gathered on the project website.