The project aims to promote the diffusion of energy efficiency and contribute to the removal of barriers to its development, in order to achieve the growth targets set by international and national standards. The theme of energy efficiency is, according to the Community, set for the next decades, inextricably linked to international and national energy and environmental policy issues, as confirmed by the structure of the European Directive on Energy Efficiency 2012/27, which integrates the Directive 2010/31 on the energy performance of buildings, clearly expressing how the methods of implementing the Union’s energy objectives will be in the name of energy efficiency. The same legislation suggests that Member States should also work to overcome the barriers that stand in the way of achieving these objectives.

The project is divided into two complementary main lines of action. The first is to support the energy policies of public institutions, both central (Ministry of Economic Development, AEEGSI, etc.) and local (provinces, municipalities), and to support the promotion of energy reduction projects promoted by other stakeholders (Confindustria , trade associations, etc.), as well as the dissemination of best practices in the business and service world, in order to facilitate the implementation and full application of energy and environmental policies and the achievement of the objectives set for our country at international level. On the other hand, sectors have been identified for research into new efficient technologies, from energy production to end-use in the civil and tertiary sectors. The second line of action proposes the study, research and experimental verification of efficient technologies to promote the diffusion of efficiency in the use and supply of energy in different sectors, with particular emphasis on the development of technologies capable of promoting the efficient use of renewable energy sources.

The activities presented follow the whole complex topic of energy, analyzing different aspects according to this scheme:

• On the one hand, the results of the technical studies used to support political decision-makers in their decisions are reported. Examples include the analysis of the national building stock according to different typologies to identify targets and margins for improving energy efficiency in the civil sector, with particular reference to the definition of guidelines for the development of NZEB buildings (Near Zero Energy Buildings), the evaluation of energy districts, the sustainability of smart end uses, the evaluation of the environmental benefits of energy savings through life cycle analysis, and the measurement of the positive impact on air quality of energy efficiency scenarios.
• On the other hand , studies relating to new technologies and efficient devices are presented; in particular, for energy production (e.g. development of concepts favoring the integration of renewable energies, energy production by microbial cells), its efficient use in various sectors, civil, residential and tertiary (studies on geothermal heat pumps, development of components for efficient microturbines powered by fossil or renewable fuels) and industrial (new technologies for the production of technical gases, study of new types of solid-state LEDs allowing an increase in lighting efficiency).