ENERGY@SCHOOL: ENERGY OPTIMIZATION AND BEHAVIUOR CHANGE INTO SCHOOLS OF CENTRAL EUROPE
The building sector has high potential for energy optimization being the most consuming one in EU. In terms of public buildings heritage, energy consumption in schools is the second highest expenditure of Municipalities total running costs. This sector offers potential remarkable achievements in terms of EE, RES application and carbon footprint reduction and several PPs disparities exist as for planning and implementing performances of proper sector-based strategies, action plans and managerial capacities. Main ENERGY@SCHOOL objective is to increase the capacity of public sector to implement Energy Smart Schools, by application of an integrated approach that educate and train schools staff and pupils to become Senior and Junior Energy Guardians EGs. The project will provide: 1 Common/Transferrable and 8 customized Strategies for Smart Schools, 1 joint and 7 customized Energy Smart-school Management Plans, 3 smart phones APPs for EGs, 8 tested pilot solutions of EE&RES; application in schools under direct contribution of EGs, in the form of Guidelines, Toolbox, Best Practices as reference documents and experiences to capitalized far beyond project end. As well, training & education programmes will be provided as adaptable & replicable models for capacity raising and Energy Culture rooting. Innovation lies in the integrated (technical, applicative, educational, political) approach that will tackle EE and RES in a long term vision with active involvement of employees, experts, students, teachers and families – the EGs - in the process of transforming schools into virtuous energy-efficient environment. The transnational added value refers to remarkable match of PPs skills and experiences to guarantee concrete results: Progressive upgrade of public buildings in EE/RES applications and CO2 decrease,  Budget-savings increase to be reinvested in training&education;, increase of public-schools capacity to improve EE & .RES by means of Senior and Junior EGs.