The 2007 "Energy Policy for Europe" targets towards improving energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. The ANSWER project aims to contribute to this policy by reducing energy use. The project will promote the reduction of carbon emissions through increased energy efficiency amongst businesses and communities within the North Sea Region.

The project calls for promoting changes in practice by addressing attitudes and behaviour of businesses and societies, therefore leading to a reduction in energy use (and hence in carbon footprint). The project will develop a Climate Barometer Monitoring Tool which will be used to monitor and visualise the real time energy and climate performance of the participating communities and SMEs.

Aim
The project will create an ambitious partnership of North Sea regions that will explore a comprehensive range of proven and innovative measures, interventions and actions to reduce the carbon emissions of communities, individuals and businesses, through improved energy efficiency. The project will demonstrate and evaluate good practice, with outcomes providing models, tools and techniques for transference to other regions within the North Sea.

The project will develop ways to promote and increase energy efficient consumption patterns in society, working with communities and businesses to engage and empower them to increase efficiency. This will help meet local/ national/ international targets for greenhouse gas reduction and will lead to on-going reductions in energy use and carbon dioxide emissions.

Background
The Kyoto Protocol commited the EU to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 8% on 1990 levels by 2012. The Green Paper ‘Towards a European Strategy for the Security of Energy Supply' highlights rising energy consumption and increasing dependence on external sources.

The ANSWER project aims to contribute by reducing energy use. Assisting businesses and communities to develop energy-efficient solutions will help create sustainable communities as the foundation of a successful economy. The challenge is to turn energy-efficient behaviour from the exception to the norm. Raising awareness and generating low-energy behaviour within businesses and communities presents a sustainable solution, embedding the answers within the target population as a means of investing in their future.

Transnational cooperation will allow expertise to be shared to determine, implement and evaluate responses to each obstacle encountered.

Building a body of experience on efficient energy use will complement the North Sea's reputation as a leader in energy production of both fossil and renewable sources. It will also complement developing national/ international legal and financial initiatives.

The project will develop ways to promote and increase energy efficient consumption patterns in:

• Society, working with communities and businesses to engage and empower them to increase energy efficiency,
• Establish the partner regions as a centre of excellence for energy efficiency,
• Develop a Climate Barometer Monitoring Tool which will be used to monitor and visualise the real-time energy and climate performance of the participating communities and SMEs.

At the WPB meeting in Bremen, a key focus was on fixing common ambitions and sharing learning. Exchanging of transnational experience about existing approaches (energy clubs, business networks, awarding and certification systems, e t c) to engage businesses to reduce energy use were identified. Work identifying successful SME energy networks and community engagement will allow ANSWER to deliver joined-up, innovative solutions.

A website has been launched at www.answerproject.eu.