e5 - Program for energy-efficient communities

e5 is the program for qualifying and awarding municipalities and cities that want to make a contribution to the sustainable development of our society through the efficient use of energy and the increased use of renewable energy sources. Hardly any other initiative can boast such a comprehensive and consistent approach at municipal level. With e5, the municipalities participating in the program  receive tools and support to set and achieve their energy and climate protection goals.

Regional e5 advisors support the municipalities in six categories:

• Municipal buildings and facilities
• Energy and material supply and disposal
• Mobility
• Development planning
• Internal organization
• Communication and cooperation

Similar to a quality assurance procedure in business, e5 was created to guarantee a uniform, objective standard for energy-efficient municipalities in Austria. This has created a supra-regionally recognized trademark that offers an award with up to five "e" that makes the successful implementation of energy efficiency visible.

The e5 program is currently anchored in seven federal states (Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol and Vorarlberg) as a central instrument for the support, qualification and awarding of municipalities that focus on the efficient use of energy. Following the certifications completed last year, there are already 228 e5 municipalities and cities throughout Austria, in which more than 18% of the Austrian population live.

Essential elements of the e5 program are

• the consideration of all energy-relevant fields of action of the participating municipality (energy supply, waste disposal, planning, mobility, buildings, etc.);

• the gradual improvement of energy performance through clearly identifiable sub-goals;

• the development of structures and the networking of stakeholders within the municipality (politics, administration, citizens, businesses, initiatives, etc.);

•  the exchange of experience between the e5 municipalities;

• the qualification and support of municipal stakeholders in the planning and implementation of measures by the e5 consultant network;

• regular internal and external performance reviews;

• recognising municipalities according to their success.

Tasks of the national office

The Austrian Energy Agency is responsible for the national office of the e5 programme as part of klimaaktiv, the climate protection movement of the Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism. The tasks of the office are the dissemination and further development of the content of the programme, the national management, the management of the association "e5 Austria - Programme for Energy Efficient Communities" and the international representation of the association in the committees of the European Energy Award®, the European counterpart to e5.

 

Client	Verein "e5 Österreich - Programm für energieeffiziente Gemeinden" (finanziert im Rahmen der Klimaschutzinitiative klimaaktiv des Bundesministeriums für Nachhaltigkeit und Tourismus)
Project management	Mag. Gregor Thenius
Project partner	Forschung Burgenland Amt der Kärntner Landesregierung NÖ Energie- und Umweltagentur Salzburger Institut für Raumordnung & Wohnen Energie Agentur Steiermark Energie Tirol Energieinstitut Vorarlberg
Project duration	August 2009 to today