[EEA07] The role of municipal energy counsellors in Sweden

Subscribe to the Odyssee-Mure newsletter to receive updates on recent activities, including webinars, related to the Odyssee-Mure project.

-----

Date & time

April 3, 2024; 10h00 - 11h00 CET

Speakers

• Rurik Holmberg, Swedish Energy Agency
• Janina Hirsch, Swedish Energy Agency

Description

In Sweden, there has been nationwide coverage of municipal energy and climate advisors for almost three decades. These counsellors offer free, technology-neutral advice to the general public, organizations, and small and medium-sized businesses on all matters related to energy. They are trained and funded by the Swedish Energy Agency but otherwise integrated as officials within their municipalities. Advisory services are widely regarded as highly effective policy instruments for promoting energy efficiency, although due to their structure, exact figures on their impact are not available.

Join us for this webinar to learn about the role these municipal energy counsellors play in achieving energy efficiency targets, and how their expertise can benefit individuals, organizations, and businesses alike.

Recordings

Presentation

Download the slides

Highlights

Key messages from the presentation

• The purpose of energy counsellors is to ensure that all residents in every municipality in Sweden have access to free advice on energy matters in a technologically and commercially neutral manner. However, there has been some criticism that energy counsellors are unable to make specific recommendations, as they are obligated to endorse all available alternatives.
• The system of energy counsellors has been in place since 1997. While it has undergone reforms over the years, the core idea remains unchanged since its inception.
• Another purpose has been to establish channels for disseminating information from the Swedish Energy Agency throughout the entire country and to have local energy experts available even in smaller and remote municipalities.
• Sweden encompasses significantly different climate zones, ranging from a climate similar to continental Europe in the south to subarctic conditions in the north. Furthermore, the country exhibits a wide variety of geographical features, including mountains, maritime conditions, and inhabited islands. Therefore, there cannot be a one-size-fits-all policy for municipalities.
• The training of counsellors is the responsibility of the Swedish Energy Agency, which also provides financing for them, while they are employed by their local municipality. All counsellors participate in annual or more frequent training sessions or gatherings.
• Nearly all municipalities have at least one counsellor, with smaller municipalities often sharing one. Counsellors offer advice to households, non-profit organizations, and SMEs regarding energy efficiency measures and renewable energy options. They provide personal guidance through telephone consultations, emails, or in-person visits. Additionally, counsellors undertake outreach tasks, such as visiting schools.
• Measuring the impact of counsellors, such as in kWh saved, is challenging because they may not receive feedback from everyone they assist. However, they maintain records of the number of people they advise. Consequently, the effect of counsellors is not separately listed in Sweden's report on Article 8 (EED) measures. A survey from 2023 confirms the significant positive impact of counsellors. Moreover, a large number of heat pumps were installed in Sweden at the beginning of 2010, suggesting that the influence of energy counsellors played a significant role.

• In certain cases, it has proven beneficial to enhance cooperation among counsellors within a specific region. As a result, regional offices have been established, although they operate within another administrative structure.

• The Swedish Energy Agency is presently assigned to:

  • Analyse how the programme could be enhanced in accordance with the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII);

  • Review the current programme regulations;

  • Propose methods for the programme to mitigate the vulnerability of homeowners, organizations, and SMEs to factors such as high energy prices.

Key messages from the Q&A with the audience

• The number of energy counsellors in municipalities varies based on the population size of each municipality.

• Energy counsellors provide both personal advice and general cost advice.

• Counsellors operate independently within each municipality.

• Field experiences from an energy counsellor (special thanks to Silva Herrmann for her contributions):

  • Energy counsellors receive numerous inquiries when new funding schemes are introduced. They assist individuals in understanding the funding and new heating systems.

  • Accessing funding is a shared responsibility between counsellors and regional authorities.

  • While energy counsellors strive to remain neutral, people sometimes seek specific advice. It would be beneficial if counsellors could provide more direct guidance.

  • We perceive ourselves as a one-stop-shop, offering general advice to help customers seek the appropriate professional services (companies) in the correct order.

• Difference between ChatGPT and energy counsellors: Energy counsellors provide more trusted information, particularly valuable for elderly customers who may not extensively utilize technology. Energy counselors conduct home visits to analyze energy, predominantly electricity usage, identifying patterns to aid in understanding consumption. Individuals who monitor their electricity usage tend to reduce consumption without additional investments.

• Sweden lacks specific guidelines addressing the needs of younger families or elderly individuals. The connection between energy poverty and elderly people is notable, especially in rural areas where elderly women may reside alone in large houses with limited income. The recast of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) is likely to address this issue more prominently.

Downloads