While everyone is becoming increasingly aware of climate change issues, many are still far too hesitant about taking the next step. It is precisely to turn this situation around that the Espaces Info-Énergie (EIE), or Energy Information Spaces, network was created with the support and active involvement of ADEME in 2001. This network is now largely present right across France and is beginning to gain a foothold abroad as well.

At the end of 2009, the network had 230 local EIE offices across France, employing 400 consultants. Their role is to heighten awareness, inform and advise homeowners about energy efficiency and renewable energy. “The EIE consultants provide homeowners with concrete solutions to improve their energy management, especially in the home. They can also work with local partners to implement consumer actions. Additionally, they play a role in making people aware of the policies developed out of France’s Grenelle environmental forum and of ADEME’s national campaigns about issues such as the State’s zero-rated eco loans”, explains Claudine Lusson, EIE communications manager at ADEME.
In 2009, ADEME provided 10.5 million euros of funding for the network. “Direct aid is provided for the action programs developed by the EIE agencies. Our support also takes the form of training courses, the development of assessment and communication tools for the consultants and the creation of events”, adds Patrick Alfano, EIE programme coordinator at ADEME. This network of decentralised structures also benefits for the active support of local authorities. The great majority of regions, half of all departments and many local authorities co-finance the EIE agencies in exchange for the expertise they provide.

Free, neutral, independent and quality advice
“The network has a two-tiered governance structure”, explains Patrick Alfano. “At the national level, our relevant ministries and associations representing local and regional authorities (AMF, ARF, ADF and ADCF ¹) sit on a Strategic Committee chaired by ADEME to define the actions that help consolidate and develop the EIE network. Then, in each of our regional divisions, an EIE contact coordinates the local network and acts as the interface with the partner local authorities.” Whether a public entity or an association, the EIE structures sign a charter with ADEME and undertake to provide free, neutral, independent and quality advice. In addition to its financial support, the Agency also manages the network.
It provides the consultants, most of whom have an engineering or scientific background, with additional training so they can keep abreast with changing standards and technology. The team’s professionalisation also relies on the exchange of experience within the network, notably during the national EIE meetings.

56% uptake rate
Thanks to the work by the EIE consultants, more than 1,400,000 people received advice or information in 2008, resulting in an 80% satisfaction rate. Looking at the in-depth advice given by the EIE consultants (191,000), a survey revealed an uptake rate of 56%. Given that the average investment concerned is 8,500 euros, in 2008, the EIE network contributed directly in generating over 464 million euros worth of energy savings work that contributed directly to helping reduce CO₂ emissions.
Given these results, and to improve the network’s actions, ADEME plans to lift the number of EIE consultants to 500 by the end of 2010, that is, one consultant for every 125,000 inhabitants in France.

1.
AMF: Association of French Mayors
ARF: Association of French Regions
ADF: Association of French Départements
ADCF: Assembly of French Communities.

… and in Eastern Europe

In Eastern Europe too, the EIE concept is being adopted thanks to the signature of bilateral agreements between ADEME and its foreign counterparts. In particular, the Brasov EIE in Romania was established three years ago by ABMEE (Agency of Brasov for the Management of Energy and Environment), as part of the cooperation between ADEME and the Romanian energy management agency (ARCE). The ultimate aim is to create a complete EIE network in the country based on this first successful example. The aim is also to develop networks in other Eastern European countries. For example, in Poland where an agreement between ADEME and the Poznan Regional Fund for Environmental Protection is expected to lead to the creation in 2010 of a first EIE center, which will benefit from the technical support of the Rennes (France) EIE and the local energy agency for the Rennes region. Once it is established, the Poznan EIE will act as a reference for the creation of a network at the national level. Further afield, the creation of an EIE network is also being considered in Russia under a partnership between ADEME and the new Russian Energy Agency     thierry.meraud@ademe.fr