ENERMAP project enhances our knowledge of the energy efficiency of buildings

The idea behind this mapping is to provide the general public with information about buildings’ energy efficiency, such as the energy label of the structure/ building and a color scheme which will instantly indicate how “green” a building is, in popular applications like Google maps. This information is currently scattered and not readily available in most countries. The easy access to this data will allow consumers to include energy ratings in their decision making process whether they are deciding on a new house or a new business move, or a hotel to visit while it will also widely promote green infrastructure, (i.e. promoting green tourism).

This information should be useful to people who are purchasing or renting a house, flat or building as it will help them compare the energy ratings of the property they are interested in and make informed and calculated decisions based on these data. The creation of this database, which is currently at a piloting stage, can also help in new business development for contractors who provide double glazing windows and other energy efficiency technology by enabling them to target areas that are in need of their services. Additionally, this information can aid energy suppliers (such as the Electricity Authority of Cyprus) who can do a more in-depth research about energy consumption in a specific area as well as municipalities who want to demonstrate a green city or area. On a more promotional application, this map can be used to certify green organizations / brands – similar to the “fair trade” scheme.

Furthermore, through the partner of the project from The Netherlands, ENERMAP has also entered the augmented reality world and the consumers are able to “see” the rating of a building, just by directing their mobile phones towards that building.

This idea took off when the partners won the first prize (a €95.000 grant) in a pan-European entrepreneurship competition hosted by Climate-KIC, the climate network of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, which is funded by the FP7, the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the European Commission. ENERMAP is currently incubated at Imperial College in London, under the close supervision and support of Climate-KIC. Commenting on behalf of Climate-KIC, Andrew Burford said: "Climate-KIC are very excited by the potential to implement awareness of Energy Performance ratings across Europe and Enermap have shown that they have the sort of creative thinking required to exploit this vast potential"

The founder of ENERMAP Dr Alexandros Charalambides commented: "Climate-KIC's support is fundamental for bringing ENERMAP to the market. The financial support not only enabled us to research possible business models, but also provides us with the necessary resources to target Member States and conduct a thorough market research. The advice and guidance we have received so far protected us from various pitfalls and we are confident that through Climate-KIC's network, ENERMAP will become the place for energy performance certificates in Europe."

Currently ENERMAP includes energy labels for 50,000 public buildings in the UK, and is processing data on more than 500,000 buildings throughout Europe. This mass data collection, which is estimated to be completed in the next year, will be marketed in more targeted countries, hoping for them to adopt the ENERMAP project. It is estimated that in the next 2-3 years most potential home owners will require to see the energy ratings for the property they are interested in, although it is important to mention that in some countries people are already aware of the energy ratings and request them in their transactions.

Looking ahead, this Cypriot start-up company can create some much needed employment opportunities in Cyprus which is its base and in the other European countries that the ENERMAP project will be adopted and will need to collect data.

The idea of ENERMAP has been also picked up by the Cleantech Open Global Ideas Competition, an annual event that takes place during the Global Entrepreneurship Week in Silicon Valley and attracts the largest crowd of Cleantech investors and entrepreneurs. Dr. Charalambides and Mr. Thomas will represent Cyprus at this global arena as one of 24 finalists from around the world on the 20th of November.

More information about ENERMAP can be found at http://enermap.eu/

EU’s support to SME Research

The small and medium-sized enterprise ENERMAP is one of more than 124 grant holders in Cyprus that have benefitted from EU research funding since 2007, altogether receiving over €24 million. By the end of 2013, in the European Union as a whole, more than 15,000 SMEs will have been supported directly for an amount exceeding €5 billion.

At the start of the current EU research framework programme, the European Union set a target for SMEs to share 15 percent of funding available for cross-border cooperative research projects. At the last count in October the rate was 17.5 percent, with country performances ranging from 12 percent in Finland to 36 percent in Hungary and Slovakia.

In the next EU research programme, Horizon 2020, due to launch in January, the target will be higher – 20 percent of the budgets available for research on societal challenges and leading technologies – meaning almost €9 billion in grants over seven years will be available to small companies. Of this amount, €3 billion will be provided through a dedicated "SME instrument" to fund feasibility studies and demonstration projects to help speed ideas to the market. Part of the EU research budget will also be used to back loans to SMEs by public and private lenders.

Michael Jennings, spokesman for European Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, said: "The €9 billion should be seen as a minimum. SMEs are the backbone of the European economy and account for two thirds of total employment. We want as many SMEs as possible to benefit from EU research and innovation funding to generate new products, services and jobs. Full details of how they can get involved will be announced when we launch our first calls for proposals in December."