Featuring a modern design and a full range of information and tools to facilitate the uptake of the ESI model, two new websites are now supporting the rollout of the ESI Europe 2.0 project: esi-europe.org , the project storefront, and gosafe-esi.com, branded to engage potential adopters in the different targeted countries. Both platforms now offer an updated look and feel and simplified navigation, allowing users to easily find documentation relevant to their needs, from standardised contracts to validation documents and guidelines. This full revamp comes after five years of the project’s start in Spain, Portugal and Italy, and as it is now advancing in three new European countries, namely: Croatia, Greece, and Slovakia.

What is the Energy Savings Insurance?

The Energy Savings Insurance is a unique business model which overcomes most market barriers that hinder the quick adoption of energy-efficient technologies. The main challenge faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), when having to install an energy efficient system (be it cooling, heating, lighting, or more), is the high upfront cost of such technologies. State-of-the-art and top-performing technologies are generally more expensive than conventional ones. In their sales pitch, suppliers often focus on the potential long-term benefits of reduced energy consumption, but the uncertainty of whether these savings will be achieved as promised can undermine this message. Additionally, newer technologies can struggle to gain the trust of potential users due to a lack of awareness and the mistaken belief that equipment with better performance must be more energy-consuming. 

To tackle these roadblocks, BASE created an insurance-based model for energy savings along with the Inter-American Development Bank in 2015, where an energy-efficient technology provider, an independent validation entity and an insurance company come together to guarantee the pre-determined energy savings to the client. In other words, if the saved energy that the new technology is supposed to achieve is not met, the client (or user) of this technology has the difference reimbursed. Hence, the model relieves end-users of the financial loss fear and reassures them of long-term gains. ESI was initially launched in Latin America, including Colombia and Mexico, where it encountered its first successes. As a highly replicable model, it was then expanded to other Latin American countries, it has been introduced in Europe and Mongolia, and is currently being kickstarted in Morocco.

Two websites to accompany the project’s rollout

ESI-Europe.org was created to serve as the main hub for gathering all the knowledge related to the Energy Savings Insurance European projects. Its core role is to engage a global audience, to demonstrate the benefits and successes of the model in Europe and also to provide an overview of the other implementations undertaken worldwide. A section especially focuses on the origins of the insurance-based model, briefly introducing the conditions, challenges and ideas that enabled its creation before reviewing the different milestones this solution passed during the last seven years, such as the many national rollouts and recognitions from renowned institutions or papers.

Additional information includes the key elements of the model and explanations of how they work together to activate this solution and unlock its full potential as well as the detailed list of the phases every implementation must go through. To allow enhanced transparency and facilitate a step-by-step understanding of the model, the key documents and material needed at each stage of the rollout process are made open-access.

All in all, the website acts as a one-stop destination for all categories of stakeholders, from technology providers and businesses to academics and other international organisations, seeking to understand and engage with ESI from any country.

On the other hand, GoSafe with ESI is a brand created to bring the model to different country markets, promote the model locally to interested end-users and technology providers. Indeed, to favour the best possible uptake of energy-efficient technologies through this solution, raising awareness in implementation regions is key. The GoSafe with ESI website hence showcases the model’s benefits for adopters, illustrating the financial and non-financial advantages for SMEs to acquire or upgrade to an efficient energy installation in a clear and compelling way.  In addition to including information on ESI and its elements, gosafe-esi.com includes success stories and videos of previous beneficial uptake by different types of companies. It also offers detailed guidance on how to get started, the technologies that apply to the model, downloadable tools such as standardised and adaptable documents, blogs and news. The website’s focus is on engaging stakeholders in Europe, and especially audiences in Greece, Slovakia, and Croatia in the context of ESI 2.0. To meet this goal, it is now available in all six languages and English.

What’s next?

As a further development, the website will integrate an online platform that will facilitate the access of all documents necessary to progress while carrying the model out, and easily iterating with the different stakeholders. This platform is already developed using innovative blockchain technology to record all exchanges between actors and allow for total transparency and traceability of the processes.

To accompany the two websites and complement the promotion of the model, an integrated approach including online and offline communications campaigns as well as participation in relevant events will be implemented. A comprehensive package of print and digital marketing materials has been created to support these efforts and help spread the word about this promising climate solution. To stay updated, you can follow the project on LinkedIn and Twitter.