The RES Foundation developed a methodology for training participants in the “Agents of Good Energy” programme from several local governments in Serbia: Belgrade, Užice, Novi Sad, Pančevo and Kraljevo. After acquiring the basic knowledge and familiarization with the methodology, the training entered the second phase, during which the agents will independently create energy profiles of their local governments.
This phase represents the transition from learning to practical application of knowledge. Agents will no longer only consider individual aspects of local energy, but will collect, process, merge and interpret data in order to get a complete picture of the energy situation of the local public sector and the way in which local self-government plans, finances and implements energy policy.
From data collection to understanding local energy
The methodology provides a unique and systematic framework for creating the energy profile of local self-government. For each of its segments, the importance and purpose of the analysis, the necessary data sources, the procedure for their processing and the way of interpreting the obtained results are defined.
The task of agents is therefore not just mechanical data retrieval and filling in tables. The goal is for them to understand what each analyzed indicator represents, why it is important, what are its limitations and how it contributes to a broader picture of local energy.
By combining the practical and educational part of the training, agents simultaneously acquire the skills necessary for independent research work and the knowledge needed to understand how local self-government manages energy and public resources.
Analytical basis for better decisions
By connecting the segments which are included in the methodology, a complete energy profile is created and it shows:
- how much and what energy is consumed by the local public sector;
- how much that consumption costs and what kind of emissions it creates;
- what are the capacities of local self-government for energy management;
- how much money is allocated for energy efficiency and environmental protection;
- what measures and projects have been implemented so far and what results they have brought.
Therefore, the energy profile is not just a collection of collected data. It represents an analytical basis for identifying problems, setting priorities, monitoring changes and reasoned consideration of future directions of local energy policy.
After creating the profile, the agents will move to the next phase of the programme where, based on the assessed situation, they will propose and combine energy efficiency measures and assess their impact on energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, public finances, energy poverty, climate risks and other related areas. By comparing different measures and their combinations, they will be able to assess which scenarios give the best results within the available time and resources.
Thus, the programme will gradually move from determining the current situation to considering possible directions of development. Agents will simultaneously gain experience in making decisions that require the harmonization of energy, climate, social and financial goals.
The “Agents of Good Energy” programme thus contributes to the development of knowledge, practical skills and analytical capacities necessary for monitoring, understanding and improving local energy policies. Its goal is not only to show what the current situation is, but also to enable local actors to consider, based on verifiable data, how it can be changed for the better.