By Miodrag Grujić
From 7-11 April 2025, the International Energy Agency (IEA) hosted the Energy Efficiency Policy Training in Paris, with the main objective to support developing economies as they create and improve their energy efficiency policies and programmes. Our Senior consultant, Miodrag Grujic represented E Co. to present on digitalisation for energy efficiency improvement in buildings and on the potential of the ESCO model in financing energy efficiency.
Learning opportunities and knowledge exchange
“I spent the second week of April in Paris at the Energy Efficiency Policy Training. This training was organised by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to support developing economies in creating and improving their energy efficiency policies and programmes. Although such support is needed primarily to develop the capacities of developing countries, the training also included representatives from many developed countries, as the world faces a common need to reduce emissions, mitigate climate change, and improve energy security. The training for officials and future leaders aimed to work with governments in their transition to clean energy economies with the support of a range of donor countries.
The speakers at the training comprehensively presented all relevant topics and trends related to energy efficiency in the buildings, transport, and industry sectors. On the first and last day, all groups were together, while from the second to the fourth day, the lectures were organised by topic. I participated and lectured in the session dedicated to buildings.
In the different sessions, lectures were held on energy use in buildings, energy efficiency and climate policy packages, drivers of energy use in buildings, designing efficient and resilient buildings, passive design including passive heating, cooling, daylighting, shading, multiple benefits, and energy efficiency indicators. Trends and current information on EPBD, energy efficiency potential in zero buildings, modern materials, GIS for building efficiency, efficient grid-interactive buildings, as well as on reducing risks for energy efficiency investments were also presented. The whole life cycle approach was considered, as well as the approach to cooling, including passive and active cooling, with appropriate financial and policy support. We learned how NDCs can be bold in the buildings sector.
We learned about the experience of the EBRD and their good case studies in this field. Also, the World Green Building Council, the World Bank, C40, and UNEP shared their experiences and information on current projects and programmes. The EU approach to the impact of buildings on climate change was presented by highlighting the climate goal of full decarbonisation of the building stock by 2050.
Connecting with the energy ecosystem
The training also facilitated great opportunities to network with other professionals in the industry. I met many formidable and diverse participants from all over the world, including Australia, Indonesia, Canada, Africa, Latin America, as well as Eastern and Western Europe. While the training targeted public officials, there was good representation from the private sector as equipment manufacturers, international financial organisations, consulting companies, and prominent private experts also participated.
E Co’s participation
I had the pleasure of representing E Co, as a speaker in two sessions. In the first one, I presented our project on digitalisation for energy efficiency improvement in buildings, by providing key information on defined roadmaps, a compendium of digital technologies, and a tool for assessing whether a potential investment brings a sufficiently large digital improvement. The next day, I presented the potential of the ESCO model of financing energy efficiency, through an example from Serbia, where a district heating plant became an ESCO service provider by implementing energy efficiency measures in the buildings of its customers. The success of this pioneering project led to the EBRD’s interest in replicating the model by implementing a similar model in a large number of municipalities, with a transition to consumption-based billing. This presentation triggered the greatest interest of the training, due to the numerous questions from the participants during and after the session, which I was answering together with an EBRD representative who is part of the Green Cities team.
I particularly appreciated that my presentations enabled me to introduce E Co. and provide the participants with a better understanding of the work we do and the impact we are making on the world. I was also able to share our website, allowing participants to engage with it themselves.
Summing up my impressions, I feel great satisfaction after this training. Although I was a trainer and speaker, I received new information about current trends in the field of energy efficiency in buildings. I (re-)connected with partners and colleagues, most notably with EBRD, IEA, World Bank, UNEP, and World Green Building Council. And finally, to make this Parisian story complete, I need to express my excitement for spring in the city of lights, cruising the Seine, and smiling streets full of tourists. Great satisfaction with the success of the training and the great time spent on the streets of Paris brought new knowledge, new energy, and motivation for new business ventures and adventures.
