On the second day a range of different workshops, tailored to the specific needs of each group, were the focus of the days’ activities. Three separate workshops were run in parallel session on Dissemination, Technical Monitoring as well as Socio Economic Issues and Policy Recommendations outlook. Attendees fostered strong mutual working relationships to ensure the collaborative spirit among all involved in developing the sustainable energy strategy for the twentyfirst century and beyond.

The aim of the Dissemination Workshop on the second day was to set up a CONCERTO wide dissemination network and communication strategy. Dissemination experts from the different projects participated in lively discussions about the application of the CONCERTO corporate identity, dissemination tools and the establishment of a communication and dissemination network. This workshop offered the unique chance to agree on the “rules” for the future of working together. Interesting ideas on how best to use the dissemination tools developed within CONCERTO Plus with the goal to make CONCERTO known all across Europe within the next five years were also central features of the discussions.

The Technical Monitoring Workshop focused on CONCERTO wide methodological standards for technical indicators of performance. Transparency in the methodological standards applied was stressed to be an essentialelement to ensure trust, confidence and consistency of indicators. It was suggested that CONCERTO Plus could highlight the best practice examples for the other projects to learn from the CONCERTO experience and alsoto help connect CONCERTOpartners to a network of experts for troubleshooting issues. Accessibility to the datawas also considered an important issue in the context of the discussions. It was highlighted that for the demonstration building monitoring data would be easy to obtain, but for other situations statistical analysis could be carried out if data is not available. Particularly the access to import energy data might be very difficult in some cases. The next steps for the technical monitoring aspects were identified as being the need to analysethe energy balance sheets and discuss how to implement the required support framework in the best way. To this regard an agreement giving the framework for the technical impact assessment will be proposed to thepartners.

The Socio Economic Issues and Policy Recommendations outlook workshop set out to discuss the CONCERTO methodological approach for non-technical indicators. The workshop was subdivided into two parallel sessions, focused on non technical indicators and on a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses,Opportunities and Threats). Socio-economic frameworks vary from one project to another and the research is in different stages of development. Following the presentation of the socio-economic approach of three projects, the discussions tried to address similarities and differences between projects and approaches. The results of the discussion pointed out the need to share methodologies. Only a few communities have already a detailed definition of socio-economic assessment and indicator-categories (social, demographic, economic,environmental, regional development, etc...). In the case of rehabilitation of the building stock, however,there appear to be striking similarities in most projects. Thus a large number of projects focuses on tenantsas major target groups and addresses their change in behaviour. It emerged that individual metering andfeed-back systems, the learning process of tenants and the development of accompanying measures such astraining and information are of great importance for a large number of cases.

The second session concentrated on discussing what kind of risk is associated with the planning and implementation of the demo activities by means of a SWOT analysis. The discussion revealed that strengths out-weigh threats and weaknesses. The fact that energy is at the heart of much debate and the rising of energy prices were considered to be among the greatest incentives and hence strengths for seeking sustainable paths. On the other side, the absence of key actors such as energy companies and taxation issues were considered to be among the troubling weaknesses. Interestingly some of the issues raised in the SWOT analysis were considered to be both strengths and weaknesses at the same time.

On Tuesday evening, the working dinner was organised at the Museum of Musical Instruments in the heart of Brussels. The roof terrace provided the perfect note of harmony to the entire event. While enjoying the good food and views of Brussels the CONCERTO partners continued working by exchanging their views on the initiative. Yet it also allowed all to relax and enjoy some personal moments at the end of two hard days of work.