WHAT IS THE CONCERTO INITIATIVE?

The European wide CONCERTO initiative, launched by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Research Programme, addresses the challenges of creating a more sustainable future for Europe’s energyneeds. Today, within the CONCERTO initiative, there are a total of 28 communities in 9 projects working together to deliver the highest possible level of self-supply of energy. This objective is achieved through acombination of unique foresight and practical thinking.

The focus is primarily on demonstrating the environmental, economic and social benefits of integrating renewable energy sources together with energy efficiency techniques evidenced in the 28 demonstration communities. The CONCERTO initiative provides an exciting platform for the exchange of ideas. Communities and partners benefit from the shared expertise of Europe's most advanced communities active in the field.

Each CONCERTO community addresses its own specific solutions and comes together to realise the CONCERTO core spirit for Europe. CONCERTO communities gain visibility as ‘role models’ and forerunners for advancing Europe’s sustainable innovative energy policy concepts while contributing to the European Union’s global goals to fight climate changeand improve the security of energy supplies. On a practical level the initiative focuses onthe integration of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures in eco-buildings by integrating on-site renewable energy sources with energy efficient building design and management. Other actions involve the use of poly-generation and combined heat and power (CHP). The application of processes such as intelligent energy management strategies are included in the demonstration actions throughout.