The first step towards improvement of technical knowledge and consequent extension of small scale RES market is the training of people involved in the supply chain of RES in the building and energy sector, thus creating a deeper knowledge of more sustainable building technologies and good practices for heat and power production and savings. This will support the installation of small-scale RES applications and energy saving systems in new or refurbished buildings. Better communication (i. e. information sharing) will be supported among all the actors in the RES sector: suppliers, installers, planners, users, etc. Information and communication are necessary to diffuse skills, techniques, ideas and a common understanding of the RES field, with deeper knowledge and awareness about RES opportunities and advantages among suppliers and users.

1.2. Target Groups

The target groups to which the action is directly addressed are mainly:

• SMEs associations involved in the house supply chain, to reach RES suppliers in the building system (installers, maintenance men, sellers, providers, etc.).

• Single enterprises of the building system.

• Professional associations of planners (architects, engineers, …).

• Private consultants in the energy field.

• Energy suppliers.

• Energy consumers: municipal, regional and national public sector. Private sector as industry, services (shops and commerce, banks and offices).

• Providers of products and services on renewable energies.

• Providers of materials and equipment for energy efficiency and maintenance companies.

• Secondary school teachers of subjects related to RES.

• House owners (including farmer owners of residential buildings).

• General public/consumers (RES demand).

1.3. Expected results

The direct outcomes of the BEST RESULT project are: basic and specialized training, workshops, meetings and info-desks addressing RES suppliers and communication, information events (info — points, meetings, conferences, training events, exhibits, etc.) and strategies to raise awareness of RES opportunities among users. Code of Practice and Guidelines on small-scale RES applications in buildings will be published. Exchange visits will permit to share know-how and practical experiences among partners. Web site and a common E-learning platform will be long-term activities contributing to the project objectives even after the end of the project. Also the collaboration and the coordination process within the partnership will be an example and a start for further common activities at European level.

1.5 Partners

Fourteen partners from six different countries of the European Union are developing the project. Those are:

CRACA (Centro regionale di Assistenza per la Cooperazione Artigiana, Societa Cooperativa) from Italy that is the project coordinator.

Unione Provinciale Artigiani — Confartigianato Padova from Italy.

Universita degli Studi di Padove — Dipartimento di Processi Chimicidell’Ingegneria from Italy.

GFE Energy Management SRL from Italy.

Chambers’ Group for the Development of Greek Isles from Greece.

SC Chiminform Data SA. from Romania.

NAPE (Narodowa Agencja Poszanowania Energii S. A.) from Poland.

Escola Superior de Tecnologia de Setubal from Portugal.

Universidad de Valladolid from Spain.

Escan, S. A. from Spain.

CRES (Centre for Renewable Energy Sources ) from Greece.

Fundacion Cener-Ciemat (Renewable Energy National Center), from Spain.

CARTIF, from Spain.

Fundacion Asturiana de la Energia from Spain.

The project is being financed whit Intelligent Energy funds of the European Union.