Upscaling of Community Based Energy Efficiency Retrofitting

Introduction

This proposal scales the results of the recently concluded SUPER-HEERO project (LC-SC3-EE-9-2018-2019 - Innovative financing for energy efficiency investments) which developed an innovative financing scheme that engaged shoppers, citizens, and communities in the EE retrofitting of supermarkets via crowdlending and reward campaigns.

Objectives

This new submission works with a new set of partners to:

1. Sharpen the model and process.
2. Further ignite the multi-sided platform business model and ecosystem.
3. Gain further traction in the supermarket community.
4. Bring the approach beyond supermarkets to:
   • Commercial shopping centers
   • Retailers
   • Schools
   • Energy communities

Core Value Proposition

The core value proposition of SUPER-HEERO is captured in the tag "#HappyShoppers," which embodies brand loyalty, community engagement, and social impact.

Community Engagement

The approach gives communities an additional tool for actioning energy action/transition plans.

Benefits for Project Developers

For project developers, the approach provides the ability to:

• Trigger new projects.
• Activate dormant projects.
• Attach to planned projects competing on new value delivered and not only on energy savings/lowest price.

Advantages for Crowdvestors

For crowdvestors, the approach yields:

• Direct financial benefits.
• A tool for teaching/learning about sustainability and investing.
• A sense of community.

Challenges

While exceptionally promising, the approach is nascent, relatively unknown, and fragile. All actors in the ecosystem have to do something new.

Requirements for Success

Capacity building, training, establishing trust, and an increasing number of completed projects are needed to demonstrate to brands and organizations that the approach resonates within communities and to clientele.

Critical Mass

Attaining critical mass unlocks system efficiencies, lowering costs and widening impact.

Accessibility

The crowdlending platform and approach is available to any organization and project developer. Scaling SUPER-HEERO is about getting more of them to do it.