co2online

co2online can be regarded as a tool kit that comprises various instruments in order to make households aware of energy saving potentials and enable them to reduce their CO₂ footprint and save energy costs. As there are 39 million residential building units of which 29 million – consuming more than 75% of the energy consumed by the residential building sector - were built before Germany’s first energy efficient building regulation was introduced in 1979, it has become a priority to the government to push the refurbishment rate of residential buildings to 2%. However, as there are several barriers to implementation (uncertainty, financing), a tool (kit) was needed that attempts to overcome these obstacles.

co2online aims at reducing heating and electric energy consumption in private households in order to achieve CO₂ emission reductions. The website provides various tools enabling consumers to self-assess their energy consumption and calculate energy saving potentials. Lastly, the tool refers to further instruments such as (free) information brochures or energy savings experts so that savings could be realised immediately.

It is a national measure.

Relevant sectors

• Residential

The focus of this option lies on buildings and appliances, especially on heating, energy use and user behaviour, refrigerators and freezers, as well as building integrated power generation methods. Other appliances such as clothes washers or dryers, televisions or office equipment are only addressed indirectly through the “StandbyCheck”.

The website gives technical advice with regard to building improvements or may recommend behavioural changes in order to lower energy consumption.

Relevant target groups

• Investor-occupier Investors in energy-efficient building or appliance technology are the core target group. They may either be interested in purchasing energy-efficient technology options or in rationalising their energy consumption to save money or reduce their environmental impact.
• User Users of buildings and equipment are generally responsible for their energy consumption, even if they are not responsible for their purchase. In order to realise energy savings or protect the environment, users may chose to visit co2online.

The following actors all benefit indirectly because co2online refers to experts able to improve a building’s energy efficiency. Thus, those actors can increase their outreach by proactively participating with co2online:

• Manufacturers
• Engineering consultants
• Energy consultants
• Public, private-public and private banks

Direct beneficiaries

• Investor

  Building (and appliance) investors directly benefit from the measure as they can access tools measuring the energy saving potentials of building and appliance options for free.

Relevant barriers

• Knowledge and information barriers: The website offers various information tools to provide building owners/users with tailor-made information on CO₂ and energy reduction potential(s) resting in respective building components or behavioural changes. Moreover, the website provides information about experts able to implement or check building improvement recommendations given by co2online and, moreover, also includes a tool which reveals funding opportunities given by the government.
• Lack of interest and motivation in energy efficiency-improvement: The website compares the actual amount of CO₂ emissions with a best-case reference value visualising the CO₂ saving potential very well. If an energy consumer realises that there are huge potentials to be saved, she or he might become interested in undertaking energy saving action.

Relevant incentives

• Saved energy costs: For most people, saving energy costs – especially against the backdrop of ever rising energy prices – might be the most important motivation to really undertake energy saving action. co2online points to the various options that will lead to cost reductions.
• Contribution to protection of the environment: Environmental protection is the primary issue of the website.
• Increased (re-sale) value of the property: Realising the saving potentials increases the property value for building owners.

One of the core pillars of Germany’s energy saving policy is the Building Refurbishment Programme which offers financial incentives to building owners if they perform building-specific energy saving measures (see the bigEE file on “KfW Energy Efficient Refurbishment and KfW EnergyEfficient Construction“).
co2online can also be regarded as a supplementary or facilitating tool for other measures. For example, in Germany an energy performance certificate for buildings needs to be handed over to potential buyers or tenants. However, the certificate also includes energy related building improvements which do not have to be given to buyers/ tenants. co2online recommends insisting on this information.

Co2online includes innovative elements.
The website provides consumers with various calculators measuring the specific CO₂ emission reduction potential for various options. The “Electricity Calculator”, “Pumps Calculator” or “Heating Costs in Old Buildings Calculator” offer information on a broad range of energy related problems in buildings.
A “funding guide” (Förderratgeber) is available for home builders and owners showing funding opportunities by the government.
On http://esa.co2online.com/ households can register for a free Energy Savings Account (ESA). By providing data on heating, electricity and water consumption users can easily keep track on their consumption patterns and are even offered comparable data for the average German household. Energy savings potential are, of course, provided as well. For this very purpose a (smart phone and tablet PC) app was developed, which is available free of charge, making it very convenient to enter relevant consumption data into the ESA platform without having a smart meter installed. 

The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) awards innovative ideas in the cooling industry with a so called “Cooling Price” and a total prize money of €52,500. co2online is a co-operation partner for the BMU.
Furthermore, co2online initiates further campaigns such as “Climate seeks Protection” (Klima sucht Schutz) and “Pumps Campaign” (Pumpenkampagne) with the ultimate goal of reducing CO₂ emissions.
Every month this web-based initiative also awards the “Platform Partner of the Month”. These partners, for example, can be retailers that have launched an online campaign for energy efficient appliances.

The main homepage of co2online could refer to financial incentive schemes provided by the government more prominently.

The following pre-conditions are necessary to implement co2online:
Agencies or other actors responsible for implementation
co2online is a non-profit advisory agency.

Funding
Most of co2online’s campaigns are funded to a large extend by the BMU.

Other pre-conditions
The platform is supported by an advisory board comprising experts from various institutions

The platform was launched in 2003. Together with the SEnerCon GmbH, an enterprise supporting building owners and tenants in reducing heating and electricity consumption, co2online launched its various online advisory tools and calculators. Measures are updated and expanded regularly.

Actors responsible for design
co2online gGmbH (NGO)

Online tools and calculators were developed together with SEnerCon GmbH (Consultancy)

Actors responsible for implementation
co2online gGmbH (NGO) together with partners

Monitoring
The monitoring system keeps track of the most important measures initiated by co2online.
It monitors CO₂ emissions saved, revenues for industrial branches in Euros, employment achieved in person years and the number of modernised building units.
Data is also monitored regarding the use of the Energy Saving Account and, moreover, regarding the use of more than 400 advisory tools and partners of co2online.

Evaluation
The following measures, relevant for building improvements, were evaluated recently:

• Heating Assessment (Dunkelberg 2011)
• Heating Check (Friedrich 2006)
• Pumps Check (ISoMe 2010)
• Guide to Modernisation (Verhoog 2012)

Additionally, data is also available for the Cooling Check monitoring data for cooling equipment and there energy saving potential is compared to comparable appliances.
Economic benefits were evaluated, as well.

• Dynamic market transformation and/or innovation: The transformation of the building or building component market is not a specific concern of the website. However, by providing building owners or builders with comprehensive information, co2online can be considered a supplementary instrument to the transformation process.
• Avoiding lost opportunities: The website offers comprehensive advisory material and calculators for specific purposes giving the user a detailed picture of energy saving potentials. If opting for building improvements the user is referred to specialists who, again, may recommend further measures.
• Minimising rebound effects: Countering rebound effects is not particularly targeted. However, if choosing to register for an Energy Savings Account, the user can keep track of the building’s energy consumption. Once the building owner or tenant has reduced the building’s energy consumption, she or he is eager to prevent a further increase – especially as energy prices are not likely to go down in the near future.
• Minimising snap-back effects: A snap-back effect could occur, if the website is shut down and building owners and tenants are not able to access all the significant calculators and advisory tools that inform them about their CO₂ emissions any more.
• Minimising free-rider effects: Free-rider effects are not of particular concern to the measure.
• Creating Spill-over effects: The platform’s foremost concern is the reduction of CO₂ emissions. While improving the building environment can be regarded as a particular focus, there are several other measures tackling emission reductions such as the (food) consumption check showing the CO₂ footprint of food.

Co-benefits
The main page of co2online includes a “Climate Balance” counter not only showing avoided CO₂ emissions and revenues but also employment impulses (in person years).

Heating assessment
The evaluation for the heating assessment asked in one survey questions, whether participants, who implemented a recommendation, had observed heating consumption costs. And, indeed, the majority (45%) experienced lower costs while 12% felt that nothing had changed (21% did not know) (Dunkelberg 2011, p. 43).
All assessments in the evaluation sample taken together save 85.3 GWh of heating energy each year. Taking also into account planned building improvements savings increase to 143.1 GWh annually (Dunkelberg et al. 2011, p. 55).

Heating check
According to an evaluation carried out in 2006, users of the heating check tool create energy savings of 26.1 billion kWh in 20 years. The contribution or impulse of the calculator is considered to be around 10.8% meaning that the heating check is responsible for 2.8 billion kWh. The study also found that heating substitution is the most effective measure saving 36 kWh/yr, followed by facade insulation (33 kWh/yr) (Friedrich 2006, p. 47).

Pumps check
An evaluation found that between May 2008 and February 2010, the use of the Pumps Check Guide led to a reduction of 275 KWh per substituted heating or hot water system circulation pump in 4.3 years (which is the average number of years an old pump is exchanged before the average lifespan of 17 years is reached). This figure is based on responses that see the Pumps Check Guide as the primary cause for their decision to renew their pump. When also taking into account those decisions that were “partly influenced” by co2online, then the energy savings calculate to 486 KWh in 4.3 years.
It is further estimated that following 55,000 advices given, the result in reduction of 10.8 GWh annually and or 184 GWh after 17 years (which is the lifespan of a pump) was also achieved (ISoMe 2010, pp. 21).

Guide to ModernisationAccording to an evaluation report published in August 2012, the Guide to Modernisation creates energy savings of around 5,511,930 kWh/year. Already implemented measures contribute a large share, namely 4,378,070 KWh/a (or close to 80%). Consequentially, planned refurbishment measures (envisaged within the next two years) contribute 1,133,860 KWh/a. Overall energy savings, i.e. implemented and planned, differ depending on the measure (Verhoog 2012, p. 26):

• Façade insulation: 1,309,154 kWh/yr
• Upper ceiling or attic floor insulation: 314,909 kWh/yr
• Roof or attic insulation: 367,541 kWh/yr
• Insulation of basement ceiling / floor: 274,933 kWh/yr
• Window replacement: 878,423 kWh/yr
• Heating system modernisation: 1,678,795 kWh/yr
• Solar: 688,176 kWh/yr

Achieved additional, yearly energy savings in kWh/year
Savings per unit:Guide to ModernisationVerhoog (2012, p. 29) calculated average energy savings per year according to the measure implemented or planned.

• Façade insulation: 7,701 kWh/yr
• Upper ceiling or attic floor insulation: 2,581 kWh/yr
• Roof or attic insulation: 2,283 kWh/yr
• Insulation of basement ceiling / floor: 2,254 kWh/yr
• Window replacement: 3,660 kWh/yr
• Heating system modernisation: 5,559 kWh/yr
• Solar: 8,193 kWh/yr

No information is available to us on whether the individual installations influenced by co2online achieved the full potential, nor which share of the overall national potential the service achieved to realise. An example of the influence it had on inevstors’ decisions is given by the following:
Guide to Modernisation
Verhoog (2012) asked 803 users whether the guide had any influence on their decision to refurbish. 4.8% said the guide was critical to their decision, 17.8 % answered that the guide, at least somehow, influenced their decision. This hints to the fact that the guide has a supplementary function helping owners to bring themselves to refurbish their homes.

Expenses only for the guide to modernisation are considered to be around € 200,000 per year (Wuppertal Institute 2006, p. 5).

Between 2004 and mid 2013, co2online estimates it has saved around 7 million tonnes of CO₂, created revenues for the industry of €2.2 billion and employment effects of around 32,000 person years as of June 2013 (co2online 2013a). This estimate is based on the evaluations of the Guide to Modernisation, Heating Assessment, Heating Check, Refrigerator Check, and Pumps Check made for co2online.
Individual users were able to make the following cost savings by way of example:

Pumps Check
Each heating or hot water system circulation pump results in electricity cost savings of EUR 73 annually or EUR 282 in 4.3 years (time, before pumps have to be replaced due to old age). Those responsees, which primarily decided to exchange the old pump because of co2online, led to savings of EUR 14 or EUR 56, respectively. 55,000 advices given created EUR 2.4 million per year and EUR 41.5 million after 17 years (ISoMe 2010, p. 23).

Guide to Modernisation
Verhoog (2012, p. 29) estimated cost savings per year as follows:

• Façade insulation: € 234/yr
• Upper ceiling or attic floor insulation: €94/yr
• Roof or attic insulation: €70/yr
• Insulation of basement ceiling / floor: €81/yr
• Window replacement: €96/yr
• Heating system modernisation: €127/yr
• Solar: €197/yr

Furthermore, cost savings (in €) were calculated through specific equations for the life span of respective measures, also covering price increases for energy of different degrees (0% / 4% / 8%):

• Façade insulation: 4,046 / 6,750 / 12,300
• Upper ceiling or attic floor insulation: 1,625 / 2,712 / 4,941 
• Roof or attic insulation: 1,210 / 2,019 / 3,679
• Insulation of basement ceiling / floor: 1,401 / 2,337 / 4,259
• Window replacement: 1,660 / 2,769 / 5,046
• Heating system modernisation: 1,726 / 2,442 / 3,579
• Solar: 2,190 / 2,841 / 3,750

In total, the co2online service can be considered highly cost-effective even given its relatively low contribution to most investment decisions. Although the costs for the design and maintenance of the online guides were not available, they may be in the range of a few million EUR per year and can be regarded as very small compared to their impact; e.g. as in June 2013 around 7 million tons of CO₂ were saved, EUR 2.2 billion in revenues as well as close to 32,000 person years were created.
Even considering the incremental investment in energy efficiency, the services will be cost-effective overall, particularly since cost-effectiveness to the user is one feature in the advice given. As the advice is based on average situations, cost-effectiveness may, however, not be given for all users and actions (see below).
In addition to direct energy and cost savings, the online guides also contributed to increased investment and employment in the building sector, as the evaluations of some of the guides showed.
Heating Assessments
Dunkelberg et al. (2011, p. 50) conclude that each assessment resulted in €16,641 in revenues for the building sector. Extrapolation of 2,106 survey participants shows that 14,253 assessments created €237 million in total revenues for the buildings sector. Moreover, based on the fact that 40,000 heating assessments have been realised, investments translate into 1,633 full-time jobs or 2,811 full-time jobs, if planed investments are included, between 2004 and 2009.
HeatingCheck
Investments in buildings having used the Heating Check are estimated to be at EUR 2bn. 10.8% of all users say that the calculation had a large influence. Friedrich (2006) estimates that EUR 223 million of investments by the time of the evaluation resulted mainly from the Heating Check. 28.3% of all users say that the HeatingCheck had, at least, to some extent an influence on their decision to make the investment. Based on these answers the investments resulting from the Heating Check would increase to EUR 586 million (Friedrich 2006, p. 40).
Moreover, Friedrich (2006, p. 6) calculates an employment effect of 12,422 person years of which 1,344 are a direct consequence of the HeatingCheck.
Guide to Modernisation
Verhoog (2012, p. 30) calculated the cost-effectiveness of measures at two levels. First, he compared only the share of the energy efficiency modernisation element of the total investment with the cost-savings, which is the appropriate way to calculate cost-effectiveness. Many actions were cost-effective on this basis. Second, he compared the total costs of the investment with the energy cost savings for households, which not appropriate but nevertheless what many investors use. Most of the actions were not found to be cost-effective on this basis, a fact well known in literature. For example, total costs for façade insulation are considered to be at €35,391. Modernisation, apart from maintenance work, accounts for 50% of these costs. The modernisation share for solar measures is considered to be 100%.
For the guide to modernisation, which is only one of many tools of co2online, Verhoog (2012, p. 31) found out that the guide, and implemented and planned measures in particular, have leveraged €1.5 Million in contracts for the construction sector. As close to 70,000 individual cases of online advice were completed between 2006 and 2011, this means that every advice resulted in more than € 20,000 in contracts for the construction sector.
In turn, this has created an employment effect of 14,000 person years. Users that stated to have been “very convinced” by the guide are considered to have created 678 person years.