Background information

Although energy consumption depends on the characteristics of the building, energy systems (heating, cooling, ventilation systems, electrical devices, and lighting used inside the building), and the climatic conditions, this consumption is also significantly influenced by the behavior and habits of the tenants, that is, the user of the building. Each person can start creating good habits of efficient energy use right in home, where they use energy to ensure the desired thermal comfort, air quality in the room, lighting, and to perform numerous activities for which people need household appliances.

Content of measure

The scientific institute Hrvoje Pozar from the City of Zagreb participates in the EU project Label 2020. With the intention to help citizens to spare energy, Pozar has issued a brochure with tips for saving energy in the household. The user can download the brochure “Advice for energy savings” free of charge from the Project's webpage Label 2020. The authors explain that energy challenge is structured around seven specific goals and areas of research:

1. Reduction of energy consumption and carbon footprint
2. Low-cost and low-carbon electricity supply
3. Alternative fuels and mobile energy sources
4. A unique, smart European electricity grid
5. New knowledge and technologies
6. Strong decision-making and public engagement
7. Energy and ICT innovations

The brochure provides many useful tips and instructions on how to save energy in the household, contributing to the preservation of environment as well as to the reduction of energy bills. There are 100 tips on how to adjust heating, cooling, electric gadgets and check device efficiency.

Use of measure

In Croatia there is a significant interest for all possibilities of saving energy particularly having in mind that there is a huge increase in energy bills. This is particularly important because the majority of houses and apartments in Croatia are not adequately built or arranged for energy savings. In the first two weeks of the brochure’s availability on web there was a few hundred readers. If citizens implement some of the tips now, they will mitigate the negative consequences in the future, especially if energy prices continue to rise. Good energy management makes possible to reduce energy consumption between 10 and 20%.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies EU (Council, EC, EP)	Companies European Funds National funds National Recovery and Resilience Facility

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement as case not in social partner domain	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Due to the nature of the measures, social partners were not involved.

Views and reactions

Social partners in Croatia are fully aware about the importance of environment protection and energy savings. Therefore, the biggest trade union confederation in Croatia the Union of Autonomous Trade Union of Croatia (UATUC) is just conducting the project "The analysis of the effects of the green transition on workplaces and trade union activities in communal sector (waste management)" with the intention to better comprehend the challenges of green transition and to enable its members on adequate and timely adjustment and response. Furthermore, the UATUC in connection with this topic carried out various advocacy activities and, as part of broader discussions, advocated the need for an approach based on just transition (both in relation to green and digital transition).

Sources

• 28 November 2022: Presented a brochure with tips for saving energy (Predstavljena brosura sa savjetima za ustedu energije) (lidermedia.hr)
• 29 November 2022: Advice for energy savings (Savjeti za ustedu energije u kucanstvu) (hr.label2020.eu)