A novel concept for designing the energy efficiency program

The European Green Deal reveals a new approach related to energy systems sustainability, assuming climate neutrality by 2050 for EU achieved only under a sustainable economy, meaning decoupling economic growth from resources use under social equity conditions. This paper presents a novel approach for designing an energy efficiency program, converting it to the sustainability's energy-use investment program. The concept proposes a life cycle assessment methodology for evaluation of energy efficiency solutions (LCAMEPEES), gathering several innovative elements which have not been used at once so far in energy performance evaluation. First, the methodology sets the purpose of energy performance assessment to the level of sustainability evaluation. The LCAMEPEES introduces for the first time a complex multi-criteria analysis model, addressing four evaluation criteria with complex key performance indicators (KPIs). The tool allows to appreciate the contribution of each energy-use system to the main priorities of Green Deal: use of sustainable technologies (scored under technical criteria) to ensure climate neutrality (ecological criteria) through a transformation of society and Europe's economy under cost effective (financial criteria), fair and socially balanced conditions (social criteria). The methodology proposed in this paper is a useful working tool in energy efficiency investment planning. Using in the design and planning phase of an energy project of a preset list of measures types, as guidance for synthesis of all possible actions to improve system's performance, requires a thorough analysis of investments needed towards converting to a sustainable system. Another novelty brought by LCA-MEPEES refers to the list of key indicators proposed for performance evaluation, providing, in addition to current practices, information about overall performance, energy flexibility, ability to respond to occupant needs and profitability. Using such KPIs, an energy use systems will be able to generate information for optimization operation scenarios while get prepared for their integration into smart grids. For the evaluation objectivity and accuracy, LCA-MEPEES proposed key performance indicators synthesized according to relevance from recent literature, but also new complex indicators developed to provide simultaneous response to multiple requirements of technical, ecological, financial and social exigencies. The proposed continuous evaluation process has defined stages for both the planning and operation phase. In essence, the purpose of the evaluation is to identify the way for system sustainability, once targets fulfilled the performance level will be maintained at optimal during life cycle operation.