Library of Multiple Benefits
Quality assurance & risk management plan
[D1.1 Quality assurance & risk management plan]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
This document outlines the project quality management and risk management plan. The overall approach to quality management in the project is based on two elements: The timely completion and provision of the deliverables to the EC on the one hand and the design of high-quality documents on the other hand.
Multiple benefits print materials report
[D8.5 Print materials]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
The purpose of this deliverable is to deliver consistent and high-quality print materials throughout the course of the project, including a poster and brochure/folder for dissemination. The basis for all print and web communications, a distinctive visual profile, has been completed for the project and is described below. Several print-ready templates of different formats, which are based upon the visual profile, are already available to partners. Print-ready templates for a Roll-up/poster and folder were developed.
Multiple Benefits Communication & Dissemination Plan
[D8.1 Strategic communication & dissemination plan]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
The Multiple Benefits project’s Strategic Communication Plan summarises how the Multiple Benefits project presents itself to key target groups and the experience and extended impact it is hoped to generate. The plan describes the resources and approach employed to achieve this. The goal of the plan is to support effective and consistent external communications across thirteen partner organisations involved in the project, and over the course of the three-year project.
Multiple benefits website (deliverable report)
[D8.2 Project website report]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
The Multiple Benefits website is a primary channel to support overall project communication goals, convey the project message and include dynamic content for target audiences. The Multiple Benefits project website URL is registered at www.m-benefits.eu. Several other domains (www.mbenefits.eu) have also been acquired, which currently redirect
users to the site.
Energy efficiency measures: the hidden potential (Energieeffizienzmaßnahmen: das übersehene Potenzial)
Nov 2021 [External reports]
Despite climate change, the issue of energy efficiency is still not a key factor for strategic for strategic decisions. The research project Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency therefore addresses the question of which additional factors can contribute to companies investing in in improving their energy efficiency. A survey defines categories of non-energy-related benefits that contribute to the implementation of energy efficiency measures. (paper in German)
Synergies report
[D8.6 Synergies report]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
The purpose of this report is two-fold: 1) to identify connections to and potential synergies with other European Commission funded projects and, 2) to identify opportunities for embedding the Multiple Benefits approach, tools, and outputs into EU policies, programmes or EU/international standards.
General public dissemination report
[D8.4 General public dissemination report]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
This deliverable summarizes the public dissemination activities and stakeholders reached by the Multiple Benefits project partners during the project. General dissemination activities include organization of and participation in regional/local workshops and events; distribution of press releases, columns, and newsletters; publications; social media posts and activities; and video/films produced.
Documentation of major dissemination events
[D8.3 Documentation of major dissemination events]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
The purpose of this document is to summarize the take-aways and protocols from the European-wide dissemination events. A summary of all local or national-level workshops/events, webinars, and training sessions – a total of over 40 events throughout the course of the project – is included in D8.4 (General Dissemination).
Final report on the engagement strategy
[D7.4 Final report on the engagement strategy]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
This briefing is a collection of findings and results from the stakeholder consultation processes in seven implementing countries: Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Switzerland.
Results on consultation process
[D7.3 Results on consultation process]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
This report presents the main findings arising from the stakeholder engagement processes that took place throughout the M-Benefits project. The stakeholder engagement processes involved training workshops and webinars, participation in questionnaires and the pilot projects, but also interaction on a one-on-one basis with the advisory board members.
Evaluation and validation report (pilot projects)
[D6.2 Evaluation and validation report]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
This report summarises the results of evaluation of the Multiple Benefits tools, which is based on evaluation and surveys of pilot companies conducted after the implementation phase. The pilot companies were asked to fill in questionnaires aiming to collect feedback and ideas for improvement.
Report on pilot projects
[D6.1 Report on pilot project results]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
Pilot projects were conducted in the different countries to apply the Multiple Benefits approach and evaluate the results. The experience in different countries had different challenges, influenced mostly by the pandemic situation. Nevertheless, the participation from several companies in almost all countries was observed and at least 24 exemplary projects were successfully conducted and are documented in this report.
Report on use and results of Serious Gaming
[D5.5 Evaluation of Serious Game]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
This document represents a detailed evaluation report about the Serious Game, used in the trainings of M-Benefits. The Serious Game has been developed with the open source platform Wegas in the framework of WP4 of M-Benefits and has been hosted for the whole project duration and will be hosted until 3 years after the project.
Results of webinars
[D5.4 Results of webinars]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
This work is complementary to the regional training workshops developed by each implementation partner in Task 5.2. In addition to the regional training workshops, a sequence of 3-4 national webinars in local language has been developed and offered to a broader audience to reach out to further potential participants. Webinars have been used both to ensure largest dissemination of the training materials, allowing a broader participation from target audience, and to promote the participation to the T5.2 and T5.4 actions and the use of the tools produced by the project.
Report on training courses
[D5.3 Report on trainings]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
In this document all trainings performed by the implementing partners are documented. Each implementing partner commenced a training program of at least 2 trainings, based on the training scheme developed in the framework of WP4.
Final publication of fact sheets
[D3.3 Fact sheets]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
A report providing an overview of Work Package 3 - the Evidence Base - and fact sheets summarising the work.
Lessons learned for frameworks report
[D2.3 Lessons learned framework]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
The key purpose of this report is to document lessons from carrying out the M-BENEFITS research and its implementation so that the methodology can continue to be developed and practitioners outside the project can learn from the project.
Multiple benefits final report
[D1.3 Final report]
Nov 2021 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
Final report explaining the Multiple Benefits methodology, major activities, and results of the project.
New batteries with modern chargers to save time, reduce cost at warehouse operation
May 2021 [Cases & examples]
Alfa-Beta (AB) Vassilopoulos S.A. is a supermarket chain based in Greece. Their value proposition is to provide a great shopping experience that meets consumers’ changing needs and builds loyalty, all provided with 24-hour technical support. They aim to inspire customers to make healthier choices, increase product transparency, and eliminate waste. Part of AB Vassilopoulo’s goal is to target smarter and more efficient operations. Given the staff’s time constraints and the fact that an energy audit was not legally required at the warehouse in focus, participating in the
Multiple Benefits project offered a unique opportunity to investigate energy saving opportunities and additional benefits. This case focuses on the deployment of Li-ion batteries and new charging infrastructure to optimize warehouse operations, improve time management, and reduce costs namely maintenance and energy.
Rooftop solar, heat exchanger to deliver on Supermarket chain’s sustainability ambitions
May 2021 [Cases & examples]
Alfa-Beta (AB) Vassilopoulos S.A. is a supermarket chain based in Greece. Their value proposition is to provide a great shopping experience that meets consumers’ changing needs and builds loyalty. They aim to inspire customers to make healthier choices, increase product transparency, and eliminate waste.
Part of AB Vassilopoulo’s goal is to target smarter and more efficient operations. Given the staff’s time constraints and the fact that an energy audit was not legally required at the warehouse in focus, participating in the Multiple
Benefits project offered a unique opportunity to investigate energy saving opportunities and additional benefits.
Electrification of compression system improves reliability, contributes to utility's sustainability vision
Apr 2021 [Cases & examples]
Eni S.p.A. is an Italian multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Rome. It has operations in 66 countries with a market capitalization of US$55.61 billion (as of 31 December 2019). An energy audit of an upstream gas plant in Fano, Italy was conducted in 2019. The audit highlighted the opportunity to electrify the compressor driver instead of using the gas turbine. Electrification of the compression system would shift the main energy consumption of the plant from natural
gas to electrical energy. However, the project proposal including the economics were not favorable until multiple benefits were considered.
Furniture maker improves reputation, reduces cost with heating upgrade
Apr 2021 [Cases & examples]
DEKOR-MEBLE, a small-scale furniture manufacturer located in Wyszków, Poland, requires an individual heating system to provide hot water and space heating for its staff and operations. Prior to the project, hot water and space heating services were provided by an old and inefficient wood/coal boiler. To maintain these services, a highly qualified employee prepared fuel (coal in winter, wood in summer) and kept the boiler working year-round. The situation was especially undesirable in the summer, when the boiler only provided hot water (no space heating necessary).
By switching to a maintenance-free, solar hot water system the company improved its reputation with the community, freed up 5 hours/week during summer months (otherwise required for maintaining the old boiler), and reduced the project payback by 9x!
Compressed air optimisation yields new line of business, safety improvements
Apr 2021 [Cases & examples]
When energy and noise audits revealed safety issues associated with Perardi e Gresino (PeG)'s manufacturing plant, they sprang to action. PeG started by right sizing the components e.g., fittings on the production machines, then optimising the compressed air distribution line, and finally introducing a condition monitoring system. These measures led to significant competitive advantages including a safer and higher-quality environment. PeG even plans to invest in a new line of business to enable their industrial customers and partners reduce costs and risks through compressed air optimisation!
Industrial bakery, chromium plating and building example (part of US DOE presentation)
Jan 2021 [Cases & examples, External reports]
This presentation, given by Dr. Catherine Cooremans at the US DOE Better Buildings webinar on 12 January 2021, outlines the multiple benefits logic and method. Several examples are included, an industrial bakery in Switzerland, renovation and optimization of chromium plating facilities, and renovation of windows and lighting in an office building, which show how the approach identifies and quantifies competitive (non-energy) benefits including: improved employee comfort, process safety, better customer service, employee satisfaction and loyalty, reduced risk (health, legal, commercial), increased operational efficiency, lower costs, and enhanced financial attractiveness.
Multiple benefits toolkit
Aug 2020 [Graphics & illustrations, Training materials & tools]
This graphic illustrates the overall logic and process of the Multiple Benefits toolkit, which will be made publicly available in January 2021.
Multiple benefits approach vs. traditional
Dec 2019 [Graphics & illustrations]
This graphic illustrates the differences between the traditional energy engineering-dominated manner of developing project proposals versus the Multiple Benefits approach.
Multiple benefits competitive advantage (Value, Cost, Risk)
Dec 2019 [Graphics & illustrations]
This graphic illustrates the three dimensions of competitive advantage: value proposition and the costs and risks borne by the company to create the value proposition for the customer.
Multiple benefits process (step-by-step)
Dec 2019 [Graphics & illustrations]
This illustration shows the Multiple Benefits approach starting with 1. Company analysis, 2. Energy and operations analysis, 3. Strategic analysis (value, cost, risk), 4. Financial analysis and 5. Communication of proposal. Practitioners of the Multiple Benefits approach use the latest Energy Audit as a key input, as well as tools to help guide the Energy Manager through the steps and finally to tailor the presentation of the project to the interests of the investment committee.
Industrial high-precision mechanical example
Nov 2019 [Cases & examples]
This is a case study applying the Multiple Benefits approach to an industrial company focused on high-precision mechanical work. The suggested project involved changing the milling washer water supply by switching from municipal cold water supplied at 20°C to domestic water at 55°C (heated by recovering waste heat from compressed air production). Supplying the milling washers with water at 55°C presents two major advantages: 1) thermal shocks due to cold water are eliminated, as well as the related risks of tank splitting, which has a disruptive effect on production; 2) the two storage tanks are no longer necessary, since water heating from 55 to 75°C only takes a short time. Therefore formic acid (a highly dangerous chemical used to clean the storage tanks) can be removed from the factory. Increased staff safety (lethal product no longer used), production reliability (reduced breakdowns) and higher productivity (reduced time dedicated to tank washing and replacement) are the major benefits of this energy-efficiency measure, identified by the energy-efficiency experts. In addition several costs are reduced: equipment cost (tanks, formic acid and protection equipment), maintenance cost (tank replacement after splitting), water and energy costs. Non energy benefits (NEBs) thus significantly improve the financial attractiveness of this investment.
Metal surface treatment industry example
Nov 2019 [Cases & examples]
This is a case study applying the Multiple Benefits approach to an metal surface treatment company, First Industries, located in Switzerland. The project involved the replacement of rectifiers with new, highly efficient units. Key multiple benefits identified and valued in the analysis include more stable product quality, higher production capacity (higher accuracy), space gain, reduced raw material use, less material waste along with reduced energy, cooling water and labor costs.
Value multiple benefits - Improve energy efficiency!
Aug 2019 [Academic papers]
Multiple Benefits is an approach to identify, value and communicate the strategic impacts of investments that improve energy performance. In this context strategic means how an energy-efficiency project contributes to an
organization’s competitiveness in performing their core business. This paper presents the underlying methodology and the toolkit developed to test in pilot projects during the course of the Multiple Benefits project.
Play the game: learning about energy efficiency can be fun – seriously!
Jun 2019 [Academic papers]
Classical training does not develop the skills needed to deal with the multidisciplinary aspects of energy-efficiency
measures. It is also well known in pedagogical science that in professional training, the motivation for learning increases
when participants can directly apply what they are taught. This paper introduces a new serious game developed as a
training tool for a capacity-building programme on the multiple benefits of energy efficiency.
Multiple benefits of energy efficiency at the firm level: a literature review
Jun 2019 [Academic papers]
The multiple benefits of energy efficiency for individual businesses have not received sufficient research attention. For firms, these non-energy benefits may be critically important to their investment decisions. This paper presents initial results from a project investigating the firm-level strategic benefits of energy efficiency.
Training tools
[D4.3 Training tools]
Feb 2019 [Training materials & tools, Multiple Benefits Reports]
This report provides the basis for the Multiple Benefits Training Tools and course material to be used to train professionals (mainly energy experts) in how to apply the methodology. These educational tools will be used in workshops, webinars and online courses throughout the course of the project.
Tips and solutions for effective communication to decision-makers
[D4.2 Tips and solutions for effective communication to decision-makers]
Feb 2019 [Training materials & tools, Multiple Benefits Reports]
This document aims to provide tips and guidance to help energy experts communicate energy saving projects effectively to upper management decision makers. The guidance considers the decision-making context, influences, and motivational techniques to guide people and organisational behaviour.
Summary of Multiple Benefits analysis tools
[D4.1 Multiple Benefits Identification and Evaluation Tools]
Feb 2019 [Training materials & tools, Multiple Benefits Reports]
This summary outlines the Multiple Benefits analysis and communication tools. It shows screen-shots of an Excel-based toolkit that will be made available via Multiple Benefits trainings and pilot projects during the course of the project. The actual Excel-based toolkit will be made available as a separate publication in 2020-21.
Multiple Benefits Serious Game
[D4.4 Multiple Benefits Serious Game]
Feb 2019 [Multiple Benefits Reports, Training materials & tools]
The Serious Game is one of the project’s main training tools. It will be used for training purposes during workshops, webinars or online courses. This final report presents some of the main aspects of the developed Serious Game.
Building 4 People: Quantifying the benefits of energy renovation investments in schools, offices and hospitals
Nov 2018 [External reports]
The health, well-being and performance of people depend to a significant degree on the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of buildings, given that people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. This study aims to quantify and value the benefits of factors that contribute to indoor environmental quality resulting from energy renovation or construction of high performance buildings.
Practitioners guidelines to identify multiple benefits
[D2.2 Guidelines for Protocols, Interventions and Evaluations]
Aug 2018 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
This document summarises the key findings from a ‘rapid evidence assessment’ literature review with the aim to enable practitioners to identify the multiple benefits of energy efficiency or energy management investments which also offer strategic benefits to the firm.
Questionnaire to assess multiple benefits of energy efficiency measures
[D3.1 Questionnaire]
Jul 2018 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
A questionnaire was developed to harmonize data collection across firms and countries in order to assess the associated multiple benefits of energy efficiency measures and to gain insight in the perception of multiple benefits in companies and their role in decision-making.
Literature review findings
[D2.1 Literature Review - methodology and preliminary findings]
Jun 2018 [Multiple Benefits Reports]
Authors: Tina Fawcett, Gavin Killip, University of Oxford. This report from June 2018 is project deliverable D2.1. It aims to bring together the best available evidence to support the contention that a multiple benefits framing can be persuasive for individual firms, projects and investment decisions.
