CLEAR 2.0 - enabling Consumers to be Engage with and Adopt Renewable energy technologies. 2.0- is a new project that builds on the learning of an EU funded project IEE13-588 CLEAR. It will actively guide consumers in the energy market and enable them to be more aware, active players, save money and easily become "prosumers". The Consortium will accompany consumers through all the stages leading to the purchase and the correct efficient use of domestic renewable and low-carbon energy technologies. The CLEAR 2.0 project will focus as well on changing behaviour and optimisation of existing installations. The main needs of a home, including heating/cooling and electricity production (including storage and monitoring systems) will be addressed through a consumer-centric approach and actions that will lead to the changing behaviour and form collective consumer groups to support the purchase of renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaic installations, batteries, pellet stoves and heat pumps for heating and cooling. The three major barriers (awareness, behaviour and price) to the investment in RES will be directly addressed, having as a result a higher consumer engagement. BEUC and the consumers organisation focus their advocacy work on relevant legislative developments in order to overcome existing barriers and facilitate consumers’ participation in the energy market. It will distil policy lessons to create a favourable and stable national and European policy framework for the benefit of all European consumers.

Solutions to Tackle Energy Poverty (S.T.E.P) is an ambitious, innovative and replicable model based on proven approaches to addressing energy poverty. STEP, by focussing on countries with the highest incidences of energy poverty, will use existing channels to reach energy poor consumers. Synthesising experience and knowledge of consumer organisations on energy and consumer issues, strengthening partnerships with frontline organisations in daily contact with energy poor consumers, and consolidating best practices from past projects on energy poverty, the project will implement appropriate schemes to alleviate energy poverty in the 9 target countries (Lithuania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia, Czech Republic, Portugal, Cyprus and the UK). The general objective of STEP is to alleviate energy poverty by facilitating behavioural change through trusted, tailored advice provided directly to consumers in or at risk of energy poverty and by implementing low-cost energy efficiency solutions in energy poor households. The specific objectives are: - to develop well-functioning and well-trained national networks of advisors from consumer and frontline organisations who are in direct contact with consumers in or at risk of energy poverty - to improve living conditions of consumers in or at risk of energy poverty through behaviour change and implementation of no- or low-cost energy efficiency measures - to create schemes contributing to the alleviation of energy poverty, promote their replication and draw policy recommendations Through low cost energy efficiency measures - such as information campaigns and tips, demonstrations of cost savings, installation of no- and low-cost energy efficiency measures – STEP has the potential to reduce consumer energy bills and provide relief to energy poor households. Furthermore, through the institutionalisation of energy efficiency advice in sustainable consumer networks, we anticipate long term impacts and sustainability of STEP.