Research indicates that the typical Polish resident has a negative image of the costs associated with energy saving houses. The construction of a standard house is indeed 10-20% cheaper. However, the amount spent on the maintenance, water, heating and energy use is much higher than in energy saving houses – and those costs quickly add up.
With support from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the Polish ‘Saving Energy and Promoting Renewable Energy Source’ programme, the ‘House That Saves for Me’ campaign aims to open people’s eyes towards the cost-saving benefits of energy efficient housing.
“We wanted to demonstrate that it is still possible for all of us to have a high standard of living, while helping the environment by saving natural resources – and on top of that, save money that can be spent on the other ‘little pleasures’ in our lives,” explains Przemysław Otulak, from the Ministry of the Environment of Poland.
Hub of information
Through the campaign, several TV spots were produced highlighting how money saved by reducing heating costs can be spent on other things such as nice shoes or a good watch.
A website was likewise launched encouraging users to explore the benefits of energy efficient housing in a user-friendly way. The website contains an in-depth knowledge base debunking the myths surrounding the construction of energy efficient housing, as well as a savings calculator. A mobile app was likewise developed keeping in mind the needs of young people who will soon start their own families and build new homes:
“The app gives the practical advice and helps to visualize the building process of the energy saving house. It also gives the estimated costs associated with it,” says Otulak.
An award campaign
The campaign proved to be a hit in Poland and was recently awarded the ‘Social Campaign of 2014’ award:
“The ‘Social Campaign of the Year’ has been organised since 2008 with the aim to promote good practices in social marketing in Poland,” explains Otulak.
“This year’s award recognises the efforts of the Ministry of the Environment, and our partners in the promotion of responsible practices and environmental awareness – It makes us feel proud that the larger audience is interested in such a campaign.”
Read more about the Polish ‘Saving energy and promoting renewable energy source’ programme