The Top Runner Academy for household energy efficiency

Germany’s National Top Runner Initiative (NTRI) aims to bring the topic of energy efficiency to daily life. Through educational and training materials provided by the NTRI, companies are now able to inform their consumers and employees on how to save both energy and costs related to appliance use.

Household appliances like refrigerators and coffee machines are used every day, and as such, use up a lot of energy. Thus, it is important for manufacturers to provide customers with energy- and cost-savings guidelines related to their appliances. The NTRI’s brochure and flyer (in German) give practical tips on how to save energy and water when using a variety of household appliances, giving consumers the opportunity to integrate energy efficiency into their daily lives. Companies can also participate in ‘co-branding’ by placing their logo within the NTRI’s informational materials.

Energy efficiency as a selling point

So that the sale consultants can help their clients to select the right appliances, the NTRI offers companies six modules of training materials (in German). These modules related to various product groups, such as cooling and freezing appliances, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and lighting provide knowledge on topics such as general energy efficiency and the EU energy label, a European Union-wide energy-efficiency rating of household appliances. Sales representatives receive important tips about energy savings and optimal appliance use to pass on to their customers. Many retailers, such as Saturn Media Group, are already using the modules to train their sales representatives. Starting at the beginning of 2018, yet another flexible training medium will be available with the NTRI’s new mobile e-learning tool.

The NTRI supports traders, manufacturers and other stakeholders with information and events. It is carried out on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and under the direction of adelphi by a consortium consisting of Edelman.ergo, the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM), the Wuppertal Institute and the Austrian Energy Agency.

The NRTI’s informational materials are available here and the training modules are available here, both for free in German.