The GREENFOOT project has made significant progress in analysing how community engagement, particularly through crowdfunding, can drive energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) investments in football-related buildings across Europe. By integrating sustainability into sports facilities, the project aimed to develop approaches that improve the environmental performance of these buildings while actively involving fans and local communities.
The project focused on several key areas. One of the main focuses was the technical assessment and implementation planning for the demonstration sites in Ireland, Azerbaijan, France and Sweden. Detailed energy audits and feasibility studies were carried out for these sites to identify the most effective measures, such as the installation of LED lighting, photovoltaic (PV) panels and electric vehicle (EV) charging points. The assessments provided clear insights into the environmental and economic benefits of these measures, demonstrating their potential to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, while also providing a positive financial return.
In addition to the technical work, the project placed a strong emphasis on understanding the financial and social dynamics required for successful community-based investments. A comprehensive market analysis was conducted to explore the attitudes of football clubs, fans and community members towards crowdfunding energy projects. This included surveys and interviews with over 3,500 citizens across the participating countries, providing valuable insights into the factors that drive participation in such campaigns. The research revealed a strong interest in sustainability initiatives, with the majority of respondents indicating a willingness to invest in projects that offer clear environmental and social benefits. These findings were instrumental in shaping the design of targeted crowdfunding models specifically tailored to the sports sector.
The project also produced a set of guidelines and best practices to support the replication of its findings in other sports facilities across Europe. These resources include a comprehensive 'GREENPRINT' guide that summarises the project's research, technical assessments and recommendations. The guide covers topics ranging from regulatory considerations for crowdfunding in the European context to practical strategies for engaging stakeholders and designing effective campaigns.
In the area of dissemination and stakeholder engagement, the project successfully organised workshops, webinars and targeted outreach activities to promote the GREENFOOT model. These events brought together key stakeholders from the football industry, the energy sector and crowdfunding platforms, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. The project's communication efforts have ensured wide visibility of its achievements and generated interest from other potential adopters across Europe.
