As already mentioned, the project will focuse its activity on 3 specific fields, smart buildings, smart mobility and smart urban spaces. For each of the three themes, we will create roadmaps that cover different elements of sustainability that need to go hand in hand to achieve the desired future scenarios:

The FIRST step sets the ambitions for the project. The ambitions of the participating cities on sustainable energy and Smart Cities in general are set, as well as the partner cities' choice for 2 focus areas within Smart Energy Savings: 1.Smart Buildings, 2. Smart Mobility or 3. Smart Urban Spaces.

The SECOND step is to develop desired scenarios for the cities for the selected focus areas.

During the THIRD step, the roadmap will be created, existing and future technologies and other developments will be identified, which enable the realization of the desired future scenarios. Opportunities and developments will be plotted on a timeline to provide insight in the required steps and milestones towards the favoured scenarios.

During the final and FOURTH step a project portfolio will be generated with new projects and initiatives to reach the ambitions, visions and roadmaps of the cities. This portfolio provides an overview of individual and joint projects and includes a cross-city learning plan and a financial plan.

At the end of the project each partner city will each have:

• 2 expected future scenarios
• 2 roadmaps
• 1 portfolio of individual and joint projects to implement sustainable energy policies and measures.

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• Public sector decision and policy makers at local, regional, national and European level
• Universities and research centers involved in activities related to Energy related topics, and more specific to the three focus areas of R4E
• Other relevant networks, projects, companies and organizations involved in Energy related topics, and more specific to the three focus areas of R4E
• Local stakeholders relevant to local energy policies (citizens, public and private organizations and knowledge institutes)

The R4E project focuses on developing the instrumentation and the skills and capacities for local authorities to make more realistic and better implementable strategies and action plans built upon a more in-depth knowledge of the state of technology today.

The immediate energy savings within the lifetime of the project are not significant. The partners do not expect to carry out, within the lifetime of the project, important energy related investments that are due to the new insights that the project delivers. However, the project will deliver all the tools for significant savings in energy consumption starting towards the end of the project.

Starting in year 4 after the start of the project, the average annual reduction in energy consumption in the partner cities is estimated at 3-4 % on top of current estimated figures.