The main goal of the project is to demonstrate economical and environmental benefits in using alternative sources of water and energy in buildings for public use.

One of the main characteristics of the project and core benefit is the innovative approach to the measurements of the ecological and economical benefits in using alternative sources of water and energy in buildings at their stage of technical design. This is the main connection to the GEF funding priorities. The project is based on the technical design of the Centre for Sustainable Development of TIME Foundation to be constructed in Zdravkovetz village, Gabrovo municipality, Central Balkan area. The technical design of the Centre incorporates over 20 eco innovative technologies to be the basis for the current project (passive solar; solar for heating, electricity and lighting; thermo pumps; biomass for heating; use of rainwater, etc.) It can be visited via the virtual tour at www.ecotechnocenterbg.com

The specific objectives are:
? Design and testing of simulation system for evaluation of environmental and economical benefits in using renewable sources of energy and water efficiency in the design phase of buildings for public use;
? Ensuring broad access to the results through Internet site and information campaign.

This system has five basic parts:

?) Measuring station, situated in an area of the village Zdravkovets.
B) Monitoring centre. Simulation software. This software will be simulating the thermodynamic and water regime of the building and will provide the necessary data and calculations through which the consumption of water and energy can be estimated on the basis of predetermined parameters.
C) Public section. Provides opportunity for visualization of the results in real time by means of publicly accessible Internet site.
D) Archival section. All the data and information will be stored in special databases, linked by web applications to the web site. This database will have the following two main purposes:
E) Scientific research reports and conclusions. The data and information from the system will serve as a foundation for preparing evaluation of the economical and environmental benefits in using alternative sources of electrical energy and water in public buildings.

The project activities are: Scientific validity of the virtual system for evaluation of the economical and environmental benefits in using alternative sources of electrical energy and water in public buildings; Purchasing and installation of the equipment from the measuring station, situated in an area of the village Zdravkovets; Design of simulation software; Design of database with the relevant web application, keeping and processing the data and information, generated by the simulation software; Design of web interface, allowing the visualization of data, information and questions to the databases; Testing the whole system and fine setting; Report for evaluation of the economical and environmental benefits in using alternative sources of electrical energy and water in public buildings; Wide information campaign (publications in Ecopolis newsletter, 2 seminars for target groups in Gabrovo and Sofia, publications in architecture and construction related specialized bulletins, leaflets, website promotion on-line campaign, etc.); Annual scientific observations.

The scientific observations, conclusions and evaluation of the economical and environmental benefits in using alternative sources of energy and water in public buildings will be generalized during the next two years by project consultant from TIME Foundation. He/she will perform the task of processing the data and information and summarize them in the respective form, described in the scientific justification of the project.

The main project outcome will be the design of effective system for evaluation of the economical and environmental benefits in using renewable sources of electrical energy and water. The project outcomes will be widely distributed through active campaign in the media and through web site.