Our societies aren't short of information, but does everyone have the simple and trustworthy info they need to take action on climate and energy? To solve this in Bergamo, the city launched Energia in Comune, a helpdesk service where locals can get face-to-face guidance from experts. The helpdesk team tells us more on the NetZeroCities blog.
Citizens and businesses are often confronted with difficult questions: how to reduce energy consumption, which incentives apply, whether photovoltaic systems are feasible, or how to participate in energy communities. Without clear guidance, even the most motivated citizens can struggle to move forward.
Bergamo has already laid strong foundations for climate action through its Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (PAESC) and the Climate Transition Strategy Cli.c Bergamo. Yet, like many cities, it faces a familiar obstacle: the energy transition can feel complex and fragmented for those expected to act on it.
Energia in Comune was created to bridge this gap. Conceived as a free, accessible helpdesk, it offers a single point of contact where users can receive reliable, tailored support by email, online booking, or direct contact with experts.
A helpdesk designed around people
Instead of offering a new app or website, Bergamo's helpdesk is user friendly and for all citizens. It helps citizens understand their energy bills, explore building renovation options, find financial support schemes, and assess renewable energy solutions such as photovoltaic or solar thermal systems. It also gives guidance on energy consumption and joining or creating energy communities.
This people-centred design reflects a broader Mission logic: climate neutrality will only be achieved if people are empowered to make informed choices, step by step.
The service is delivered by a team combining technical, digital, and communication expertise. R2M Solution coordinates the technical framework and the helpdesk model; TerrAria supports energy analysis and data-driven tools; and the Lombardy Energy Cleantech Cluster (LE2C) supports communication and stakeholder engagement across the territory.
Activating neighbourhoods through energy communities
A distinctive feature of Energia in Comune is its close link to CER Sinergia, the energy community co-founded by the Municipality of Bergamo. The helpdesk does not operate in isolation: it is embedded in a wider engagement effort that includes workshops, public meetings, and neighbourhood events.
Through these activities, residents are invited not only to learn about energy efficiency and renewables, but participate in shaping local energy systems, strengthening social cohesion while accelerating decarbonisation. By joining CER Sinergia, citizens can reduce energy costs while contributing to collective benefits, with resources reinvested in neighbourhood-level projects.
Strengthening the city from the inside
While the initiative focuses mainly on supporting citizens and local actors, Energia in Comune also recognises that municipalities themselves must evolve to deliver climate neutrality.
Alongside external services, municipal staff have been asked to map energy-related activities and identify operational needs. This will be followed by training, new digital tools, and dedicated internal communication channels, making energy and climate a concern across departments and the transition a shared institutional effort.
Turning ambition into action
By combining citizen-facing services, neighbourhood engagement, energy communities, and institutional capacity building, Energia in Comune exemplifies how Mission Cities can move from planning to implementation.
The initiative contributes directly to reducing emissions from buildings and energy use, while strengthening governance, learning, and collaboration. More importantly, it demonstrates that climate neutrality is not an abstract target, but it is a process built through everyday decisions, supported by accessible services and trusted local institutions.
Launched within the framework of the EU Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030” and supported by NetZeroCities’ City Expert Support Facility (CESF), the initiative represents a concrete step in implementing Bergamo’s Climate City Contract (CCC), turning long-term climate commitments into practical support at neighbourhood level.
Bergamo shows how cities can bring climate action closer to home, making the path to climate neutrality clearer, fairer, and more tangible for everyone.
