Spending our time in outdoor spaces is generally a very important source of well-being, thanks to this, the use of outdoor spaces is becoming more and more popular. This article is referred to the Air Conditioned Umbrella: a very innovative 100% Italian solution, awarded in 2017 with the “European Patent Certificate”. In this article, Jacques Gandini explains how the Air Conditioned Umbrella can be able to improve comfort, both in summer and winter, in outdoor living spaces, such as hotel and restaurant terraces or simply outdoor places of cities and private properties. Air Conditioned Umbrella is a very appreciated green solution that use a quota from 75% to 100% of renewable energy, thanks to the use of the heat pump principle in combination with the solar photovoltaic panels or renewable energy sources power generation.

Utility Day is the leading event in Italy, dedicated to the Companies operating in all segments of the Energy sector: from production to trade and from purchase to distribution and billing. This article, extracted from Mr.Gandini’s speech during Utility Day 2017, highlights the raising trend leading to cost-effective buildings with a very low energy requirement (NZEB – Nearly Zero Energy Buildings). In this context the increase of energy efficiency of Buildings leads, in general, to a drop of energy demand to Utility companies. For this reason, through the adoption of energy saving services related to buildings and smart homes, together with the usual energy supply, the Utility companies can be facilitated in defending their redditivity and increasing the customers base, offering an integrated solution based on Energy + Value Added Services.

The interview put in evidence that, in this changing world, to keep the Company business in a profitable condition it is not anymore sufficient offers competitive product and services at global scale level (Globalization). It is more and more needed that they are sustainable (Green Economy) and that their characteristics could be defined and communicated with a full control of the Communication and Information, taking advantage as much as possible of the digital media (Digitalization).