Future energy paradigm is expected to be a decentralized paradigm based upon distributed energy generation. Users become prosumers of energy and the implementation of ICT can introduce a social dimension to energy: communities of users can choose to devote part of the produced energy surplus to reach social goals. IT plays a key role within this scenario, exploring new areas of intervention such as sharing energy, and designing information systems enabling new practices and addressing issues such as CO² emissions and energy consumption reduction. CIVIS is a recently started European project that aims to experiment this new vision, considering energy as a common good that can be shared among and within communities. In this context the action research approach allows the use of multiple methods both quantitative and qualitative to reach the goal of designing, with the active participation of the involved local communities and stakeholders, a platform able to help the communities, both local or based upon practices or interests to achieve energy efficiency, community engagement and the collectively defined social goals.