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In Europe there are a number of programs and tools that financially
support cooperation, exchange of experiences and joint work
towards improving the energy efficiency of European cities.
Begun two years ago as part of the Intelligent Energy
Europe program, the SECURE (Sustainable Energy Communities
in Urban Areas in Europe) project brings together seven European
partners to create Energy Action Plans for four cities - Malmoe
in Sweden, Hilleroed in Denmark, Dublin in Ireland and Tallinn
in Estonia.
The Energy Action plans focus on long-term transformation
of the energy systems within these cities, including measurable
targets on energy use and the share of energy from renewable
resources. In order to achieve comprehensive plans, work is
done on several levels with different stakeholders - from
the city level, including local authorities and enterprises,
to the building industry and finally to the citizens themselves.
The main working platform in the project is the European
Directive for Energy Performance of Buildings, which
sets requirements for energy consumption in the building sector.
Therefore, direct contact with the all of the players in the
building sector is important in order to identify reasons
why energy-efficient measures and technologies are not widely
implemented in buildings and therefore allow the plans to
succeed.
The plan compares the energy performances at building demonstration
sites in each of the four cities, while non-technological
barriers to energy-efficiency measures - such as legal, financial,
institutional and social - are identified. For the purpose
of the evaluation process, a 'best practice' energy
performance of buildings has been identified from a benchmark
study of best practices in Europe. Different conditions and
building practices in Europe have made it difficult to identify
a single best case, but a good overview has been made.
While some projects focus only on energy issues, others include
other aspects of sustainability as well - unfortunately, most
often resulting in lower ambitions for energy targets. The
passive house concept is being more widely implemented, resulting
in significantly lower energy consumption, while energy producing
technologies such as solar panels and solar cells are increasingly
being applied to buildings. However, there is still a lot
that needs to be done to bring these practices into everyday
use.
In fact, the speed at which these practices are being mainstreamed,
to a large extent, depends on different measures and incentives
introduced by the authorities to support the implementation
of renewable energy producing technologies - especially in
the building sector. Different financial incentives are most
often the first step taken to support it.
Grid connectivity and the possibility for different stakeholders
to gain profit from producing extra renewable energy is gaining
more acceptance among private stakeholders in countries where
such measures are allowed. While this option is available
in only a few European countries, it could, potentially, greatly
increase the adoption of renewable energy technologies if
other counties were to introduce the practice. Since the benchmark
study covered a wider European area, its results gave a valuable
input to the development of energy action plans in the four
cities.
Besides technology and buildings, users play an important
role in energy use and action is being taken to raise awareness
on the importance of lowering energy consumption with tips
on how to do it. So far, a number of campaigns were organised
in Malmö, Hillerød and Dublin - one of them being
the Climate Smart Campaign for the City of Malmö. An
assessment of the effects of the campaign has shown that citizens
have become more aware of activities of the City of Malmö
regarding climate change and what kind of effect climate change
might have on their lifestyles.
As part of the SECURE project, an interactive online game
has been developed, giving citizens the ability to learn how
to decrease their own greenhouse gas emissions. The work of
the local authorities with citizens has proven to be very
important for lowering the energy consumption - but, at the
same time, initiating other activities for lowering impacts
on climate change.
In addition, the SECURE project has also helped to develop
and test tools that will assist companies in becoming climate
neutral. As a result, some of the first participating companies
have already achieved this goal.
In Dublin, initial studies have even shown that lower CO2
emissions have a direct financial benefit for companies. The
Greenhouse Gas Calculator - a tool developed by a project
partner - helps calculate a company's greenhouse gas emissions
and identify key areas where it can improve its performances.
In the past, energy issues in the four cities have been dealt
with in different ways. While Malmö appears to be ahead
with its successful Western Harbour project - the result of
which is that the city area is powered by 100% renewable energy
- Tallinn is facing a lack of strategic plans and know-how
concerning renewable energy issues by the city authorities.
The SECURE project has initiated many activities on the city
level in Tallinn, resulting in improved communication and
cooperation between different city departments on energy efficient
topics. Dublin, on the other hand, is introducing district
heating, with which the Danish and Swedish partners have a
long experience.
The SECURE project has, so far, been a great learning process
for all parties involved and the exchange of experiences and
information greatly supports the work of involved partners.
The project will run until the end of 2008, when all tools,
documents and results will be finalised and available to the
public.
To acces the SECURE website - Click
Here
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