Invitation to the EURONET 50/50 MAX final conference in Brussels
All institutions interested in the topic of encouraging energy savings in schools and other public buildings are invited to take part in the final conference of the EURONET 50/50 MAX project, which will take place in Brussels (Belgium) on the 16th of March 2016. Our project has come to an end and we have many interesting things to share with those who would like to implement the 50/50 energy-saving concept in their own buildings or help us promote this innovative methodology among local authorities all over Europe.
The EURONET 50/50 MAX project aims at mobilizing energy savings in public buildings through the implementation of the 50/50 methodology in 500 schools and nearly 50 other public buildings from 13 EU countries. The 9-step methodology increases energy awareness of the building users and actively involves them in energy–saving actions. Achieved financial savings are shared equally between the building users and the local authority which covers the energy bills. More information about the project may be found at: http://www.euronet50-50max.eu
Webinar on municipal integrated actions involving citizens
We are glad to invite you to the webinar on municipal integrated actions involving citizens in energy saving and energy production from RES. The webinar will take place on the 3rd of March 2016, from 11:00-12:30 CET, and is organised within the Mayors in Action project supporting European cities in implementation of their Sustainable Energy Action Plans.
Mobilization of civil society is crucial for the success of energy-related initiatives undertaken by local authorities. Municipalities are well aware of this, as well as of the fact that involving citizens in the SEAP development process will help in achieving its objectives. There are many examples of successful local initiatives aiming at changing users' behaviours and promotion of energy efficiency and RES use. Selected good practices from Greece and Spain will be presented during the webinar. Full agenda of the event may be downloaded below.
The webinar will be held in English. The participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and take part in the discussion. To participate in the event it is enough to have headphones or speakers.
Low carbon economy begins in the municipality
On August 25, 2015, the City Council of Bielsko-Biała unanimously approved a document entitled "The Low Carbon Economy Plan and the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) for the City of Bielsko-Biała."
Bielsko-Biała thus confirmed the direction of consistent development - energy-conscious urban society, from companies to residents.
The heat is on: district energy in Poland
As sustainable energy moves up the political agenda, low carbon solutions for heating and cooling are coming to the fore. Every year, almost 50% of the total energy consumed in Europe is used for the generation of heat for domestic or industrial purposes. There is an emerging consensus on what could be a big part of the solution here, with the International Energy Agency recently citing co-generation and district heating as ‘an essential part of strategies for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation and energy security.’
Close to 16 million Polish citizens are served by district heating, representing 41 % of the population. However, rehabilitation of the existing transmission and distribution network is urgently required (as almost half of the distribution network is older than 20 years). More than half the heat supplied to the network is produced through traditional installations, consequently there is potential for 25-30% fuel savings by developing heat production in combined heat and power plants.
Transnational Agreement of Cooperation between Energy competence centres
One of the core outputs of the VIS NOVA project is a Transnational Agreement of Cooperation between Energy competences centres. The agreement is based on activities of Energy competence centres established in regions participating in VIS NOVA project (energieZENTRUM, South Transdanubien Area and Economic Development Nonprofit Ltd, Agricultural Technical School Tulln, School Complex nr 1 named after Ignacy Łukasiewicz, Technische Werke Delitzsch GmbH). The purpose of this agreement is to create a common projects platform and exchange the technologies and the experience of transnational partner regions' actors beyond VIS NOVA project lifetime. To achieve these goals Energy competence centres are obliged to maintain the contact between each other via common IT platform and promote institutional exchanges by inviting staff of the partner institutions to participate in a variety of activities, study tours, seminars and conferences. The obligations under the agreement include the exchange information and achievements, providing consultations and financial guidance at each institution as well as working on common proposals and projects in the most suitable cooperation fields.
Transnational Sustainable Energy Strategy
The VIS NOVA project, which started in May 2011, is part of the Central Europe program and has the objective of strengthening the energy independence of local authorities.
Rising energy prices cause, that security of supply and affordable energy as
well as its efficient use became a key competitive advantage and location factor.
At this point VIS NOVA starts off with an integrated approach which includes enterprises,
municipalities and households. Feasibility studies will be developed for each
area, investments will be prepared and demonstration projects realised .
The transnational cooperation enables transfer of good approaches and the exchange
of experiences. During international congresses the results will be communicated
and transferred. Through the outputs from the project, the value creation in rural
areas and thus employment shall be promoted.
Five partner regions from four EU countries came together to jointly implement this
project (Saxony - Düben Heath / DE, Schwäbisch-Hall / DE, Micro-region Tullnerfeld
West / AT, Małopolska / PL, South-Transdanubia / HU).
What was the most important in implementation of Renergy project?
3 years of Renergy implementation coming to the end. Besides many tools prepared by project partners (materials for stakeholders, local and model implementation plan, good practices guidebook and more, all available at www.renergyproject.eu), for more personal reception of project implementation, partners answered the question: What was the most important in implementation of Renergy project? Their answers will be soon presented as a movie.
Change in the position of Executive Director in The Association of Municipalities Polish Network „Energie Cités”
We are pleased to inform you that there has been a change on the position of the Executive Director in our Association.
On the 1st of October, Mrs. Anna Jaskuła was appointed by the Board for the position of the Executive Director and Mrs. Maria Stankiewicz will become the Director’s Advisor.
Congratulations!
The PNEC team
Kisielice wins ManagEnergy Award 2014: a shining example for other Polish communities
This summer, the community of Kisielice – in 2010 the winner of Polish RES Champions League in the biomass cathegory - won the European Commission’s ManagEnergy Award 2014, the top prize for outstanding local and regional sustainable energy projects. Mayor Tomasz Koprowiak received the Award during the EU Sustainable Energy Week in Brussels. Kisielice, a small community in the province of Warmia-Mazury, is a pioneer of local sustainable energy - setting an example for other communities in Poland and across Europe.
EU Sustainable Energy Week 2014
Do you organise an event on sustainable energy in June? Be promoted by the EU Sustainable Energy Week 2014!
EUSEW2014, an initiative of the European Commission, is the leading event on sustainable energy in Europe. The 9th edition takes place in June. Your organisation, company, NGO, municipality or region can profit from the promotion by the EUSEW platform.