Addressing Inefficiencies in Public Building Renovations: Challenges, opportunities and solutions for Central and Eastern Europe – online conference highlights
On Tuesday, December 10, about 60 participants, including more than 20 representatives of Polish local governments, attended the conference “Addressing Inefficiencies in Public Building Renovations: Challenges, opportunities and solutions for Central and Eastern Europe”. This was the second in a series of six training and advisory meetings, organized by Polish Network “Energie Cités”, that are aimed at supporting municipalities in the energy transition process. The first online training concerned the subject of shaping areas of accelerated RES development and energy communities, and this time the discussions revolved around the issue of effective thermal modernization of public buildings. The conference was carried out as part of the public task within the framework of investment G1.1.4 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and within the framework of the project OUR-CEE: Overcoming Underperforming Renovations in Central and Eastern Europe and OwnYourSECAP: Bringing local and regional municipalities towards owning their SECAPs.
Shaping areas of accelerated RES development and energy communities – online training highlights
More than 30 representatives of Polish municipalities took part in an online training on 28 November 2024 entitled “Shaping areas of accelerated RES development and energy communities”. The event kicked off a series of 6 training and advisory meetings aimed at supporting the energy transition process in municipalities. The training is part of the public task carried out by the Association of Municipalities Polish Network “Energie Cités” titled. “Conducting training and advisory activities on green and energy transformation for local government administrations” under investment G1.1.4 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Conducting training and advisory activities on green and energy transformation for local government administrations.
The public task, implemented under Investment G1.1.4 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (G1.1.4 – Support for institutions implementing reforms and investments under REPowerEU, indicator G8G – Contest for the implementation of the public task "Conducting training, advisory, and analytical activities in the area of building administrative capacity for green and energy transformation for local administrations"). It aims to strengthen the administrative capacities of local authorities and office staff in the field of green energy transition, procedures related to the issuing of permits for investments in renewable energy sources and the creation of areas for accelerated RES development.t. As part of the initiative, training activities and study visits will be conducted to explore the topics of efficient energy management and the implementation of renewable energy investments. This initiative is targeted at several dozen cities and municipalities across Poland, which, as members of the Association, are leaders in sustainable development and energy efficiency. Additionally, it is open to other local government units interested in participating in the training cycle and expanding their knowledge and competencies.
BUSHROSSs: Building Up Skills for Home Renovation One-Stop-Shops
The aim of the project is to develop the skills of relevant authorities, such as national, regional and local authorities or energy agencies, in order to effectively establish and operate one-stop-shops (OSS) to assist homeowners throughout the process of energy refurbishment of residential buildings. The project aims to accelerate the pace of housing renovation, contribute to the European Green Deal and improve the well-being and health of citizens and future generations.
‘Developing ambitious local long-term climate neutrality strategies’ – a guide for local authorities representatives is now available
We would like to invite you to read the latest publication prepared within the framework of the project ‘Ready4NetZero: Capacity building for long-term climate neutrality strategies in towns and cities’. The handbook provides comprehensive guidance for administrative staff on how to effectively develop and implement Local Long-term Climate Strategies (LLCS). The publication provides best practices from cities like Kempten, Bydgoszcz and Brasov, focusing on inclusive governance, community engagement, and sustainable financing. Kempten's Climate Plan 2035 and Bydgoszcz's SECAP showcase effective pathways to reduce emissions and foster renewable energy use. By promoting collaborative urban planning, innovative public participation methods, and green infrastructure, the guide encourages cities to lead Europe's transition to climate-neutral, resilient urban spaces.
Kick-off meeting for the CETAC project in Prague
On 16-17 October 2024, the kick-off meeting of the CETAC (Clean Energy Transition Assistance Centers) project took place in Prague. The aim of the project is to support local authorities in the decarbonisation process by establishing Clean Energy Advisory Centres. The Centres will be closely connected to the structures of municipal offices and will focus on implementing green policies, supporting citizens and businesses in actions related to the energy transition.
Innovative energy solutions in Sweden explored by DAPHNE partners
On 16-17 October 2024, the partners of the DAPHNE project (Decarbonising healthcare in EU regions) met in Malmö to discuss the progress of the project activities and plan the next steps. The meeting was attended by representatives from ten partner organisations from Sweden, Italy, Romania, Greece, Poland, Belgium, Ireland, Ukraine and Serbia. This time the event was hosted by the Swedish organisation NCSH (Nordic Center for Sustainable Healthcare), which is advisory partner in the project.
Decarbonization of heating and cooling systems in Europe — Support-DHC consortium meeting in Milan
On October 8-9 in Milan, Politecnico di Milano held the second meeting to summarize the progress of the Support DHC project. Project partners summarized the achievements of the first year of operation, including activities that support both transformation leaders and those district heating systems, which are in the early stages of development. They also discussed plans for initiatives that build competencies and enable knowledge sharing among stakeholders and DHC system operators, which play a key role in accelerating the decarbonization of heating and cooling systems.
Working together for a just energy transition.– 4th EPAH International Conference
On October 15-16, the fourth international Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) Conference was held in Barcelona. The overarching theme was "Changing Direction: Building a Pathway to Mitigating Energy Poverty." The conference brought together 248 in-person participants and 208 online attendees from across Europe. These participants represented local governments, EU institutions, civil society organizations, and various stakeholder groups committed to a just transition in the energy sector. Representatives from three Polish municipalities: Bydgoszcz, Niepołomice and Zamość, that benefited from the Technical Assistance Program also attended. They were accompanied by representatives from the City of Warsaw, which hosted the previous conference in 2023. This year's EPAH stakeholder meeting was organized by DG ENER in collaboration with the Provincial Deputation of Barcelona (Diputació de Barcelona), the City of Barcelona, the European Committee of the Regions, and the European Economic and Social Committee, with the support from the Ecoserveis association. The event focused on policies and strategies for mitigating energy poverty, with a particular emphasis on the practical experiences of cities that face this challenge daily.
Workshop for representatives of municipalities in Siemiatycze in the framework of the Ready4NetZero and OwnYourSECAP project
The next national workshop organised as part of the Ready4NetZero project took place on 1-2 October 2024 in Siemiatycze. The event was attended by representatives from the city offices of Siemiatycze, Cieszyn, and Piastów, as well as representatives from the Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre and the Municipal Company in Siemiatycze.
