Multiplying options, reducing risk, increasing impact – accelerating delivery of smarter cities and districts to achieve energy goals
What does a city with strong scientific skills, plans for a multi-fuel CHP plant and new sustainable housing districts; a future European Capital of Culture developing a powerful energy master plan; and district pioneering citizen and public engagement in redesigning its energy future have in common? They are all part of a growing ‘Community of Interest’ navigating the complex systems, partnerships and financing formulas to find the most efficient route to achieving near zero energy districts as part of the CITyFiED project. The project knowledge and experience is anchored in large-scale works at three demonstration sites incorporating technologies and approaches to achieving innovative and efficient districts. These sites are located across a range of climatic conditions in the cities of Lund, Sweden, Laguna de Duero, Spain and Soma, Turkey, respectively. Between them, they will achieve more than70 kWh/m2yr of energy savings, a reduction of at least 13,000 tons in CO2 emissions will be achieved through the retrofitting of 2,300 dwellings and change the lives of over 7,000 citizens. 'Our approach has been engineered to be as accessible as possible – based on a sound and feasible replication plan, which will be virtually tested in a City Cluster of 11 representative European cities,' explains Markus Paulsson of the city of Lund and coordinator of the three central demonstration sites. 'But the largest ‘return on investment’ if you like, is saved for a group of 40 cities and districts – as they will discover first hand the smartest and fastest routes to success, based on a sound methodology and proven experience'. Project coordinator Ali Vasallo of research center CARTIF outlines the thinking - “we know time and resources are precious, so from the start, we wanted to create a low investment, high-impact formula designed to help facilitate a city or districts’ energy goals”. Knowledge and technology transfer is delivered by a series of webinars and accompanying resources available live, as part of a group, or to consult at anytime in a dedicated 'CITy Smart' portal reserved for Community of Interest (COI) members. The approach of COI members has been just as pragmatic and constructive. San Sebastian general manager Euken Sesé is keen to have exchanges with the group on business models, management systems and district heating whilst sharing their systems approach to energy efficiency developed in the STEEP project. In Estonia, Tartu’s Smart City Lab is a lively hub for improving public services and business processes. For executive board member Rene Tonnisson, 'Smart City development is a high priority for Tartu in coming years and we are looking for suitable networks dealing with related issues in order to learn from other cities having similar ambitions and challenges'. Tartu has plenty to offer in exchange, 'With a strong set of experiences in district heating and cooling - that reach up to 90 % penetration in some cases – and a range of electric mobility solutions already deployed, I am looking forward to a mutual transfer of knowledge and experience sharing between the CITyFiED partners'. Read more at: http://www.cityfied.eu/News/Press-Releases/Multiplying-Options-Reducing-Risk-Increasing-Impact--Accelerating-Delivery-Of-Smarter-Cities-And-Districts-To-Achieve-Our-Energy-Goals.kl(opens in new window)
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Spain, Sweden, Türkiye