EPP-led cities and regions delivering sustainable solutions for citizens

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EPP-led cities and regions delivering sustainable solutions for citizens

Foreword

by Michael Schneider President of the EPP Group in the European Committee of the Regions Can we make our cities greener and more attractive to live in for all citizens without compromising on our economic growth? Can we halt the negative consequences of climate change in our communities? Can we improve the quality of air we breathe in?

These and other questions are addressed in our brochure, which illustrates the political commitment and work of EPP-led local and regional authorities to build together a more sustainable Europe. In line with the European Union’s 2030 climate and energy framework, the global Paris Agreement and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, cities and regions across Europe are working towards these objectives for the benefit of our citizens.

Local and regional leaders of the European People’s Party, given their responsibilities in the field of energy, climate change, environment, circular economy, waste management, spatial planning, transport, or management of public budgets, are best placed to identify local needs and to provide tailor-made solutions in partnership with national and European leaders to improve the quality of life of citizens in the places where they live or work. This is all about respecting the principle of subsidiarity, one of our main EPP values.

With ambitious, yet realistic targets and actions, they convert climate-related challenges into opportunities to build more sustainable communities, foster competitive low-carbon local economies and boost investments in innovation, while protecting our natural resources and the environment.

For this to happen, they need proper financial resources. This is where European Union funding brings clear added value. Equally important is the involvement of political leaders from the EU and from the national, regional and local levels, as well as close cooperation with citizens, businesses, academia, and relevant NGOs. As climate change has no borders, only by working together in partnership can we achieve sustainable and long-lasting results.

Ahead of the European elections in 2019, the best practices presented here demonstrate how EPP leaders deliver practical solutions for the people on the ground, and show how the EU helps us grow together in a cohesive, inclusive and sustainable way across regions, cities, and municipalities.

Together with the wider EPP family, we will continue building vibrant and sustainable societies for the people and with the people!

© EPP Group, 2012-2027

“The European Union is strong thanks to a joint potential of its Member States. And each of those countries is strong thanks to a joint potential of their regions. Therefore, there will be no strong, competitive and prosperous European Union without its strong, competitive and prosperous 276 regions.”

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MEP Jerzy Buzek, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)

Contents Foreword by President Schneider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 What can cities and regions do to create sustainable local communities?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Climate change

Climate change adaptation strategy brings results City of Guadalajara, Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Energy efficiency

European cooperation to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings - City of Dubrovnik, Croatia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Making public utility buildings more energy efficient Pomorskie region, Poland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Using LED technology to combat light pollution and increase energy efficiency - Municipality of Vidovec, Croatia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Environmental protection

Citizens monitoring local air pollution – City of Schiedam, the Netherlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Protecting Lake Balaton’s natural value with an integrated approach - Municipality of Balatonfüred, Hungary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Improving Natura 2000 regional network management to protect biodiversity - Region of Lombardy, Italy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Sustainable cities

Smart Cities cooperating for a sustainable future City of Umeå, Sweden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Most sustainable city in Europe goes carbon neutral City of Espoo, Finland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Management of water sources

Investing in water management systems on a large scale Municipality of Gabrovo, Bulgaria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Renewable energy

Local history combined with sustainable energy production Municipality of Viroinval, Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Landfill turned into a modern photovoltaic farm Municipality of Ustronie Morskie, Poland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Solar panels helping hospitals save money Mazovia region, Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Utilising geothermal water and building new utility systems Municipality of Tamási, Hungary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Waste management

Towards modern and sustainable waste management Harghita County, Romania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 3

What can cities and regions do to create sustainable local communities?

Energy efficient public buildings and housing

Promotion of sustainable alternatives for better health

Sustainable transport solutions and low-emission zones Air quality measures

Sustainability education

Environmental protection

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Sustainable public procurement

Responsible use of land and water resources Renewable energy production

Green and blue infrastructure

Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies

Sustainable waste management

Climate change Climate change adaptation strategy brings results City of Guadalajara, Spain Antonio Román Jasanada, Mayor of Guadalajara

“Between 2013 – 2017, we have reduced CO2 emissions by 1,268 tonnes.”

The city of Guadalajara has adopted an ambitious strategy for climate change adaptation, in accordance with the Covenant of Mayors on climate and energy signed in 2017. The goal of the strategy is to reduce CO2 emissions in Guadalajara by 40% until 2030 through improved energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the strategy aims to increase Guadalajara’s capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

For years, the City Council has been implementing numerous measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Guadalajara. As a result, between 2013 and 2017, the city reduced its CO2 emissions by 1,268 tonnes. The instalment of LED units to replace old lights has contributed towards energy and emissions savings of up to 71%. In addition, actions undertaken by the city to improve sanitation and water supply networks have resulted in great gains in efficiency. The city’s climate strategy also includes the renewal of the municipal vehicle fleet and their replacement with more environmentally friendly models, for example by using compressed natural gas vehicles in the urban transport service.

The strategy also takes into account future forecasts, which are used to set different action plans to reduce local emissions of greenhouse gases in different areas: agriculture and livestock, sanitation and water supply, public lighting, public and residential buildings, collection of waste, cleaning of streets, parks and gardens, and mobility and urban passenger transport. The strategy also includes concrete and quantifiable measures to be developed by the city of Guadalajara in the coming years.

The climate change strategy will undergo an audit every two years. It is supported by the Ministry for Ecological Transition, through the Biodiversity Foundation and the Impulse Plan to Environment for Adaptation to Climate Change in Spain (PIMA Adapta) and the collaboration of the Centre of Intelligent Infrastructures innovation.

More information: h t t p s : / / w w w. g u a d a l a j a r a . e s / recursos/doc/portal/2017/10/31/ estrategia-de-cambio-climatico.pdf

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Energy Efficiency European cooperation to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings City of Dubrovnik, Croatia Nikola Dobroslavić, Prefect of Dubrovnik-Neretva County

“Thanks to our project, the Gruda elementary school can save energy for heating by up to 89 %.”

The Regional Development Agency of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County (DUNEA) is working on five projects for energy renovation in public buildings in a project called SHERPA - Shared Knowledge for Energy Renovation in Buildings by Public Administrations. This INTERREG Mediterranean project runs from 2016 to 2019.

DUNEA participates in the project together with regional partners from Spain, France, Italy and Greece. The project aims to improve the management of public resources and foster the implementation of strategies, policies and projects of energy efficiency in public buildings in the Mediterranean area.

Currently, renovation works are ongoing in Dubrovnik-Neretva County in the Gruda Elementary School and in the Crafts High School Dubrovnik. The Metković Gymnasium, Elementary school Fra Ante Gnječ-Staševica and the Vela Luka nursing home for the elderly are in the process of signing contracts for co-financing the energy renovation projects with the Croatian Ministry of Construction and Physical Planning, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund.

Each of the five buildings will benefit from the following energy renovation measures: improved insulation of walls and roofs, window replacement with energy efficient double glass windows and the installation of a solar-powered system for hot water preparation. Thanks to these measures, the buildings can reach energy savings for heating of up to 90 %. The total reduction of CO2 emissions will be 419,13 t/y with a total investment cost of EUR 1 763 790,00. The project is 85 % co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. DUNEA’s budget for the project is EUR 202 463,20.

The main goal of the SHERPA project is to reinforce the capacities of the public administrations at regional and local level in order to improve energy efficiency in public buildings and reduce CO2 emissions. Based on the gained and shared knowledge and experience during this project, the aim is to develop improved methodologies and strategies for the management of public resources, implement IT tools to support energy efficiency and define projects, interventions and investment activities in public buildings.

More information: https://sherpa.interreg-med.eu/

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Making public utility buildings more energy efficient Pomorskie region, Poland Mieczysław Struk, Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship

“49 public buildings have become increasingly energy efficient thanks to more than EUR 5,9 million from EU funds on top of our public investments.”

The Polish city of Słupsk, together with the surrounding local authorities are implementing an EU-funded project, which aims to thermo-modernise 49 public utility buildings located in the Municipal Functional Area of City of Słupsk.

During the course of the project, 22 buildings will be renovated in the City of Słupsk, two buildings in the City of Ustka, 11 buildings in Gmina Kobylnica, two buildings in Gmina Słupsk, four buildings in Gmina Damnica, five buildings in Gmina Debnica Kaszubska and three buildings in Poviat of Słupsk.

The scope of the works includes the insulation of walls and roofs, replacement of window and door frames, modernisation of the central heating equipment, installation of photovoltaic panels as well as smart and energy-efficient lighting solutions.

The project will create substantial energy savings thanks to decreases in heat demand (by 57%) and in annual energy consumption (by 10 144 887,78 kWh/year), and last but not least a decrease of gas emissions by 3 013,55/ton equivalent to CO2. It will also help to optimise the thermal insulation of the buildings, allowing thus to reduce expenses on heating and hot water supply. Furthermore, the project will also help increase the consumption of renewable energy via solar collectors, photovoltaics and heat pumps.

The project is implemented from 2016 to 2019 and is part of the Integrated Territorial Agreement for the Municipal Functional Area of the City of Słupsk, The total expenses of the project are 40 031 342,68 PLN, of which 25 555 971,72 PLN are co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

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Using LED technology to combat light pollution and increase energy efficiency Municipality of Vidovec, Croatia Bruno Hranić, Mayor of Vidovec

“The improvement of energy efficiency is recognised as the key and an economically effective mechanism for achieving our goals.”

The Municipality of Vidovec has launched a public lighting project in its 11 villages to replace its existing lighting which was uneconomical and ultimately harmful to the environment.

The new public lighting uses the light-emitting diodes (LED) technology and contributes to the preservation of biodiversity and to the protection of the night sky. The lights do not cause light pollution and do not endanger the nocturnal fauna which are active at night. The added benefit of LED technology is reduced electricity consumption; it also prevents UV and IR emissions, and reduces the emittance of greenhouse and other pollutant emissions into the environment.

To reduce light pollution, the project started with a modernisation project in two villages, where the situation was most critical and the replacement was most important. At this stage of works, 96 light bulbs with LED-lighting fixtures were installed and a positive effect on the environment was immediately noticeable. In the second phase of the modernisation, 200 light bulbs were replaced. The total value of outsourced works was around EUR 140 000, while the price of the project documentation was EUR 13 000. One part of the project was financed by the municipality, whilst the majority was co-financed through the Croatian ministries. The modernisation works are still ongoing.

In addition to the modernisation of public lighting, the Municipality of Vidovec has obtained energy certificates for all public facilities, which determine in a transparent way the energy characteristics of buildings, their energy consumption and suggestions for reducing or improving their overall energy performance. There are further plans to revamp the municipal building in the coming years to be more environmentally friendly.

The Municipality of Vidovec believes that energy systems must be developed in a sustainable way to enable a safe supply of energy while reducing the negative impacts on the environment. “The improvement of energy efficiency is recognised as the key and most economically effective mechanism for achieving our goals”, says Mayor Bruno Hranić, member of EPP-CoR Group.

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Environmental protection Citizens monitoring local air pollution City of Schiedam, the Netherlands Cor Lamers, Mayor of Schiedam

“This project can teach us more about data collection on air quality and also about the needs of the participants and the role of authorities, companies and society.�

In July 2017, the city of Schiedam started a pilot project which involves citizens in monitoring local air pollution.

Air pollution causes health effects and environmental problems, and nitrogen oxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) are pollutants of main concern. Citizens can use simple sensors, developed to measure concentrations of NO2 and PM10.

The project is supported by the municipality of Schiedam, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Environmental Protection Agency Rijnmond (DCMR).

For the pilot stage of the project, four sensors were located at houses in the south-west part of Schiedam, close to the port area. A fifth sensor was located between the railway station Schiedam Nieuwland and the A20 motorway. The sensor data are transmitted to a RIVM database and can be followed nearly real time on: http://samenmeten.rivm.nl The sensors are less accurate than the nationally used instruments to measure air quality. They can, however, determine where and when concentrations of NO2 and PM10 are relatively high or low. They might also identify sources of pollution in the area. An important advantage of the sensors is that they monitor air quality in real time.

After six months of data collection, the first results were reported. The concentration of air pollution is not constant during the day: higher concentration of NO2 was measured during the morning and evening rush hours. Both the sensors and the official measurement equipment show the same change in concentration. The sensors also showed that the air pollution concentration is strongly connected to the direction of the wind.

Regarding the concentration of PM10, the data collected by the sensors differ more from the official national instruments. Very small particles could not be identified by the sensors.

The project is now in its next phase: 12 more sensors, adopted by citizens, are located in the Schiedam-west area. More data will be collected and the results will teach the city more about the air quality in Schiedam.

The project is a good example of the quadruple helix: a close collaboration between citizens, companies, knowledge institutions and local and national authorities.

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Protecting Lake Balaton’s natural value with an integrated approach Municipality of Balatonfüred, Hungary István Bóka, Mayor of Balatonfüred

“With our local initiatives and an investment of around EUR 180 million, we are making Balaton one of the most sustainable lakes in Europe.”

Lake Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe. In addition to its natural value, it is the second most popular tourism destination in Hungary. Due to these characteristics of the lake and its high vulnerability to climate change, environmental issues, climate protection and tourism development measures are coordinated in order to ensure that Lake Balaton and the surrounding area receives the utmost protection.

The goal of the Lake Balaton area is to become a region with a unique natural landscape with a dedicated priority to health and a sustainable environment. This result will be brought about by the widespread use of environmentally friendly technologies, thereby ensuring it maintains its natural wonders for its local residents and tourists alike.

The Lake Balaton Development Council (LBDC), which is chaired by István Bóka, Mayor of Balatonfüred and member of EPP-CoR Group, has elaborated the regional development programme and concept in line with the EU and national programming objectives. The council has prioritised the implementation of environmental protection rules as well as energy and transport development investments, which strengthen the necessary conditions for a sustainable environmentally friendly lifestyle in the area. A further priority is to become a zero carbon emissions region. The budget planned for these activities is around EUR 180 million.

In order to implement effective environmental protection and sustainability measures in the region, the elaboration of a development plan at a regional level is not enough; the Lake Balaton Development Council has noted that assistance should also be provided at a local level. Every year, the LBDC offers funding for local municipalities, so that they can improve environmental protection in their area. These projects include, for example, the improvement of green areas of settlements.

Furthermore, by introducing the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification, and elaborating local protection programmes, waste management plans and climate change strategies, the Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency (LBDCA), the operational body of the LBDC, is to serve as an example for local municipalities and other organisations operating in the area for implementing integrated environmental protection measures.

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Improving Natura 2000 regional network management to protect biodiversity Region of Lombardy, Italy Raffaele Cattaneo, Assessor of the Region of Lombardy

“The innovative LIFE GESTIRE 2020 project successfully combines public and private funds to protect biodiversity in Lombardy.”

LIFE GESTIRE2020 is an innovative and experimental project for the conservation of biodiversity in Lombardy. The project is co-financed by the European Commission in the framework of the LIFE+ Program strand on environment and climate change (LIFE 2014-2020).

The project is one of the first in Italy to focus on improving the management of the European network of protected areas on the ground. It aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences and sharing of know-how and strategies with and among management bodies. It will also help to optimise the use of resources and investment needed to implement a set of priority actions for the conservation of biodiversity, as identified by the Prioritised Action Framework.

LIFE GESTIRE 2020 will focus on an integrated strategy for the Natura 2000 network in Lombardy, implemented via six lines of action: improved governance and management of the Natura 2000 regional network through an increase in capacity-building activities for the stakeholders involved; conservation of habitats and flora species; conservation of animal species; preventing the spread of invasive alien species; monitoring the conservation status of protected habitats and species; and building and strengthening ecological networks to better connect protected areas.

The project pursues the Sustainable Development Goal 15 of the Agenda 2030 “Life on Land”. This goal articulates targets for preserving the biodiversity of forest, desert, and mountain eco-systems as a percentage of total land mass. Land degradation can be combatted by restoring degraded forests and land lost to drought and floods. Goal 15 also calls for more attention to be paid to preventing the invasion of introduced species as well as to the protection of endangered species.

Encouraging a concrete and effective use of complementary funds is one of the most substantial and at the same time more ambitious goals of LIFE GESTIRE 2020 project. The project budget is about EUR 17.3 million, of which the European co-funding amounts to EUR 10 million. According to the project’s provision, more than EUR 83 million of complementary funds from the EU’s Structural Funds, the Rural Development Funds, regional funds as well as from charity and private contributions will also support the goals of the project.

Website: www.naturachevale.it/en 11

Sustainable cities Smart Cities cooperating for a sustainable future City of Umeå, Sweden Åsa Ågren Wikström, Member of Umeå Municipal Council

“The whole Smart City District of Umeå heats the residential houses using only renewable energy, including one of the largest geothermal storage installations in the world.”

RUGGEDISED is a smart city project funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. It brings together three lighthouse cities: Rotterdam, Glasgow and Umeå, and three follower cities: Brno, Gdansk and Parma to test, implement and accelerate the smart city model across Europe.

Working in partnership with businesses and research centres, these six cities will demonstrate how to combine ICT, e-mobility and energy solutions to design smart, resilient cities for all.

The city of Umeå, with its 123,000 inhabitants, is a centre of education, technical and medical research in Sweden. The ‘smart-city’ approach is at the core of Umeå’s overall vision for continued social, economic and environmentally sustainable growth.

The project partners in Umeå are developing a new sustainable and innovative Smart City District, located in the University City area. The area includes a mix of residential, academic and research facilities from two universities, a regional hospital, as well as community, recreational and commercial buildings. With 50 000 daily visitors, it is the busiest commuter meeting point in northern Sweden.

As such, the neighbourhood is also one of the least car-dependent neighbourhoods in Umeå.

New sustainable housing areas are being developed, such as intelligent student housing with smart apps for positive feedback on sustainable behaviour. Amongst the smart solutions implemented are energy systems for 100% renewable energy in the whole district, including one of the largest geothermal storage installations in world. This allows the estate owners to share heat through a sharing economy-model.

Fast-charging electric buses are servicing the area and the city. Smart sensors have been installed in the area to measure the flow of people, bikes and vehicles. One purpose of this is to improve the security in the area, but also save energy and manage the traffic. Other smart solutions include cargo bikes and superchargers for electric cars and taxis, green parking business models, solar power with storage facilities, an open data platform, as well as new digital tools for public dialogue and engagement. Everything is made possible through a close cooperation between the City of Umeå, both land and estate owners, energy companies, the regional Hospital, the University and the citizens.

Total funding for the project is EUR 19 570 000, with Umeå’s funding amounting to EUR 4 200 000.

More information: www.ruggedised.eu 12

Most sustainable city in Europe goes carbon neutral City of Espoo, Finland Sirpa Hertell, City Councillor of Espoo

“Espoo’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality in the city by 2030.”

The City of Espoo is implementing its sustainable development goals on a long-term basis. In 2016–2017, an international comparison study rated Espoo as the most sustainable city in Europe. The city tackles its biggest strategic challenges with four cross-administrative development programmes, one of which is the Sustainable Espoo programme. It aims to promote emission-free energy production and clean and smart solutions for the city and mobility through cooperation with different stakeholders.

Espoo’s goal is to become carbon neutral by 2030. According to recently published calculations by the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY), total greenhouse gas emissions and emissions per capita in Espoo have decreased for the fifth consecutive year. Through its own actions, the city can influence less than 10 percent of the overall emissions in the area, as households and transport generate the majority of emissions. This is why partners need to get involved.

The City of Espoo and the energy company Fortum have made a social commitment for sustainable development with the aim of making Espoo’s district heating carbon neutral. Currently, heat production accounts for nearly half of the city’s emissions. Together with Fortum, the city set a goal to achieve energy production that is completely based on renewable sources by 2030.

The energy company St1 is currently building a geothermal heating plant, unique on a global scale, in the Otaniemi area in Espoo. Upon its completion, the Otaniemi geothermal plant will produce approximately 10 percent of Espoo’s all-year round heating needs.

In addition to new energy solutions, sustainable growth in Espoo requires a rail-oriented urban structure. The newly extended metro line connects different parts of Espoo and guarantees quick connections to and from the Finnish capital of Helsinki. Besides rail traffic, Espoo wants to significantly increase the number of electric buses operating in the city. Quick-charging electric buses are already operating in Espoo and Finland’s first competitive bidding for bus traffic will be organised this autumn. The operators are required to employ electric buses in order to win bids.

Within the scope of the city’s climate work, Espoo is committed to finding solutions which reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save resources as well as improve the everyday life of the city’s residents.

Without a skilled and committed community, Espoo would not do well in international comparisons of sustainable and intelligent cities.

More info: https://www.espoo.fi/en-US/City_of_Espoo/Carbon_ neutrality_in_district_heating_by(116731) 13

Management of water sources Investing in water management systems on a large scale Municipality of Gabrovo, Bulgaria Tanya Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo

“Between 2012 and 2015, we modernised 19.2 kilometres of sewers and built 17.6 kilometres of new sewage networks to improve waste water management in Gabrovo.”

The Integrated Water Project is the first large-scale investment by the Municipality of Gabrovo for the effective and integrated management of water resources.

The challenging project took eight years of preparation and three years of works. Between 2012 and 2015, a 120 kilometres network of pipes were laid, five pumping stations were renovated, and drinking water and wastewater treatment plants were fully reconstructed. Due to the intensity of the excavation works and the conditions of the street network, the municipality of Gabrovo provided additional investments to entirely reconstruct 100 streets.

The project made the municipality’s water supply and sewerage services more reliable due to a new infrastructure based on European and national requirements, as well as due to a full supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. The project also contributed to an improved treatment process of drinking water through a new technical scheme for the drinking water treatment plant.

Water resources can now be better preserved through significant improvements in technical water losses (reduced from 73% to 39%). Furthermore, more than 85 kilometres of the water distribution network were renovated, including the water main from drinking water treatment plant.

The project contributed towards an ecologically sound management of waste water and better protection of the environment. Overall, 19.2 kilometres of sewers were renovated and 17.6 kilometres of new sewers were built. The inclusion of three districts to the waste water treatment plant increased the connectivity rate to a centralised treatment system from 79% to 96%. The modernisation of the wastewater treatment plant resulted in reduced levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, and the installation for biogas collection from sludge digestion.

Combined investments in environmental and road infrastructure brought added value and contributed towards an improved standard of living. The integration of geographic information systems in the project helped create the current cadastre of the municipality, which can be used as a basis for future investments.

The total budget of the project was EUR 44 911 080, 72 (total investment cost); EUR 28 570 057, 41 was co-funded by the EU. More information; http://waterprojectgabrovo.eu/ 14

Renewable energy Local history combined with sustainable energy production Municipality of Viroinval, Belgium Michel Lebrun, Member of Viroinval Municipal Council

“The 1000-year-old mill now produces the equivalent of five households’ worth of electricity.”

Viroinval, a city in southern Belgium, is a signatory of the Covenant of Mayors and has an action plan for sustainable development. As part of the bigger strategy, the city has been working closely with the local community to increase the production of renewable energy: “We realised that we needed to educate our community. Together with the Viroin Hermeton natural park, the municipality embarked on a project to raise local people’s awareness not just of sustainable energy, but of their heritage and local history,” said Councillor Michel Lebrun, member of EPP-CoR Group.

For nearly a thousand years, a mill had been an integral part of the economic and social life of the village of Nismes. In the 1930s, however, the mill stopped milling grain. The mill is now back in operation thanks to its new wheel installed in June 2017.

The movement of the wheel now produces not grain, but the equivalent of five households’ worth of electricity consumption and the Action-Sud cultural centre just opposite is powered by its output.

Passers-by can stop to read an educational information board that tells the history of the mill (from the ninth century to the present day) and read the technical specifications of the windmill.

Since September 2017, children from schools in Viroinval, Couvin and Philippeville have been able to attend talks about the mill.

The city is also planning to put up an electronic display that will show passers-by the mill’s electricity output in real time.

More information: http://www.viroinval. be/nl/roue-a-aubes. html?IDC=25598&IDD=38757

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Solar panels helping hospitals save money Mazovia region, Poland Adam Struzik, Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship

“Each hospital can save up to 30 percent of their annual budgets spent on heating hot water thanks to our investment in solar panels.”

The Mazowieckie Voivodeship implemented a project entitled Building a System of Renewable Energy in 2014-2017. The works included the installation of solar panels in 12 healthcare facilities under the local government of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship.

Five hospitals located in or near Warsaw as well as seven other facilities in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship - in Płock, Gostynin, Ciechanów, Ostrołęka, Siedlce and Radom - were involved in the project. In nine out of the 12 hospitals, parallel thermo-modernisation works were also carried out. The project also included a comprehensive modernisation of domestic hot water and central heating installations.

The solar installations cover a total area of 5,386 m2 and an installed capacity of 2,3 GWth per annum. If all the panels of the twelve hospitals were next to each other, they would occupy the surface area of over 32 volleyball courts. In five of the facilities, the installations were mounted on the buildings’ roofs, in five other facilities they were installed on the ground level, and in the remaining two supporting structures were used.

The largest installation with an area of over 1000 sq. m. was installed using an innovative solution: the panels were placed on a pergola built above the hospital parking lot.

The hospitals that have decided to install solar collectors can count on significant savings. According the first results obtained, the hospitals can save up to 20-30 percent of their annual budgets spent on heating and hot water. This is important money that hospitals can now spend on other activities, including investments or the purchase of modern medical equipment.

The solar installations will also help reduce the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere. The projected reduction of annual emissions is as follows: a reduction of gas consumption -115 166 m3; a decrease in coal consumption -284 424 kg. Other reductions include NOX (-0.925 t / year), CO2 (-783.6 t / year), SO2 (- 0.6 t / year) and PM10 (- 1.87 t / year).

The total value of the project was over PLN 40 million. Almost 85 percent of the project was financed from the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Program, with the remaining 15 percent being provided by the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. In May 2018, the project received the Top Municipal Investment 2018 Award, a pro-environment and anti-smog project award in Poland.

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Utilising geothermal water and building new utility systems Municipality of Tamási, Hungary József Ribányi, Vice-President of the County Council of Tolna Megye

“The municipality of Tamási has been able to reduce its natural gas consumption by 60%.”

The municipality of Tamási embarked on a project to replace the existing natural gas heating system used in public buildings by a more environmentally-friendly geothermal heating system.

Thermal heating is now provided for the municipality’s schools and kindergartens, clinics, several municipal offices, the Mayor’s office, the library, district offices and several other buildings.

The central element of the new system is an 830-metres-deep extraction well, which brings up 47°C hot thermal water with a maximum extraction speed of 75 m3/h. This water is circulated to the heating centres of 17 public buildings through a 4.7 kilometre-long pipeline using high-pressure pumps. Equipped with an intelligent remote control feature, the system is able to provide sufficient heating for the public buildings if the outer temperature is not below 2-5°C; on colder days additional gas heating is required. The thermal water is reinjected into its enclosing rock formation through a 750-metres-deep reinjection well, and the clean wastewater flows into a nearby natural water body. The heating system operates under positive pressure (8 bars) which enables a highly efficient transmission of heat.

Thanks to the investment, the municipality of Tamási has been able to reduce its natural gas consumption by 60%, which equals to 16 000 Gigajoules of saved energy and results in a reduction of 570 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The non-municipal buildings save up to 20% of their heating costs.

The project was possible due to several success factors: thermal water was already known as a resource in the municipality, and the municipal buildings and other public buildings are located close to each other. Natural gas heating is relatively expensive, making cost savings of the project high. The systems are scalable; the existing pipeline was planned with the housing estates with a future expansion in mind.

The project also faced certain challenges. Due to the relatively low temperature of the thermal water, the existing natural gas heating systems had to be kept, since the thermal heating system can only provide enough heat when the outer temperature is above 2-5°C. Furthermore, the heat exchangers are relatively big and expensive compared to their performance.

Producing domestic hot water from thermal water turned out not to be practical.

The project’s investment period ran from December 2014 to October 2015. The total investment cost was about EUR 4,38 million, half of which was funded via the Energy and Environment Operative Programme under the European Regional Development Fund.

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Landfill turned into a modern photovoltaic farm Municipality of Ustronie Morskie, Poland Olgierd Geblewicz, Marshal of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship

“This investment will help the municipality reach energy expenditure savings of up to 80-90% per year.”

The municipality Ustronie Morskie has changed one of its former landfill sites into one of the most modern photovoltaic farms in Poland with the help of EU funds. The energy generated from the sun will be used in public buildings or to illuminate the seaside promenade.

The investment will contribute to the reduction of the municipality’s expenditure on electricity by as much as 80-90% per year. The investment, supported by European Union funds for rural development, was commissioned in May 2015. The investment contractor was Opeus Energia from Płock.

The farm with an area of two hectares will reach a capacity of one megawatt and the energy produced by the farm will supply the municipal public utility facilities.

“Photovoltaic farms are emerging all over the world and their share of the energy supply is increasing.

Other European countries - even as cloudy as Great Britain - are joining the world’s top solar energy producers. It is great to see that local governments rely on new technologies for renewable energy, and I am pleased that one of the largest photovoltaic farms in Poland is located in West Pomerania,” said Marshall Olgierd Geblewicz, member of EPP-CoR Group.

Ustronie Morskie obtained support from the Rural Development Programme for the years 2007-2013 under the measure ‘Basic services for the economy and rural population’. The total investment was worth over PLN 7.5 million, of which co-financing covered nearly PLN 2.7 million.

More information: www.ustronie-morskie.pl

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Waste management Towards modern and sustainable waste management Harghita County, Romania Csaba Borboly, President of Harghita County Council

“We have invested EUR 46 million from the EU, national and regional funds to create an integrated, modern and sustainable waste management system in Harghita.”

The Integrated Waste Management System in Harghita County is one of the largest projects undertaken in recent years in the county. The implementation of this project with a contract value of EUR 46 million has helped create an integrated, modern and sustainable waste management system in line with EU requirements for the benefit of the citizens of Harghita County.

Implemented in 2014-2015, the project took a wide approach to waste management, from the collection of waste from households and commercial establishments through to final disposal. The project was funded by the EU under the Environment Sectoral Operational Programme 2007-2013, Priority Axis 2 – development of integrated waste management systems and rehabilitation of historically contaminated sites. Of the total eligible value of the project, 70,5% was covered by EU funds, 14,2% by government funds and 15,3% by the County Council’s own budget.

Reducing the presence of impurities in containers intended for paper/cardboard, plastic, metal and glass (by 50%) and in containers for biodegradable waste (by 30%) was an important aim of the project. A dedicated communication strategy and campaign were used to raise the public awareness on waste management.

The waste management centre in Remetea was turned into a modern, selective waste sorting centre, where collected recyclable waste is sorted according to its quality. The centre also includes a composting station for biodegradable waste. The main element of the centre is an EU-standard landfill, which can receive residual waste of 450.000 m³ (337.000 tonnes).

Two waste compaction stations were built in Miercurea Ciuc and Corund. Compressing domestic waste results in more cost-efficient waste transports. The completion of the two transfer stations was moved to the 2014-2020 financing cycle, with a view to completing them by the end of 2019.

The project also included the elimination and/or closure of urban waste landfills that did not comply with European Union regulations. In four municipalities, approximately 100.000 cubic meters of domestic waste were transported to the landfill site in Miercurea Ciuc.

Finally, voluntary selective collection courtyards were built in eight municipalities. In these selective collection yards, residents can get rid of their recyclable waste (e.g. used furniture) free of charge.

The collected waste is transferred to Remetea, to a waste management centre for sales purposes or, in the case of hazardous waste, to be properly disposed of.

More information: www.elhetojovo.ro 19

The European People’s Party Group in the European Committee of the Regions

November 2018

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