GRACE – Analysis of funding programmes for citizens and communities
In Germany and especially in Saxony there are many funding programmes which support the energy efficiency of citizens and communities. Within the EnercitEE sub-project GRACE three funding programmes will be analysed in detail. The aim is to find out the effect of the programmes in that way that we are able to make a statement how many CO2 emissions respectively energy is saved with 1 € out of the funding programme.
One of the selected programmes is the Saxon Passive house programme. It is part of the Saxon Energy and Climate Protection Programme. The Passive house programme supports builders of passive houses with a grant of 100 €/m² based on the energy reference area. For refurbishment of buildings with passive house components the beneficiaries get a grant of 130 €/m² energy reference area. Both grants are non repayable. In Saxony the Passive house programme was used by 136 beneficiaries since 2007. In comparison with the standard EnEV building the passive house saves much more energy. The EnEV house is a standard in Germany. All builders of new houses have to follow this regulation. An amendment of this standard is planned for 2012, which means stricter rules for future homeowners. In the diagram below, there is a comparison between an EnEV house of 2009 and a passive house with 150 m² each. In addition it is assumed that the rate of energy price increase has a level of 5 % per year. All in all the beneficiary saves more than 20,000 € until year 30 after building and nearly 90,000 € until year 50 after building the passive house in that scenario.
CLIPART meeting in Jelenia Gora, Poland
On 21 -22 March, in the Polish city of Jelenia Gora, there was another Clipart meeting. The project participants had the opportunity to meet with the city officials, the representatives of local authorities and environmental organizations who were invited for the conference. The meeting started with the warm welcome of Jelenia Góra mayer Marcin Zawiła. Then, the invited quests introduced their opinion about the climate change in the area of Jelenia Góra within last 30 years.
Policy maker exchange – mayors from the EnercitEE partner regions will travel to Växjö, Sweden
From 30 May to 01 June 2012 the city of Växjö in Smaland, Sweden welcomes interested mayors from the different EnercitEE partner regions to provide an inside into its climate protection and energy policy and its vision to become a fossil fuel free city until 2030. The city of Växjö has been called “the greenest city of Europe” by many journalists, a recognition for its visionary sustainability strategy.
During the 2 day meeting the mayors will learn why and how Växjö’s vision could have been and will be implemented that successfully. Furthermore they will be presented exemplary energy efficiency measures and solutions in the fields of transport, heat/cooling generation and – distribution, public participation and future strategies that have already been carried out by the city, such as:
Cycle lanes/ boxes
Most CO2 emissions arise in the transport sector. That is why the city fosters the use of bicycles. A map illustrates the 150 km of cycle paths.
Free parking – for biogas, REM, DME, electrical and hybrid cars
This is an incentive to encourage people to use environmentally friendlier cars.
Bus station – biogas bus
The buses in Växjö are run with biogas produced in the sewage treatment plant in Växjö.
Saxony´s new energy and climate programme released for hearing
The draft version of Saxony´s first Energy and Climate Programme was released on 25 October for hearing in the Saxon Cabinet. This programme will substitute and combine the former Energy Programme (2004), the Climate Protection Programme (2001) and the Action Plan Energy and Climate (2008).
Integrated energy and climate protection concept for Dresden
On 28 July 2011 the Committee for Business Development of the regional capital Dresden decided to commission the compilation of an „Integrated energy and climate protection concept”. After an open call for tenders an external expert was selected to carry out the compilation.
Within the next 9 months the future energy supply will be discussed with Dresden’s citizens, businesses, the energy industry and administration in order to develop an integrated energy and climate protection concept.