eppCoR group in the european committee of the regions
SUSTAINABLE
SOLUTIONS
EPP-led cities and regions delivering sustainable solutions for citizens
First Edition October 2020
Posejdon complex Energy efficient building
WestpomeraniaRegion, Poland In 2020, the POSEJDON Service Complex, an office, service and hotel complex in Szczecin, was opened. Implemented with the support of funds from the Regional Operational Program, the project is the largest facility for conferences and meetings, and is a modern multifunctional facility that offers office space, hotel space, retail and service space as well as parking for cars and bicycles. The project also included development, reconstruction and expansion of the existing facility of the POSEJDON department store, the restoration of its original character and the change of its use as well as reconstruction of the pre-war development of the quarter. Co-financing was granted to support renewable energy sources through a system of 910 heat pumps and a source of electricity production consisting of a photovoltaic installation with a capacity of approximately 102.6kW. The building received the Breeam certificate of excellence as it meets the energy consumption standards and confirms the building as the largest low-emission (NZEB - Nearly-Zero Energy Building) commercial building in Poland. This year POSEJDON service complex entered the group of finalists of the Prime Property Prize competition in the “Green Building� category.
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Cluj People’s Forest Generating green areas in an urban city
Cluj-Napoca, Romania Cluj-Napoca, the capital of Transylvania has committed to a sustainable long term investment plan to transform the city’s surroundings in green areas. The newest project is called Cluj People’s Forest which will turn into a 21 ha future urban park, with more than 1500 bale trees planted this year. The project also involves facilities of a modern park like pathways, light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, benches and other types of urban structures for entertainment, a dog walking area, a viewpoint, two administrative buildings, the landscaping of an urban garden and the installation of a zip-line. The project is part of the bigger Clujul Verde programme, through which the public administration intends to develop over 140 hectares of new green spaces in the city and also to reorganise the city making Cluj the first green walkable city in Romania. Project value: 5 million euros (European funds) Completion deadline: October 2021.
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Polymer Science Park Circular and smart plastics
Province of Overijssel, The Netherlands The need for sustainable plastics is emphasised in both the Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan. The Polymer Science Park (PSP) located in Zwolle, is already contributing to a more sustainable plastics sector. The PSP is an (open) innovation and knowledge centre for applied plastics technology. This concrete initiative, for which we have made grateful use of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is supported by SME (plastics) companies in the region. As a development and meeting place for the business community and knowledge partners, it facilitates innovative projects and implements them. A particular point of attention is the development of standards and applications for the recycling of plastics. In this way the PSP, together with the entrepreneurs, is working on circular and smart plastics.
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SPARCS
Sustainable, energy positive and zero carbon communities
Espoo, Finland The city of Espoo has committed to achieve the United Nations (UN) Sustainble Development Goals (SDGs) by 2025 and be carbon neutral by 2030. Sustainable, Energy Positive & Zero Carbon Communities (SPARCS) is a five-year project of the EU’s Horizon2020 programme which is looking for innovative solutions to develop positive energy districts (PED) in two lighthouse cities Leipzig (DE) and Espoo (FI). Altogether the project involves more than 30 partners all around Europe. The project promotes: local electricity and heat production, energy efficiency, technology for local energy markets and energy storage, flexible consumption, solutions for electric mobility, engaging residents in themes of energy and mobility and new business models. SPARCS targets a 64% carbon emission reduction, 65% share of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and 53% of energy savings. The project seeks prosumer (a person who produces and consumes a product) and commercial solutions that add to the choices available to energy consumers. The results of these demonstrations will be used to validate a blueprint for urban energy transition underpinned by citizen-centric approaches. www.sparcs.info
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Green Budget
Integrating a green approach in the budget
Andalusia, Spain Andalusia has a solid institutional and regulatory framework regarding the fight against climate change. The public budget is the transversal tool that sets the political priorities and therefore is an essential instrument for public actions to be oriented towards gender equality and the fight against climate change. Integrating the green approach into the budget with a gender perspective will help redirect public and private investment, consumption and taxation towards ecological and equality priorities, promoting the creation of sustainable employment. Some of the actions being carried out in Andalusia are: • The publication of a report with indicators that measure the impact of budgetary actions on climate change. • Economic funding, through an Order, for projects that promote the integration of the environmental perspective in the Andalusian budget, from the Green Budget Fund. • A project for an integral revision of the Andalusian tax system.
Integrating the green approach in the budget with a gender perspective in Andalusia is key due to the transversality of the budget; this being an opportunity to overcome the current climate, health and economic crisis, redirect investment and create sustainable employment.
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BLUEMED
Sustainable and responsible tourism in the Mediterranean
Dubrovnik Neretva County, Croatia BLUEMED provides a unique experience and opportunity to increase knowledge of the underwater Mediterranean cultural heritage by visiting the Underwater Museums (UMs) through diving or by visiting the Knowledge Awareness Centres (KACs). During 2018, the BLUEMED team did a trial excavation at the pilot area along the coasts of Cavtat at the ancient dolium site and during these excavations, wooden remains of a ship carrying a heavy cargo were discovered. First analyses indicated that it is Roman merchant ship dating back to the 1st or 2nd century AD. The KAC is determined by these findings and the design of the rooms has been adapted to maximize the experience of underwater sites at land. Underwater Cultural Heritage tourism is an expanding market. This alternative type of tourism provides economic opportunities for culture-rich destinations. BLUEMED also allows nondivers, children, elderly or disabled people to explore the underwater world by using innovative 3D immersive techniques. Total project budget â‚Ź 2.797.549,00 (85 % via the European Regional Development Fund ERDF - â‚Ź 2.377.916,65).
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Green Tech Cluster Driving regional green growth and jobs
Region of Styria, Austria In the last 15 years, the region of Styria in Austria has applied the Green Tech Cluster as a Public-Private-Partnership in this now globally No. 1 ranked ecosystem called Green Tech Valley. 200 companies produce innovative solar systems, biomass plants, hydroelectric power plants and recycling systems. The cluster fosters joint actions and lighthouse projects like: 1. The European pioneering transformation of Austria’s last coal power plant, (which was closed in spring 2020), to a hydrogen innovation centre of Austria’s leading companies and research institutions. 2. The development of a showcase smart city area in Graz with sustainable energy and mobility solutions like the World’s 1st energy glass tower demonstrating next generation photovoltaics. 3. The programme Green Tech Summer Graz: instead of doing internships in companies which were barely available during the COVID-19 period, students have started their own green businesses during summer holidays.
Within 10 years the cluster companies have doubled the employment and tripled turnover – a growth faster than the green tech world markets. This example of Styria shows that the Green Deal opportunities ahead can and will lead to regional green growth.
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Environmental Monitoring Encouraging citizens’ eco-friendly behavior
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France Launched in 2014, the Environmental Urban Monitoring of the Metropole Nice Côte d’Azur is a demonstration of 20 new urban services based on a network of sensors, meters and communication network elements to collect and process environmental and urban information. It has been developed thanks to a public-private partnership between the metropolis, the university, social housing services and private companies. More than 2000 wireless energyautonomous environmental sensors and smart components have been deployed over a 160-hectare area in Nice, the Plaine du Var, and some other towns on the seaside, as an experimental network. Data collected by the sensors will be processed to test some twenty new services intended for inhabitants, companies and local government bodies. The overall objective is to improve the quality of life of citizens, to optimise existing infrastructure, to anticipate changes in the environment of future development projects, to monitor them over time and to act in real time. The major expected benefits are savings of energy and resources and their operating costs, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reducing nuisances in public spaces, improving the quality of life and encouraging citizens’ eco-friendly behavior.
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Sustainable Mobility Creating a network of urban routes for history, culture and the environment
Kallithea, Greece The Sustainable Mobility project was an initiative of the Municipality of Kallithea, in order to highlight the historical and cultural attractions of the city and at the same time to motivate residents and visitors of the city to travel via a sustainable mode of transport, such as walking and cycling, reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality. To complement the project, an application was developed, which through iBeacons technology and augmented reality facilitates the tour of the city using smart devices. The application presents all the historical, cultural and environmental elements (green spaces and urban parks) of the city, the routes that can be chosen, the distances between the points of interest and information. A total of 15 interesting points concerning the history, culture and environment of the Municipality of Kallithea were highlighted. These included buildings that hosted the shooting games at the 1986 Olympics, buildings that hosted the refugees of the Asia Minor catastrophe and large green spaces of the city. The electronic application is already available to residents and visitors of the city.
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