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European Energy Award: Qualification, certification and awarding of

communal energy policy

Helmut StrasserSIR – Salzburg Institute for regional planning and housing

14. 06. 2007

Background: Climate Protection

Kyoto-Target for Austriaminus 13 % of the greenhouse gases from 1990 for the period from 2008 to 2012

Salzburg: guidelines for energy use – Toronto target

%+20+6 0

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Target group: Communities

What can be done whithin shrinking budgets for communities?

How can politicans be inspired by energysaving measures?

How can sustainable and permanent projects be realised?

How can we have a positive contribution to our (living) environment?

What is the European Energy Award?

The European Energy Award® (eea®) is a certification and quality management system for towns and cities across Europe that are making a significant contribution to improve energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energies.

Main elements of eea

The European Energy Award® consists of two main elements:

A quality management system for communal energy-related services and activities

Certification and award for energy-related achievements and control of success through regular audits

TodayToday

TargetTarget

Step-by-step towards the targets

eea means…

a continuous process (quality management system)

setting up and improving local structures and frameworks for effective energy policies

a certification, benchmark and labelling system

a network within the community and between communities

mea

sure

s

time

TodayToday

TargetTarget

Continuous process of eea

Step-by-step communities improve their performance in their energy-related activities: Energy-related activities are reviewed

Strengths, weaknesses and potentials for improvement are visualized

Goals for the local energy policy and decision-making criteria are defined

An energy policy work programme is developed comprising concrete long-term and short-term projects

The work programme is implemented step-by-step

A continuous assessment of the results is carried out

Energy-political Profile

Basis: Catalogue of Measures (84 measures in 6 fields of actions)

percentage of realisation in each field of action

Visualisation of - strengths & - weaknesses

audit result:level of realisation: 58 %Certification:

Energy Team

administrative staff

energy-team

Committed private persons

Experts of municipality

Member of environmental organisations

politicians

external experts

The ‘Energy Team’ works with an accredited eea® advisor to:Carry out the energy review with the support of the assessment tool

Develop an energy policy work programme

Develop and realise energy efficiency projects

Prepare documentation for the certification process

Quality Assurance and Awarding

Depending on the degree of implementation of possible measures, a community can get certified and awarded with the European Energy Award®.

If 75% of the possible measures are implemented and finalized, the community receives:

If 50% of the possible measures are implemented and finalized, the community receives:

Benefits for communities

Systematic review of energy activities in the community Continuous increases in energy efficiency and associated cost savings Continuous assessment of success through a comprehensive monitoring

system Highlighting the community’s achievements in the field of energy Benchmarking with other towns and cities participating in the eea® programme

on a national and European level Access to the know-how and experience of leading energy cities and towns

throughout Europe Significant contribution to common climate protection and sustainability efforts

by implementing energy policy for the future Successful dissemination of the “energy-activities” amongst eea® participating

towns and cities across Europe Improvements in location attractiveness and image for the community Involvement of committed citizens and interest groups in energy policy

planning and in the decision making process

eea in Europe

The e5-programme in Austria

e5-programme for energy efficient communities is the carrier-programme for eea in Austria

Focus on coaching of municipalities

Workshops, excursions

Documentationes, guidelines

Exchange of experience

„Supporting the best and let the others participate“

Example: Intercommunal Biomasse heating system

eea / e5- Municipality of Bischofshofen:

Idea in energy-team to build a biomasse district heating system

Cooperation with neighbourhood-municipality of St. Johann (also eea / e5- municipality)

At least cooperation of 4 municipalities:

Common district heating system with 2 biomass-heating plants and 1 biomasse power plant

Around 60 GWh heat and 5 GWh electricity are produced

Realisation although a 15 years old contract determined gas supply for the whole region.

So, if targets of municipalities chance a lot of activities will become possible!

Example: Intercommunal Biomasse heating system

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THE priscription for communal energy-policy

Thanks for paying attention!

Warning:This programme suits to sustainability and can change your energy-policy!

Contact: Helmut StrasserTel.: 0043 662 623455Mail: helmut.strasser@salzburg.gv.atWeb: www.e5-gemeinden.at