Author Archive
The Lighthouse – Glasgow, United Kingdom
Posted by: | CommentsThe Glasgow project involved the refurbishment of the Lighthouse Building, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The lighthouse building has been a landmark in Glasgow city centre since it’s construction in 1895. The building is constructed with cast iron columns, steel beams, concrete floors and stands six storeys high, including the basement level.
The building has been classed as grade 1 listed and is of significant historic value to the local area which has had a significant impact on the design options.
The aim of the project was to design a centre for art and design with exhibition and gallery space that will engage the citizens of Glasgow. The building will accommodate educational space, art and architectural exhibitions and a demonstration of embedded renewable energy.
An objective of the design was to produce a multifunctional building which will appeal to the citizens of Glasgow and not just the designers. There was also a requirement to maintain the appearance of the existing building which has a valuable presence within the city which has been reflected in the design.
The project aims at finding innovative sustainable solutions for the reconversion of disused industrial areas in the town of Ortona (Provincia di Chieti, Italy). The goal has been reached through the cooperative efforts of the local partners: Provincia di Chieti, Municipality of Ortona and the local energy agency, A.L.E.S.A. The Plan, co-financed by the national Ministry for the Environment, was designed: to increase the sustainability value in the local context through the protection and exploitation of the local ecosystem; to make local community aware of the rational use of the resources; to study new sustainable models for the reconversion of disused areas in residential sites. The main results are: 1) biodiversity in urban areas: a “Biodiversity map” has been drawn up highlighting 40 public areas for the preservation of the local ecosystem; 2) the “Resources Centre for the Sustainability”: 150 mq of environmental training centre for citizens, schools and technicians; 3) n. 4 studies have been carried out in different areas to investigate their RES & RUE potentialities and to design eco-compatible buildings; 4) dissemination activities (survey; workshops, web-site, newsletters, events etc.) addressed to the local population (students, households, end-users). The project is by now in its final phase. The next step is the identification of strategic public-private partnership for the realization of the village.
Environment Park – Turin, Italy Technological Park
Posted by: | CommentsEnvironment Park is part of the strategy which supports the innovation and that characterizes the territory of Piemonte, as a subject of connection between the research world and the industrial system. In the operative sectors where it acts (Technology Observatories and laboratories), the activity model of the Park is structured in the following points:
Revelation of the technologic requests of the territory in relation with the development trends of the new sustainable technologies;
Recognition of the technical-regulations evolution;
Development of the initiative of applied research in partnership with enterprises and research agencies;
Networking activity directed to the increase of innovative distribution systems;
Diffusion of information relative to the best technological practices in the sectors of intervention.
In 2004, the regional West division of the Swedish Road Administration started up a co-operation project called “KUSTOM” – Municipal co-operation for safety and environment. The project aims at providing inhabitants of the municipality, companies, decision makers, employees of the municipality, organizations etc within a number of municipalities with facts and understanding of traffic safety and the environmental impacts of transportation.
The intention is to increase the awareness level about traffic safety and through this achieves a safer and more environmentally sound society. Activities carried out are e.g. activities towards employees of the municipal organisation focused on work place seminars where issues related to the environment and safety within transport has been discussed. Analyses of the present transport situation has been done in several municipalities which shows there is a potential to save both money and environment through efficiency actions such as use of car pools, clean vehicles, establishment of transport and purchase policies etc. Through the work of “KUSTOM” traffic safety and environment have been put on the agenda and a channel for information has been created between the Swedish Road Administration and the municipalities. Political decision makers have been very positive to the project, the work methodology and the use of working structurally in this way.
L’ objective is the transformation of the market by introducing new centrifugal pumps for increased efficiency – Energy+ pumps – for much more efficient circulation of heating than already used today. A new age of technology of pumps with the use of commutation electronics is available and allows a reduction of consumption of approximately 60% to be obtained.
Varese Ligure towards 100% renewable – Varese Ligure, Italy. [Technologies Alternative]
Posted by: | CommentsA decade ago, Varese Ligure found itself in difficulties due to a weakening economy, declining settlements and people moving away. This prompted the mayor to try to do something to reverse the trend and revitalize the local authority by investing in its main resources within the framework of sustainable development.
The investment in renovation of the urban centre, in organic farming and renewable energies boosted the environmental quality of the village, which eventually allowed it to become the first ISO 14001 certified Italian local authority in October, 1999 and the first European EMAS-registered local authority in November 1999. All these actions have resulted in important synergies that support each other towards the final aim of being 100% renewable and 100% organic.
RES PUBLICA Project [UE Project]
Posted by: | CommentsThe RES PUBLICA project was initiated from the need for a local sustainable process towards a more effective use of energy Renewable Energy Source (RES) and a rational use of energy Rational Use of Energy (RUE). The main idea is to create synergies at the local level between policy makers, citizens and market actors through the implementation of Local Agenda 21. Therefore, the project contributes to produce bottom-up intelligent-energy strategies at the local level in different EU countries and to create a network at the EU level for the exchange of best practices. The partnership is made of strong public administrations from 4 different countries (Italy, Germany, Hungary and Spain) with experience in the field and relevant contacts in their territories. The main activities consist of the creation in each partner’s area, of a local Energy Forum that will involve all relevant stakeholders and lead to the production of a local Sustainable Energy programme focused on RES and RUE and including suggestions for the updating of local planning tools (such as mobility plans, building codes etc.).
Biomass District Heating in Molins de Rei
Posted by: | CommentsSince February 2000, La Granja residential area in Molins de Rei has a hot water power plant run on biomass with 2,250 kW of thermal power. This is currently supplying heating and sanitary hot water to 250 dwellings in this area. It is envisaged that, by the year 2003, the number of dwellings connected to the grid may be 695. This increase will involve some useful-heat production in the range of 6,800 MWh/year, with a biomass consumption of 2,200 yearly tonnes. Such energy production will imply primary energy savings of some 730 toe/year, and will prevent over 1,700 yearly tonnes of CO2 from being dispersed into the atmosphere.
In 2005, the Pilot Project “Green Light Graz I” (modernizing street lighting along the main traffic route Wienerstraße – Gürtel and other main streets) was started. 718 lamps in main streets were renewed and provided with state-of-the art technologies and control engineering. The Graz Energy Agency has taken over the whole project handling for contract management as an overall package by order of the City of Graz. As for technical implementation and financing, the Graz Energy Agency co-operates with Energy Graz. Together these two organizations guarantee the calculated energy savings! The costs are amortized by the savings. No additional investment costs accrue to the City of Graz. On April 26, 2006, the City of Graz was presented with the Green Light Award 2006 in Frankfurt for its programme.
Modernization of Street Lighting – Kaunas, Lithuania. [Urban Project]
Posted by: | CommentsThe City of Kaunas is experienced in promoting and modernising existing lighting systems. Energy specialists of the Municipality are in close cooperation with the Lithuanian Energy Institute (the National Contact Point of the European Green Light Programme). Also, the modernisation of existing lighting systems in public buildings and in the streets of the City are given priority within the Municipal Master Plan valid till 2025.
The purpose of the project “Modernization of Street Lighting in Kaunas, Lithuania” is to modernize existing street lighting systems. The main objectives of the project are to:
- Increase efficiency of existing lighting systems.
- Reduce expenses for electricity.
- Reduce CO2 emissions while saving energy.
- Demonstrate real solutions in practice.
The project is in line with strategic goals and requirements of Lithuanian National Energy Strategy as well as the City’s Master Plan. It is financed by the.
