Archive for Sweden
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.
Integrated Biogas Plant in Sundsvall, Sweden
Posted by: | CommentsA joint, large-scale composting facility will deliver sustainable handling of sludge and organic waste, as well as produce significant qualities of biogas that can be upgraded into vehicle gas. What was previously regarded as a problem is now to be seen as a raw material from which is possible to produce a number of products that can be attractive for the market and also generate environmental benefits as for example: production of biogas, forest fertilizer, the use of surplus heat produced during the summer months at the Korsta Combined power and heating plant to be utilised in the waste treatment facility for drying the sludge and the granulation process.
At the same time this initiative also helps other interested parties (SMEs, restaurants..) and small municipalities to deliver organic waste in a proper way, raising environmental consciousness and promoting an environmentally sound society,
The new district of Hammarby Sjöstad (Hammarby Waterfront), Stockholm (Sweden)
Posted by: | CommentsHammarby Sjöstad, meaning “city surrounding Hammarby lake”, is a 200ha former brownfield site now transformed into a modern, sustainable neighbourhood. This project is based on strict environmental standards which were already taken into account during the detailed design discussions between the plot developers, architects and the city planning team.
The project has already delivered homes for almost 10,000 people and will deliver 9,000 homes and 10,000 jobs by 2015. The area is generously provided with means of public transport, carpools, light rail trains and commuter boats. The area has it’s own local ecosystem known as “Hammarby Model” which shows how the relationship between sewage processing, energy provision and waste handling can be structured to deliver wider social and environmental benefits.
Solar City Malmö– solar energy in Skåne
Posted by: | CommentsSolar City Malmö was established in the year 2007. This was a co-operation initiative between the City of Malmö, Skåne Energy Agency and the faculty of technology at Lunds University. The purpose of Solar City is to work towards the increase of solar energy installations in Malmö and the Skåne region. Solar City will develop a knowledge centre and a network for solar energy in the region. The organisation will also arrange courses for educational purpose, study visits, exhibitions, information, counselling, etc.
Revival meetings – Energy efficient buildings
Posted by: | CommentsDuring the year 2003/2004 an information campaign was carried out in the south of Sweden with the aim to increase the knowledge of energy efficiency within buildings within different actors in the building sector. Spring 2003 was the year in which all of the relevant material was put together. The campaign was launched in autumn 2003 by the use of breakfast and lunch seminars which were free of cost for actors within the building sector. The meetings were held at in approximately 70 places within the south of Sweden. During spring 2004 the seminars were followed by short courses in energy efficient buildings with the addition of Skåne Energy Agency holding a seminar with regards to energy efficient windows and sun protection for buildings. The organisers put great detail in promotion of the different activities which lead to a numerous amount of people attending the events.
C4 Energi – district CHP as an important part of becoming fossil free
Posted by: | CommentsIn 1980 several apartment blocks in Kristianstad original implemented a joint heating system which would lead to the development of a CHP plant. Today (2005) the CHP-plant Allöverket with be complemented by a single bio fuelled plant to provide approximately 300 GWh heat and 50 GWh electricity for the municipality. Approximately, 99% of the fuel provided for the municipality is produced from renewable energy generation.
RegionFastigheter – use of ESCO financing models
Posted by: | CommentsUsing an Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) model, the estate manager of Region Skånes property, RegionFastigheter, is guaranteed to perform energy savings worth approximately 1,1 M€ per year. Three hospital buildings are included in the agreement with a total area of 440 000 m2, which equates to a third of RegionFastigheter´s total property area.
Biogas Syd – a network for biogas in Skåne
Posted by: | CommentsBiogas is a renewable form of energy in gas form. It descends from organic material which is formed under the process of decomposition under controlled forms. Biogas Syd is an organisation with a big interest concerning biogas, working both strategically and actively to increase the production and use of biogas in south of Sweden. Biogas Syd is a concurrence project between private and public actors, universities included.
