Archive for Energy efficiency
Energy efficient procurements
Posted by: | CommentsEnergy efficiency procurements offer a powerful and cost-effective tool for achieving a sustainable energy future. The municipality of Amaroussion has already replaced all the municipal buildings light lamps with those of low-consumption energy. The municipality of Amaroussion participates in a European co-funded project named PRO-EE- “Public Procurement Boosts Energy Efficiency” in collaboration with CRES, Greece (Center of Renewable Energy Resourses). The objective of the project is to provide guidance and technical support to municipal governments, federal agencies, and other local organizations to improve the energy efficiency of the public sector, through energy-efficient procurement and overall public sector energy management. The project concerns energy efficient products-procurements such us equipment-lighting, office equipment (computers, monitors, printers, fax-machines, scanners), traffic lights, etc. In the context of EMAS, in Amaroussion’s municipality, there is no current policy which maps the green supplies of Amaroussion. Amaroussion’s municipality supports the cleaning products without harmful and dangerous supplies as well as the recycled paper etc.
Energy efficiency (strategy and promotion)
Posted by: | CommentsEnergy efficiency offers a powerful and cost-effective tool for achieving a sustainable energy future. Improvements in energy efficiency can reduce the need for investment in energy infrastructure, cut fuel costs, increase competitiveness and improve consumer welfare. Municipality of Amaroussion is informing the members of the community about the energy efficiency and provides critical information and practical solutions for more energy-efficient living. The municipality has published a guide for “green offices”. An action that took place in the context of energy efficiency was the distribution of low-energy light bulbs to the citizens. Municipality of Amaroussion has replaced the sodium lamps of the municipal building by those of low energy. Municipality of Amaroussion is participating to a European project about energy efficiency procurements. Paying attention to the energy side of wastes cycle our municipality implements a holistic recycling system.
Automatic Meter Reading, Manchester City Council
Posted by: | CommentsManchester City Council have been working with their gas and electricity suppliers to formulate appropriate and cost effective proposals for introducing Automatic Meter Reading into Council buildings. These automatic systems are designed to enhance the Council’s ability to meet their climate change targets through sensible and strict use of gas and electricity. The direct effects of automatic systems is the ability to accurately read present consumption, track changes over time and make predictions of future energy use. This increased knowledge energy consumption allows for more accurate procurement, minimising wastage and over-capacity.
Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre Manchester
Posted by: | CommentsThe Energy Saving Trust (EST) has provided £660,000 per year for three years to operate a service offering advice and support to residents in delivering energy demand and carbon emissions reduction from energy use and transport across the Greater Manchester area. EST Advice Centre funding supersedes 2 previous contracts in place to provide Greater Manchester Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEACs) for Manchester.
The benefits of an EST Advice Centre for both local authorities and communities are clear. Aside from the overriding imperative of cutting emissions and combating climate change, the Advice Centre will support authorities in delivery of climate change and energy related performance measures, provide support and assistance in developing schemes and projects to deliver energy use reduction, and help your householders increase disposable income via cutting energy bills. The project will also assist in securing grants and other inward investment, work to establish and grow energy products and services supply chains in the local area, and support existing energy services companies in updating their service offering to take account of the climate change agenda.
North West Climate Fund
Posted by: | CommentsIn 2006 Oldham Council and Manchester is my Planet saw the opportunity to raise funding for sustainable energy projects through a ‘carbon compensation’ scheme aimed at public and private sector organizations as well as individuals.
Parallel thinking had been taking place at the North West Development Agency, where the objective to establish a Climate Fund featured in the NW Climate Change Action Plan.
This led to identification of NWDA funds to undertake a feasibility study, which was undertaken by the consultancy Creative Concern. This identified how a Climate fund might be configured and marketed and the benefits for the Northwest.
Further NWDA funds were identified to undertake detailed business planning contracted to a consortium led by Creative Concern, which concluded in summer 2008. An investment decision by the NWDA was approved in autumn 2008 and a contract awarded to a delivery body in December 2008.
Personal Carbon Trading
Posted by: | CommentsPersonal Carbon Trading has the potential to be a progressive solution to climate change, but the idea is only at the start of a long developmental process. The RSA’s CarbonLimited project has been exploring this idea, and Manchester is my Planet helped host the first UK pilot.
Manchester Carbon Trading Week (September 2007) created an opportunity to develop policy in a participative process with the general public. The week saw hundreds of people from across the region register their carbon profiles on a specially designed website. Over sixty participants attended the first –ever simulation of carbon trading in the U.K. The results from this and other events will be collated to help guide future thinking and policy on the potentials of personal carbon trading.
Greening the Town Halls of the Greater Manchester Local Authorities
Posted by: | CommentsThe greening the town halls project is supporting local authorities to reduce the carbon footprint of town halls and key public buildings by increasing awareness of opportunities for energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. This project is helping to develop and encourage:-
• Sustainable energy strategies;
• Energy modeling in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50%;
• Local procurement – e.g. biomass supply chain;
• Exemplars of low-carbon buildings.
Building overhaul – City Public Library in Katowice, affiliate no. 14, 20 Piastow Street
Posted by: | CommentsOverhaul of the library affiliate was initially planned to be carried out by the budget financial means of the City. However, after preparation of a report “Analysis of financial possibilities of thermal modernisation investment at the City Public Library, affiliate no. 14, Katowice”, issued by the employees of the City Development Department and upon acceptance by the library staff, the Development Department submitted an inquiry to the City Hall Financial Manager for a permission to use the financing model proposed in the analysis. The permission was granted. The subject financing model separates thermal modernisation of the building along with manufacturing of equipment making it possible to use a renewable energy resource and submission of a proposal for co-financing of the overhaul works (Thermal modernisation of the building).
The “Katowice” mine was closed in 1999. Currently it is owed by the “Silesia Museum”. Eventhough the mine is closed, water from the shaft needs to be pumped up constantly. The city of Katowice financed the assessment of the possibility of heat recuperation from the mine water (of 19ºC), and its further use. In September 2007 the Science and Research Institute (The Central Mining Institute), contracted by the city of Katowice, introduced the multi-criteria analysis of different technical alternatives, with the suggestion of the most efficient and sustainable solution.
According to the Polish Energy law, local energy plans have been a major requirement since 1997 (There are no penalties for not having one). “Assumption for the plan for heat supply, local energy management” is the basic act for the energy planning on a local level for the city of Czestochowa. It defines the goals and directions, as well as supplies the analysis of the current situation and predictions in terms of the energy supply for the region. The most important assumption is to implement sustainable energy, heat and gas management in the region. It is important to development and upgrade the energy systems and to increase renewable energy generation. Building the partnership with the energy suppliers and operators, and common goals are one of the success criteria of the implementation plan.
The goals are coherent with regional land use plan and national goals (”Energy policy of Poland until 2025”, “Strategy for Sustainable Development Poland until 2025”)
