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Energy Savings in Urban Quarters through Rehabilitation and New Ways of Energy Supply (EnSURE)
Start date: Apr 30, 2010, End date: Apr 29, 2013 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Integrated energy concepts which increase the energetic and economic efficiency of rehabilitation projects, and which are embedded in integrated urban development concepts, are hardly applied in Central Europe. Integrated approaches for an energy efficient urban development are an essential part for an effective energy-efficiency policy at local and regional level.Integrated approaches for an energy efficient urban development are an essential part for an effective energy-efficiency policy at local and regional level. EnSURE sets up joint strategies for energy saving and energy efficiency urban development at district level. The aim of EnSURE is to develop transnational strategies to support the implementation of the EU goals for energy efficiency at local level.Effective energy use in urban areas requires coherent investments and economical management of energy resources. Municipal authorities have an important role to play in the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energies: in urban planning, municipal regulations and public procurement; by setting an example of and encouraging sustainable construction practices; by working with citizens. These activities should always be carried out in the context of a long term, integrated redevelopment plan for the affected area. The emphasis should be creating the basis for new economic activity or improving the overall environmental quality of the area. An urban energy efficiency development policy considering these issues also contributes to long-term competitive and sustainable settlement and urban structures. Improving energy efficiency in urban areas brings benefits for citizens and businesses by reducing both, costs and the emission of greenhouse gases. Achievements: The main objective of the EnSURE project is to give an account of the possibilities of energy efficient urban development at low, district levels. Most analyses on increasing energy efficiency focus on general, high levels, for instance, national measures, but the bulk of energy consumption is related to lower, local structures. Thus the EnSURE project aims at offering integrated concepts to increase energetic and economic efficiency of urban structures, built and institutional, involving the municipal, economic spheres as well as the inhabitants. The partners exchanged on different methods to involve them as active participants in the political decision making process in order to have real multi-partner local development projects. Meanwhile, EnSURE has produced some relevant transnational outputs: A joint strategy for a transnational energy concept on district level: The concept shall become a model for each concept that will be developed and implemented at local level.The concept gives guidance for the dealing with climate change in urban planning practice, and so for many correlated aspects, as the infrastructural and technical framework, the social aspects regarding the needs of the citizens, moreover the participation aspect, that means the involvement of the local stakeholders. The Transnational participatory strategy: The strategy is the result of a circular process: starting from local territories (1), sharing commons elements for a trans-national approach (2), coming back to the local (3). So the trans-national is not a blueprint to be implemented at local level, but it is a shared construction tested in the different contexts of Central Europe territory: a combination of local and European visions suitable for the future challenges of participatory energy transition. The EnSURE network of energy info points is composed of six info points (Ludwigsburg–Genoa-Kranj –Warsaw–Sopot– Hajdúszoboszló - (Ferrara). The main goal is to build a highlyperforming network disseminating know-how on the better use of renewable energies and the rehabilitation of buildings. The energy info points combining face to face and on line participation: physical and electronic info points. Furthermore they are managing the local participatory process: visibility and coordination. The energy info point network and the participation strategy are going close together: starting from the info point forecasted and integrating a series of activities related to information, awareness raising and participation: Info point as a “electronic square”, as a “square of fair” and as a “civic square”. A highlight was the implementation of three transnational trainings in Berlin, Budapest and Padova, in which about 200 participants attend, coming from local administrations, development and energy agencies, planners, architects, engineers, scientific institutions and housing associations. The final conference were held in Ludwigsburg, March 20th-22nd 2013.
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  • 79%   2 041 345,00
  • 2007 - 2013 Central Europe
  • Project on KEEP Platform
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