Bielsko-Biała and Pamplona set an example in one's own building stock

by Blandine Pidoux on 10 December 2009 / 443 visites

Energie-Cités bakes fortune cookies for the Copenhagen negotiators:
10 inspiring local policies for 10 days of the Summit
Proven and successful local experiences in climate and energy matters are the best support the EU negotiators can get in Copenhagen. That is why Energie-Cités, with 20 years of experience in sustainable energy policy, has prepared 10 electronic fortune cookies to inspire the decision-makers during the Climate Summit COP 15.

Pamplona equips every school with PV panels!

In 2001, Pamplona City Council (ES), through its Energy Agency, began the "Net of Photovoltaic Schools" project. The aim of the project is to install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roofs of schools throughout Pamplona, for both educational purposes and to avoid CO2 emissions. Interactive displays linked to the panels provide an excellent educational tool by enabling children to see the energy production of the panel in real time, as well as information such as the total CO2 emissions avoided.
In addition, the Energy Agency of Pamplona is developing an educational campaign for the schools with a variety of activities aimed at raising awareness of climate change and renewable energy among students, teachers and staff.
The project also aims to promote renewable energy technologies to the local community. All of the solar PV panels are connected to the public electricity grid, and the energy produced is sold to the distributors. The solar PV systems do not help the schools reduce their energy consumption, but in net terms reduce their CO2 emissions. From 2004 to 2006 the panels have produced 63,473 kWh in total, which equates to 21,158 kWh each year. This figure is growing each year as more panels are installed. Approximately 71 tonnes of CO2 emissions have been avoided in three years. The total money saved in this three-year period is €26,000 (€0.41/kWh). This is almost 10% of the total cost of the project. The "Net of Photovoltaic Schools" project is helping children, teachers and staff to learn about renewable energy and climate change.

Bielsko-Biała demonstrates that substantial savings and reductions are achievable through simple, cost effective investments

In Bielsko (PL), Primary school 27 was connected to district heating but initially not insulated. In 2000-2001 new PVC-framed windows were installed and a new heat exchanger with automatic regulation was connected to the heating system.
As a matter of fact, the school disposes of classrooms, teaching facilities and habitable apartments. The apartments used to be connected to the heating system which resulted in the fact that the entire school needed to be heated long after the children and staff had left.
By a simple separation of the two heating systems, the one for the on-site apartments and the other one for primary school, significant improvements in energy and emissions performance could be achieved.
Overall costs for the performed action have been low and investment payback has been very short. The action is easy to replicable in other school buildings, as the incorporation of apartments within schools is quite common (especially in Eastern European countries).

One of the energy pioneers in Eastern Europe, the Polish city of Bielsko-Biała was also one of the first local authorities within the EU-12 to make energy management a cornerstone of its partnerships. As a result of a number of energy saving measures, the city managed to save about €1.5 M over the past 5 years - in spite of growing energy prices (its plans for the future include co-financing the installation of solar panels on residential and municipal buildings and the modernisation of urban heat transmission networks).