ENERGY

PATHWAY 4

ENERGY

PATHWAY 4

Supporting Alpine administrations as forerunners & models for the energy transition on their premise

Basic information:

Alpine specific character

Specific challenges to the energy transition in the Alps.

Alpine area lives up to the objective of becoming a model region.

Local and regional administrations have a great potential to serve as forerunner and model to showcase potential actions to improve energy-efficiency and to install RES in small-scale public settings. Also, they can showcase different options for adapting buildings to climate change impacts, e.g., via increasing passive cooling systems, green roofs/green walls, etc.

Many people visit public buildings (schools, kindergarten, library, swimming pool, etc.) during their daily activities and can thus get in touch with Best Practices implemented in these buildings. Also, administrations can use further options to improve awareness on the transition towards climate-neutral and climate-resilient Alps, e.g., during information events, etc

Sequence of implementation steps:

Based on a review of existing activities of public administrations and existing guidelines, specific recommendations to support Alpine administrations in becoming a forerunner for climate action (mitigation and adaptation) are developed. These should include examples how to implement 50/50 projects to involve and motivate users of public buildings. Overall, the recommendations should highlight solutions to Alpine-specific challenges.

Training courses for public building managers (e.g., in the frame of the Alpine training programme, see Pathway IP_E1 “Set-up a network of regional energy coordinators”).

  • One week teaching courses, focusing on a transnational exchange and learning or
  • Regional training courses, organized in the different Alpine languages

Implementation of 50/50 projects in schools, kinder gardens, sports facilities or other public buildings in which the users can affect energy consumption ( many good feedbacks from experimentation in France, based on the “Positive energy family challenge” that was duplicated in Savoie and Isere for school and even for municipalities).

Most public buildings in the Alps are retrofitted towards climate-neutral buildings and are climate proofed to meet new needs under a changing climate.

Further Information:

  • Local and regional administrations
  • ALPACA network
  • Local and regional energy agencies

  • Recommendations and minimum requirements for Alpine administrations to reduce CO2-emissions on their premises and to adapt their building stock to climate change impacts
  • Implementation of 50/50 projects aiming at mobilizing energy savings in public buildings or similar coordination projects in public buildings (especially schools, kindergartens, public sports facilities with many users)
  • Energy retrofitting of the largest amount of public buildings in the Alps

  • Number of regional and local administrations that have implemented the recommendations
  • Number of participants of new training courses
  • Number of 50/50 projects implemented (or similar)
  • Percentage of public buildings which are retrofitted towards climate-neutral and climate-resilient buildings

  • Review of existing projects and programmes: European Energy Award, KlimaAktiv in Austria, etc.
  • Covenant of mayors
  • ALPACA (stock-taking No. 48)
  • Alpine building conference (stock-taking No. 38)
  • Existing training activities implemented in the Alps (e.g., climate adaptation consulting in Tyrol, stock-taking No. 115)

OVERVIEW PATHWAYS

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CLIMATE TARGET SYSTEM

Considering the sensitive Alpine environment and potential conflicts, a smart coordinated approach to steer the development of renewable energy systems is necessary in the Alps. Also, the development of energy-efficiency solutions needs to be tailor-made in the Alps, e.g. to meet the specific needs in areas with low-population density. To realize ambitious energy savings, the transition towards climate-neutral Alps will also require a change in behavioural patterns, lifestyles and business models which have specific patterns in the Alps that require customized approaches.

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