Good practice:

Efidistrict

During the 1950s, 60s and 70s a large number of social housing neighbourhoods were built in Pamplona to meet the strong demand caused by the exodus of the rural population to the big cities, with very basic building systems. The buildings were not insulated as they were built before the basic building regulations NBE-CT79 entered into force, which for the very first time required the insulation of buildings. Therefore these buildings have had high energy losses by their facades and roofs.
In addition, the existent urban heat networks are witnessing decentralisation processes in the neighbourhoods.
The aim was to revitalize an ageing district to improve the quality of life of its residents by three actions:
1/ The complex energy renovation of the buildings in the district including their thermal envelopes
2/ The renovation of the old district heating systems existing in the neighbourhood to improve their performance: renewal and improvement of the distribution networks through the inclusion of energy saving measures, supported by the inclusion of systems and control
3/ The creation of a new district heating network, where heat is generated from biomass to supply the whole neighbourhood (public and private buildings).
To implement these actions maximizing citizen involvement is essential.

The main stakeholders of the practice were:
- Government of Navarra
- NASUVINSA
- Municipality of Pamplona
- Municipality of Burlada
- Financial institutions
- Neighbours

European funding – Intelligent energy Europe (IEE) - H2020 funding program – Acronym Efidistrict FWD AGREEMENT NUMBER IEE/13/936/SI2.675074 --> Nasuvinsa Staff
Navarra Government grants for the citizens ( 40% eligible budget - Max. 6,500€/dwelling)
Own funds (Citizens) - 20,500€/dwelling

Dwellings affected by the project
- Renovation of urban heat networks (2,844 dwellings).
- Improvement of thermal envelopes (590 dwellings).

Total investment mobilized:
- Renovation of heating networks (1,000,000€)
- Improvement of the envelopes (590 dwellings - 12,500,000€).

The private investment made during 2013-2017 adds up to 13,500,000 €.
Employment generated: created or maintained : around 200 jobs.

Generally speaking, renovation process in residential stock is quite complex. The term of one-stop-shop (OSS) is an office where multiple services are provided so as to offer customers all they need in just “one stop”. Efidistrict team has played this role of one-stop-shop team.

We have learned these lessons:
1/ Develop a strategy that can be replicated and extended to other neighbourhoods to provide a framework for energy efficiency.
2/ Show citizens that district heating systems are more efficient than individual heating systems.
3/ Incorporate energy saving and the use of renewable energies as a priority for owners, administration, builders and technicians.
4/ Obtain a tested methodology in urban renewal processes to optimize resources and promote energy efficiency. Consolidate the figure of the Management Group, which provide the citizen not only technical information of the possible projects to be carried out, but also solutions to the financial and legal aspects. It is about making the renovation journey more comfortable for all parties.
What makes Efidistrict an appropriate study case is its holistic approach and its tested methodology of citizens' awareness.