This week we speak with our project partner Sofia Mackin from Regional Council of Västernorrland (Sweden) to discuss the progress of their Regional Action Plan and the objectives they would like to achieve.
What is the full name of your Action Plan? Improved energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy in public buildings in Västernorrland.
What is the aim? This Action Plan aims to implement a number of good practices of improved energy efficiency and increased production of renewal energy in public buildings. The implementation is expected to be completed during 2020-2021 and will be further monitored and evaluated.
And, what will be the main output? The main outputs will be good practices which can be used as education and inspiration to further energy projects, and to raise the level of knowledge among consultants, installation enterprises, estate owner etc. The CLEAN project and the Regional Action Plan will in this way contribute to following projects for energy saving and renewables.
What is the name of the policy instrument or instruments addressed? Energy and climate strategy Västernorrland 2020-2030.
What would you highlight from the policy framework? New technological solutions and innovations are needed to drive the work on energy efficiency and sustainable construction. Therefore, investments in research projects, demonstration plants and pilot projects in the construction and real estate sector are needed.
Could you tell us a little bit about the background of your action and Why did you choose that specific action? Public buildings are often relatively large buildings, and therefore they have been object for increased energy efficiency for a long time. The heat sources are commonly district heating, single wood pellet boilers or heat pumps. Oil or electric heating do still exist in some locations but is normally replaced for economic as well as environmental reasons. Still there is a potential for working with energy efficiency. As there is a continuously ongoing improvement in technology, and due to the facts, that the cost for the actual energy is increasing, actions that have been too costly earlier, now is feasible to implement. Especially, the costs for the electric grid have risen the recent years, both the cost for used effect and the cost for transferred electricity. Therefore, there is often profitable to reduce the amount of bought electricity.
What is the impact that you are expecting? The energy consumption in the actual buildings will be reduced. The production of renewable electricity is expected to increase, and costs will be reduced over time.
Which players are involved? The Sustainability Council, Environment, energy and climate officials from the County Administrative Board of Västernorrland and the municipalities, Regionfastigheter, Solatum Hus & Hem AB, Regional Energy Agency of Västernorrland and the Association of local authorities in Västernorrland.
How are you going to monitor it? Energy statistics of the actual buildings is already continuously gathered. As soon as an action is implemented, the follow up the impact will begin.
