INVESTIGATING SOLUTIONS: BILATERAL EXCHANGES
Interregional exchange and learning activities are at the heart of an Interreg Europe project such as REBUS. Read what partners have learned below
In order to meet EU energy efficiency targets, concrete and widespread policy level improvements are needed in all European regions.
Buildings are among the main sectors identified as being responsible for Europe’s emissions, so policy actions must start there.
To face this challenge, REBUS brings together 8 partners from 8 countries, who share the same need for improvements in policy to promote energy efficiency in public buildings.
The overall objective of the REBUS project is to improve the capacity of public authorities in European regions, to undertake efficient renovation works of their public building stock, thus saving energy and public resources.
Therefore, REBUS supports local authorities in designing an Energy Renovation Path (ERP) for planning, implementing and monitoring renovation works in public buildings, which includes providing reliable information, skills and effective decision-making structures for prioritising buildings to be renovated.
The REBUS ERP, developed on the base of an interregional exchange, also helps public authorities to improve the following aspects of their energy policy content and management:
Furthermore the sub objective of REBUS in this context, using interregional learning and stakeholder engagement are:
In 2021, the Rebus partners submitted a proposal under the 5th Interreg Europe call. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people access and use public buildings. With the 1-year extension, REBUS will provide tools and solutions to help public authorities to interpret and face the challenges caused by COVID, directing new policy towards energy savings in public buildings as part of recovery.
€2,076,886.00
Low-carbon economy
REBUS addresses a need, which is common to EU local authorities as energy renovation in public building is an identified priority. Thanks to the networks of stakeholders activated by the project partners, the impact on the territory is huge. REBUS involves them in all project phases: learning, action plan development and monitoring.
Thus, REBUS builds skills and involves the stakeholders who are in charge of implementing policy changes in order to achieve fitting and sustainable project results which are in line with EU energy efficiency targets.
The selected policy instrument aims to promote eco-efficiency and primary energy consumptions reduction of public buildings through interventions for renovation of single or complex buildings, installation of smart telemonitoring systems, regulation, managing, monitoring and optimisation of energy consumptions (smart buildings).
Specific Objective 4.1 foresees interventions in the form of grants for public authorities (municipalities) applying for projects of energy efficiency renovation of public buildings. Through an expression of interest to be launched by 2015, the regional government allows municipalities to participate and apply with a project proposal for renovation works in public buildings in their territory. A local committee is established (Urban Authority) at the beginning of 2016 with the aim of selecting suitable proposals (municipalities, MA and other experts are involved in the committee). Within the Urban Authority, municipalities work together in order to review the proposals and draft a detailed plan of works and measures to be implemented in order to improve the energy efficiency of the selected buildings. Completed project are then further evaluated for final approval and starting of works. However, the policy still lacks of supporting methods and tools for organisation of local committee, expertise for development of projects and selections of suitable measures, as well as expert knowledge within the staff of involved PAs.
The environmental programme for the City of Malmö 2009-2020 is divided into 4 objectives concerning the future of the city. The overall objective for 2020 is that Malmö should be world leading in sustainability in urban development.
REBUS addresses the part of the programme regarding the objective of energy: to be Sweden’s most climate friendly city. The objective is closely connected to the ROP managed by Scania region as far as priority of investment 4C is concerned.
The main objective is clarified in 3 sub objectives concerning energy use in buildings:
• By 2020 the city of Malmö (the organisation) will be climate neutral and by 2030 the whole municipality will run on 100% renewable energy, mostly local produced.
• By 2020 energy use per person should be decreased by 20% and by 2030 additional 20%.
• The greenhouse gas should decrease with 40% from the base year of 1990.
To reach these objectives the organisation, the ones managing the buildings, the co-workers using the buildings and the stakeholders need to work together. The reason why this programme should be improved is that the city has an objective but no tools to help civil servants to undertake concrete activities. To raise awareness of the programme, to increase the knowledge and to give the co-workers hands on tools to implement the programme is a necessity for success. The programme needs to be improved in terms of overall coordination and management if objectives are to be met.
The programme is managed by the Ministry for National Economy. It aims to support regional, decentralised economic development and an increase in employment based on local resources. The programme allocates more than EUR 1 billion to integrated sustainable urban development actions in the framework of a dedicated priority.
The Programme will focus on the following priorities:
(1) Creating local conditions to boost economic growth and increase employment
(2) Enterprise friendly and population preserving urban development
Total OP budget: 3,970,875,055.00 €
Total EU contribution: 3,389,963,001.00 €
ERDF: 2,978,058,248.00 €
ESF: 411,904,753.00 €
Thematic priorities related to the REBUS proposal are the following:
TO4 - Low-carbon economy
TO6 - Environment and resource efficiency
Expected Impact: An annual decrease in CO2 emissions of nearly 56,000 tons.
The specific measure that is concerned by the improvement possibility though Interreg Europe support is the 3.2. - improving the energy efficiency of local government buildings
The Territorial and Settlement Development Operational Programme - which P3 aims to target and improve in the frame of the REBUS, project, covers the whole country. It is region specific, only concerning the dedicated funding, which is the highest in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén approx. 300 m € (11,65% of the total amount of TSDOP programme) out of the three counties in North-Hungary, since this is one of the most lagging behind county in the country.
Specific objective of this policy instrument is to increase energy efficiency in the public infrastructure, including public buildings, and in the housing sector. The interventions will result in significant reduction of resources consumption within the regional economy and the result indicator will be the "sale of thermal energy for the needs of respective buildings" (GJ). Actions supported by the instrument will contribute to the rationalization of energy production & consumption (complex thermal retrofitting projects, resulting in 60% EE increase, will be preferred) and increase in RES use, which in turn will contribute to the reduction of fossil fuels consumption and reduction of GHG & other pollutants emissions. The financial support will be granted especially for the development of energy efficient, passive buildings and here it will be targeted exclusively on the demonstration/pilot projects. Regarding replacement of individual heat sources, they must result in a min. 30% reduction of CO2 emissions compared to the existing installations. For cogeneration, only the projects ensuring lowest possible levels of emissions will be supported. The instrument is much needed, however, it should be improved to better meet the needs of the municipalities and the specific conditions that they operate in. More emphasis should be put on the investments that are part of bigger sustainable energy strategies, as well as on implementation of BATs and innovative solutions.
Measures to increase the energy efficiency of public buildings included in the ROP and addressed thanks to REBUS covers:
• Improving the thermal insulation of the building envelope (exterior walls, windows, carpentry, higher floor, floor above the basement), scaffold, or shells, including measures to strengthen the building;
• rehabilitation and modernization of facilities for the preparation and transport of heat, hot water and ventilation and air conditioning systems, including passive cooling systems and related equipment purchase and installation and connection to central heating systems, as appropriate;
• use of renewable energy to provide the necessary heat for heating and hot water preparation;
• Energy management systems aimed at improving energy efficiency and energy consumption monitoring (ex. The purchase and installation of intelligent systems for promoting and managing electricity);
• replacement of fluorescent and incandescent lighting fixtures with energy efficient and long life; any other activities that lead to fulfilling the objectives of the project (replacing elevators and electrical circuits - stairways, basement, works mounted installations and equipment disassembly, repair work on the façade etc.);
• developing strategies for energy efficiency (eg. CO2 reduction strategies) with projects implemented under the ROP 2014-2020
Romania is lacking behind in reaching its targets and aims to reduce its final energy intensity by 41 % between 2007 and 2020.
The Region of Crete, Managing Authority of the ROP intends to address two key measures included in their programme:
The axis 2.4c of the ROP Crete has as a main target the energy renovation and the promotion of sustainable energy in the public buildings. Priority is given to those investments and interventions which are cost effective with low back period. The smart specialization (implementation and management) in sustainable energy for public buildings can be improved Beneficiaries will be the public sector and the regional, local (municipalities) administration. The total budget is 23,61 MEURO (including also private buildings)
The axis 2.4f of the ROP Crete supports pilot projects and innovative solutions also for the public buildings through cooperation of enterprises and providers of knowledge and technology.
Potential beneficiaries are also the public-regional-municipal building sector (among others). Total budget 2 MEURO
These axis represent a priority for the Region of Crete. Even if some data are available, civil servants lack capacity to use them in an effective way. Furthermore, there is the need for a clear strategy for accomplishment of the national and EU energy saving directive obligations.
Durham County Council identified the problem of energy efficiency renovation in public buildings as a key need of the local territory. Experiences exist but they are not included in an renovation system that pools together resources and helps to achieve better energy performance.
To this end, and being a relevant organisation for the ERDF programme, they will address the North East Local Enterprise Partnership European Structural and Investment Strategy 2014-2020 as follows:
• Thematic Objective: Supporting the shift towards a low carbon economy in all sectors.
• Activity: Built Environment and Business Energy Efficiency
• Actions: To demonstrate practical implementation to approaches to improve sustainability and reduce energy use in public buildings.
• Investment Priority 4c: Supporting energy efficiency, smart energy management and renewable energy use in public infrastructure, including in public buildings and in the housing sector.
Particularly:
-Specific Objective 4.2 – Increase energy efficiency in homes and public buildings, including through the implementation of low carbon technologies.
- Action – Provision of advice and support to increase the use and take-up of low carbon technologies, energy efficiency measures and low carbon technologies
Investing in building retrofit, energy efficiency measures, renewable and smart energy systems deployment, especially whole building or place solutions exemplifying next phase technologies which are near to market.
Interregional exchange and learning activities are at the heart of an Interreg Europe project such as REBUS. Read what partners have learned below
ARRR organised three Bilateral Exchange, with PNEC (12/04/2022) - City of Malmo (28/04/2022) - Durham County Council (03/05/2022).
Eight partners have worked for five years to improve the capacity of public authorities to undertake efficient renovation works of their public building stock.
The REBUS Final Event, held virtually rather than in Tuscany in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, took place on Tuesday, 10th of November as a recorded webinar.
Eight partners have worked for five years to improve the capacity of public authorities to undertake efficient renovation works of their public building stock.
3-Layer Module for Behavioural Change and Action in Greve
On 20th of May, Durham County Council held a virtual REBUS Local Stakeholder Group to communicate project updates and relevant news
On the 10th of June, REBUS partners held an online partner meeting to discuss project management and the closure of the Interreg Europe project.
The REBUS Project held this event aimed at stimulating virtuous behaviour by users of public buildings.
Durham County Council is preparing a detailed response plan for July 2019 after declaring a climate emergency on 20th February 2019.