POCACITO - Europe

Green-Roof programme

clf — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 08:51:04 +0000

In 2008 Copenhagen Municipality implemented a Green-Roof policy programme to tackle challenges such as impacts of climate change, increasing density and the need for healthier neighbourhoods. Green roofs are unique combinations of technical installations and ecosystems enabling cities to benefit from green areas without reducing development sites. Green roofs cool cities, enhance biodiversity and reduce rainwater run-off. They also beautify grey and anonymous places. By involving local communities in implementation, green roofs may become communication platforms for residents of all ages and origins. By 2010, Copenhagen Municipality has integrated the establishment of green roofs in most local plans, aiming to realize about 200,000 m² of green roofs in years to come. Green roofs are aimed to be realised at all scales of buildings; from cycle shelters, schools and mixed used buildings to underground garages.

Flash-Charging Electric Public Transport: TOSA Buses

clf — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:11:59 +0000

The TOSA (Trolleybus Optimisation Système Alimentation) bus planned to be running a full bus route in the city of Geneva takes only 15 seconds to charge during stationing time at a bus stop. In the time that it takes for passengers to get on and off the bus, a laser-guided arm sends 600 kW straight into onboard lightweight batteries with a brand-new flashing technology developed by engineers at ABB, a leading global technology company in power and automation. The charge allows for the propulsion until the next bus / next charging station. Since May 2013, the city is successfully running a pilot and plans to operate the full bus line by 2018.

Intelligent Waste Management System

clf — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 09:38:52 +0000

The smart waste management system implemented in the municipality of Cascais combines the use of underground waste containers with a technology of remote fill-level sensors. While underground waste containers reduce visual impacts and maximize the use of urban space, remote fill-level sensors installed in these containers enable to trigger and manage a smart collection when these are nearly full. The sensors read the level of waste in each bin and transmit the data to a central management platform, which then allows to determine when and how the collection vehicles should start their route. This management platform can be accessed remotely in any web browser. Installing underground waste containers and equipping them with remote fill-level sensors resulted in cost reductions for municipal waste services of Cascais, while simultaneouly improving the services.

De Bonne - Energy efficiency assessment in an eco-district

clf — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 10:34:31 +0000

The City of Grenoble is actively engaged in the implementation of sustainable development policies and practices. Grenoble took advantage of the realization of an innovative district scaled project finished in 2008, for implementing a monitoring programme which aimed at assessing the effective energy efficiency achieved in an every-day life situation. The De Bonne District in the City of Grenoble was the first urban eco-district in France. In terms of energy efficiency, the project not only anticipated eight years of national thermal legislation for new buildings, but it also was pioneering in terms of evaluating and tracking energy performance in the long term. Until then, most of the existing European eco-districts did not have any specific assessments of energy performances.

Climate smart Hyllie - green district project

clf — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 08:09:59 +0000

Hyllie is the largest development area in Malmö, and is planned to become the most climate smart district of the entire Öresund region, including 9,000 homes when completed. In this district, solutions will be tested that can act as role models and good examples for the rest of Malmö and for other cities. The energy supply will be 100% renewable or reused (energy from waste or waste water) by 2020, and the district is a major transportation hub with a train station and a “park and ride” garage for bikers. Other features include mandatory sorting of food waste, smart grids for energy consumption, urban gardening and environmentally certified buildings. The district shall help to achieve the energy strategy for Malmö, and be a dense, mixed and green showcase of sustainable city development.

Whitehill & Bordon regeneration project

clf — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 08:01:58 +0000

The regeneration of Whitehill & Bordon is meant to transform the area into a low carbon, green and sustainable city. The town is expected to grow from 6,000 homes to over 9,000 when fully built, and new jobs and a new city centre will be created. Inclusion processes have been used to develop a master plan for the area, including projects for renewable and efficient energy supply, transport solutions, nature conservation and new business and work opportunities.

Manchester: A Certain Future

clf — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 13:58:08 +0000

The pioneering shared plan to tackle climate change “Manchester: a Certain Future (MACF)” is an integrated plan that defines the main actions by which Manchester will tackle climate change until 2020. Initially launched in 2009 and updated in 2013, the four key points of MACF are:

Reduce the city’s carbon emissions by 41% by 2020 based on 2005 levels;
Develop a Low Carbon Culture Change so that ‘low carbon thinking’ is embedded into the lifestyles and operations of the city;
Prepare for and actively adapt to a rapidly changing climate; and
Develop an active transition to a low carbon economy.

The 2013 MACF documents the progress achieved since 2009, and ensures the consistency of its key aims with the “Greater Manchester Climate Change Strategy” published in 2011.

The MACF will be revised in 2016 through the “MACF 2016-20 Plan” which will include an active stakeholder engagement process for climate adaptation in Manchester until 2050, and ensure the continuity of the transformative action to shape a low carbon future.

MOBI.E - E-Mobility Network

clf — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 13:25:19 +0000

Driven by the growing dependence on oil for energy and by the huge environmental impact of the use of fossil fuels, Portugal is investing in new sustainable energy models for mobility that aim to improve quality of life in cities. This has led to the creation of the Electric Mobility Network, an integrated network linking various charging stations in Portugal, which enables electric vehicles to recharge, using a specific charging card.

The main objective of the project is to contribute to a more sustainable mobility model, thus among others also increasing the consumption of electric power produced from renewable energy sources by the electric mobility network. MOBI.E was implemented on a national scale through 25 municipalities that constituted a living lab (called “RENER”) and works as a pilot network supporting the introduction of electric vehicles in Portugal.

Sustainable living and green community

clf — Tue, 17 May 2016 14:18:44 +0000

The BedZED (Beddington Zero Energy Development) is the UK's first and largest carbon-neutral eco-community and is located in Sutton, a residential town 40 minutes southwest of London. It is the UK’s first large-scale, mixed use sustainable community with homes, office space, a college and community facilities. The BedZED design concept was driven by the desire to create a net-zero fossil energy development, one that will produce at least as much energy from renewable sources as it consumes. Only energy from renewable sources is used to meet the energy needs of BedZED; it is therefore a carbon neutral development, resulting in no-net addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. BedZED is designed to minimise its ecological impact, both in construction and operation processes and to help residents consume only their fair share of the earth’s resources. It exemplifies an innovative, zero-energy and sustainable housing approach on a multi-unit scale. It represents an inspiration for sustainable neighbourhood and low-carbon housing development in future urban contexts.

Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility

clf — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:32:11 +0000

The Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility represents the prototype smart building developed within the framework of the new energy-efficient construction program presented by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. The newly created program intends to test the latest construction and energy components on buildings in real-world conditions, and thus prepare recommendations for their on-going development and to further improve their economic viability. The high-tech prototype Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility is a compact and glazed two-storey house based on the newest energy standards, which generates its own energy for user consumption and vehicle charging. Based on “smart” housing principles by using the latest and efficient energy and material features, the Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility demonstrates the feasibility of synergies between “smart” housing and the use of electric vehicles.