project - enerea

ENERGLOBE NEWS2013 – 7th ISSUECONTENTSWorld News – Smart cities – The next big thing in energy?........................... 2World News – Mt. Vesuvius – Core of Sustainable Energy Strategy ............. 5Energy Agency – Regional Energy Agency, Sala - Slovakia ............................. 7Project – InvESCO project – SKC Consulting Ltd. ........................................... 9Project – Innovation Training IT Central Europe ......................................... 12Tip – 8 steps to an eco-friendly bathroom .................................................. 141

WORLD NEWSENERGLOBE NEWSSmart cities – The next big thing in energy?By Sarah Battaglia – Energy Curtailment Specialists, Inc.Published: February 21, 2013Cities around the world are working to get ahead, and one method gaining popularity is tobecome a smart city. Implementing smart grid technology is not enough anymore. Withearthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and nuclear meltdowns, cities are kicking their efforts intohigh gear in order to protect their residents and local businesses.According to a report from Pike Research, the number of people living in cities will grow from3.6 billion to 6.3 billion by 2050. With such a change, major cities must start developing waysto improve efficiency and profitability in all areas from energy consumption to transportation.The report also predicts that the smart city technology market will increase from $6.1 billionannually to $20.2 billion by 2020. These cities are currently developing ways to achieve higherenergy efficiency for buildings, detailed water monitoring systems, bettertransportation management, and stronger smart grids.“Over the last twelve months, the market has shifted away from beingshaped largely by technology suppliers and city developers,” statesEric Woods, Research Director for Pike Research. “Today, the marketis being driven by the enthusiasm of city leaders. Mayors and othercity executives have seized on the smart city concept as a rallyingpoint for the technological, commercial, and social innovationneeded to meet the challenges and opportunities facing theircommunities.”“major cities must startdeveloping ways toimprove efficiency andprofitability in all areasfrom energyconsumption totransportation”One city taking major steps in this program is San Diego. This city is focusing its efforts oneducating consumers on how to monitor their energy usage, assisting California in meeting itsrenewable energy goal of 33% by 2020, and automating theelectric grid with two-way communication.The Smart City San Diego initiative is in full swing at the SanDiego Zoo with the nation’s first Solar-to-EV project. The zooinstalled 90 kW solar canopies that are able to directly chargefive vehicles and store the power for future use with a 100 kWhenergy storage system. The amount of carbon dioxide saved bythis project is equivalent to supplying energy to 59 homes!Across the globe, Japan is also taking steps to make its citiessmarter. Research is taking place in Yokohama which focuses on demand response for large2

ENERGLOBE NEWSThe main six axes of smart citiesSmart peopleSmarteconomySmart mobilitySmartenvironmentSmart livingSmartgovernance4

WORLD NEWSENERGLOBE NEWSMt. Vesuvius – Core of Sustainable Energy StrategyNaples Plans to Tap Mt. Vesuvius as Core of Sustainable Energy Strategyby Tom SchuenemanPosted January 23, 2013Dominating vistas around Italy’s Bay of Naples, Mount Vesuvius erupted on August 24 in theyear 79 AD, a cataclysm that brought an end to the Roman cities of Pompeii,Herculaneum and Stabiae and its denizens, preserving their remains involcanic ash.The looming presence of Vesuvius is a stark reminder of thedestructive power of volcanoes for residents of Naples, as well asthe vulnerability of populations around the world who reside intheir presence. Today, however, the city of Naples is looking to tapinto and harness Vesuvius’ energy to improve lives, theenvironment and living conditions.“Today, however, thecity of Naples is lookingto tap into and harnessVesuvius’ energy toimprove lives, theenvironment and livingconditions”The largest volcano in Europe, Vesuvius is actually two volcanoes in one –the active Gran Como crater sits within that of inactive Mount Somma. Experts estimate that theenergy produced in the Campi Flegrei, or Phlegraen Fields, a 13 kilometer (km) (7.8 mile) widecaldera and geothermal field west of Naples, is equivalent to that of four large nuclear powerplants.Speaking at The Environment, Peace, Geothermal Energy, Development and Labour conferenceheld in Naples January 21, city officials announced a strategic sustainable development plan thatwould see the building of “a trigenerative pilot [geothermal heat and power] plant integratedwith other sources, which in this case will be solar thermodynamic energy and liquid biomass,such as recycled vegetable oils and algae,” according to a report from ANSAmed.Built with private funding, the pilot geothermal plant is slated to be the first of several smallscaleheat and power plants to be built throughout Naples, a sustainable economicdevelopment initiative that falls in line with theEuropean Initiative on Smart Cities programand Horizon 2020 Framework Programme forResearch and Innovation, Naples city councillorAntonio Luongo explained during theconference.Naples’ town council in August approved PAES,a strategic sustainable energy plan.“Geothermal energy is one of the sustainable5

ENERGY AGENCYENERGLOBE NEWSRegional Energy Agency, Sala – SLOVAKIARegional energy agency (REA) was established in 2000 in theregion, Slovakia.The main content of the initial period was energy consulting forthe population and energy audits for development of membersof the association. In further, work focused on energy raisingchildren.Projects and publications of REAProjectsPublications“Training Teachers”“Historical Park in Močenok““Day of Earth”“Clear Energy”“Reconstruction of heating in primaryschools”“Saving energy – a luxury or a necessity?"“Saving energy at the schools”"Environmental aid – Ekodomček (2004)approved by the Slovakian Ministry ofEducation“How to proceed with heating”“SAVE II”“INTERREG IVC” – Waste to Energy7

ENERGLOBE NEWSParticipating in International projectsEffCoBuildFrom 2006 to 2008, REA with common of the City Šaľa wasparticipated in a project Effcobuild co-financed by EuropeanUnion funds, which was aimed at exploiting the potential ofenergy saving in buildings. The project aims to overcomeexisting barriers to the use of the potential energy savings atthe municipal level. Achieving sustainable energy managementdoes not only involve renewable energy, but also reduceenergy consumption by improving energy efficiency.Interreg IVC - Waste to EnergyCurrently, the Agency on the initiative of members of theassociation to focus on projects supported by European funds(e.g. Interreg IVC) addressing the issue of waste and theirpotential use for energy (Waste to energy project) and othersimilar projects (reduction of CO2 emissions, renewable energyetc.). The agency continues to advise residents of the region'ssavings and energy savings.REA's role & missionRegional Energy Agency deals with activities related to rational use of energy, energy savingsand renewable energy sources. It puts great emphasis on the dissemination of energy issuesamong the public. The Agency’s consulting centre is open to the public every working day.Through an international schools project, which includes the organization of environmentaleducation and development of energy audits, REA is also focusing on school.The mission of the REA is not making Money, but to carry outawareness among citizens and provide them with free basicenergy advice.http://www.rea.sk/index/AddressPartizánska 20, Šaľa 927 01SlovenskoTelephone+421 317703646Fax+421 317712838E-mailrea@rea.sk8

ProjectENERGLOBE NEWSInvESCO project – SKC Consulting Ltd.Short description of SKC-Consulting Ltd.ActivitiesSKC-Consulting Ltd. began its operations in 2003. It became anaccredited institute for adult education in Hungary in 2008 andhas since been developing services for small and mediumenterprises.SKC-Consulting has been built by a strong team ofprofessionals and works closely together with universities andresearch institutes.The company has more than 10 offices that offer services such as corporate advisory andtraining; event planning; project management (focusing on, but not limited to EU funds);market-based financing possibilities; CEE-specific technology transfer (focusing on the energyindustry).SKC-Consulting devotes significant resources to developing new products, and providestechnology-related consulting services for its clients.Partnership of experts for successful projectsSKC-Consulting provides relevant professional background for enterprises, non-profitorganizations and public services and helpsthem realize their energy projects financed byEU or other forms of sponsoring.Company is proud of being a strategic partnerof Budapest University of Technology andEconomics, and other recognised specialists ofthe energy sector. They manage their projectswith the help of their professional support andexpertise, and are able to constantly improve bylearning from all of our previous successfulprojects.9

ENERGLOBE NEWSLong-term objectiveThe consortium partners tend to become an international cluster of SMEs to combine theirskills in order to establish an ESCO umbrella organization and later to cover the territory ofMember States. On the other hand the InvESCO facilitates the reduction of emissions.Benefits of InvESCOAs the main result, InvESCO enables the market players and penetrators with a betterunderstanding of ESCO market challenges and tackles the above identified barriers. It alsocontributes to the European ecological goals and narrows the gap between the Western andEastern parts of Europe, providing easier access to financing energy investments. SKC-ConsultingLtd. want to strengthen the collaboration among countries facing similar problems, namely theCEE countries.Contact:Lorand GardonyiProject managerEmail:lorand.gardonyi@skc.huSKC Consulting Ltd.1031 Budapest, HungaryMonostori út 10Tel: +36 1 240 4744www.skcholding.com11

PROJECTENERGLOBE NEWSInnovation Training IT Central EuropeIT Service Management –Best Practices in SMEsManaging today´s complexity of IT andbusiness simultaneously is atremendously hard job - in particular forsmall and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs).BASIC PROJECT INFORMATIONProject name: INNOTRAIN IT InnovationTraining IT Central EuropeProject website: www.innotrain-it.euCo-financing: European RegionalDevelopment Fund (ERDF)ERDF funding: 1 547 956, 89 EuroProject duration: April 2010 - March 2013SMEs often do not know how ITcontributes to their business and occupythemselves with basic IT functions, such as the maintenance of printers and servers. This wastesfinancial as well as human resources and limits the capacity for innovation of processes andproducts.IT Service Management shows SMEs how to get the best business performance supported by acost-efficient, measurable and reliable IT.Benefits and solution for SMEs by INNOTRAIN ITSMEs learn how to simplify their IT by usingthe innovative potential of ITSM by offering:a newly developed, simplified ITSMmethod tailored to the needs of smalland medium-sized enterprises,free of charge face-to-face trainingsqualifying at least 1,000 CEOs and CIOsacross Europe andan interactive online training platformBy participating in the trainings SMEs:will learn how to manage their IT efficientlyand effectively towards their business goals,become qualified to enhance theirinnovation potential according to the levelsof the INNOTRAIN IT Innovation Spiral andidentify how to ultimately reduce costs, setresources free and increase theirprofitability.12

ENERGLOBE NEWSSome facts and figures about INNOTRAIN ITSpecific method to support SMEsINNOTRAIN IT has developed a specific ITService Management method to support SMEsin optimizing their IT processes to free upresources for raising their innovation capacity.The method is trained in face-to-face trainingsand via an online platform. A transnationalnetwork on ITSM in SMEs is built to fostercooperation and Best Practice exchangebetween the Central Europe regions.The focus of INNOTRAIN IT is to transfer knowledge on ITSM, empowering SMEs to strengthenthe innovation potential of their businesses in Central Europe.The project consortium consists of twelve partners from six countries: Germany, Poland, CzechRepublic, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary.By combining professional expertise of researchers with experiences in business processes theconsortium will establish at least 800 innovation processes within companies in Central Europeand foster the transnational exchange of knowledge, tools and methods about ITSM.Regional contact:Christian FörsterMFG InnovationAgency for ICT andMedia13

Be eco-friendly at homeENERGLOBE NEWS8 steps to an eco-friendly bathroomMake your home much more healthSpring is the perfect time to detox your home and breathe alittle easier. Did you know that indoor air pollution can be fiveto 10 times higher than that of outdoor air pollution? Thefollowing 10 tips can help you to make your home much morehealth, as first step in your bathroom.8 tips how you can clean your bathroom1. RAISE THE CURTAINIf your shower curtain is made from PVC (Poly-Vinyl Chloride) it is time to toss it. PVC gives offvolatile organic compounds or VOCs. VOCs are air borne particles that are the building blocks ofsmog. Who wants that in their home? For a safer alternative try PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate).The ultimate green alternative is hemp, which naturally resists mildew and is biodegradable. Organiccotton and jute work well too.2. TOWEL DOWNBamboo is a sustainable resource but the process of taking bamboo fromplant to towel is a chemically-laden one, unless it is manufactured in aclosed loop system. It is suggested you stick to organic cotton. It is grownwithout the use of herbicides and pesticides. Again, like your showercurtain, hemp is the greenest option. Tip: look for natural fibres and avoidsynthetics like rayon and polyester.14

ENERGLOBE NEWS3. CLEAN UP YOUR ACTWe all have in our homes a chemical concoction of bleach, ammonia and disinfectant. Yes, they do agreat job of making our bathrooms smell clean and fresh, but they are also adding to indoor airpollution. Not good if you have allergies. When reading labels, stay away from fragrance, phosphates,phenols, bleach and ammonia. To go even greener you can make your own non-toxic cleaningsolution.To get that bathtub clean and shiny the natural way, combine 1/2 cup of baking soda and liquid soap,ensuring you use enough liquid to make a creamy mixture. Grab a sponge or micro fibre cloth and offyou go.When it comes to your shampoos, conditioners, creams, lotions and potions, less is more. Nearly allconventional beauty products contain a slew of really nasty chemicals, such as parabens, phthalates,sulphates and fragrance. Read the labels closely and avoid these ingredients where you can.15

ENERGLOBE NEWS4. DIRTY BUSINESSDirty businessThe most important thing you can do in your bathroom is to stop using virgin disposable tissuepaper products. For toilet paper, make sure it 100 per cent post-consumer recycled materials. Fortissues, use a hanky and for paper towels, use a microfibre cloth. It is reusable and washes reallywell.5. THE THRONEInstall a dual flush toilet and save water.6. THE RENOSpring is a great time to think aboutrenovating. For paint you will want to look forno or low VOCs.For renovation use carry recycled glass tiles,recycled paper moulding and recycled deniminsulation.For flooring, the greenest and cleanest optionis locally sourced and Forest StewardshipCouncil Certified (FSC) woods. FSC ensures thatthe wood comes from well-managed forests.The other option is linoleum, but you mustmake sure it is made from plant-basedmaterials like linseed oil, pine resin andpowdered cork. Linoleum lasts much longerthan vinyl (up to 40 years) and also hasantimicrobial qualities.16

ENERGLOBE NEWS7. BE A FAN!Installing an energy-efficient fan will pull moistair from the bathroom, helping to combatmould, a common allergen. You can also blastmould with a central window in your bathroom.Mould does not like direct sunlight.To fight mildew, dry your shower curtain,shower and tub.Get rid of air fresheners. Like all thoseconventional cleaners, air fresheners contain anarray of nasty chemicals that do not geteliminate the causes of bad smells but simplymask them. Combat it with fresh air instead.8. MATS OFF!Chose natural fibre bath mats, as most conventional ones have a PVC baking. Launder your mat once aweek to keep mould from growing.Source: http://www.thestar.com/life/homes/2011/05/19/8_steps_to_an_ecofriendly_bathroom.html17

ENERGLOBE NEWSENEREANonprofit Llc.4400 Nyíregyháza, Sóstói str.31/B, building ’A’., III/345.www.enerea.euImprint+3642/599-400,ext.: 2816info@enerea.euEdited by:- Valeria SzaboInternational Project Managervaleria.szabo@enerea.eu,- Emese Karoczkai+3642/999-635Gabor VamosiManaging Directorgabor.vamosi@enerea.eu18