FP5 PROJECTS - JPods

4.1.1 Improving urban governance and decision making
4.1.1 Improving urban governance and rational resource management
COMMUNAL LABELS (Development of instruments for Labelling, Benchmarking and
TQM for (Energy-) efficient communities)
Project Reference: EVK4-CT-1999-00007 Start Date: 01-01-2000
Contract Type: Cost-sharing contracts End Date: 31-12- 2001
Project URL: http://www.communal-labels.de Duration: 24 months
Problems to be solved
The liberalisation of energy markets, the introduction of eco-taxes in various EU Member States and the
urgency for comprehensive administrative reform presents communities with enormous challenges and
opportunities to develop innovative and sustainable long-term energy policies. Thinking globally but acting
locally by improving the energy efficiency of communities is a decisive criteria for reducing environmental
pressure, whilst at the same time improving local economic performance. However, although many
communities have already endeavoured to achieve higher energy efficiency, they often lack the suitable
instruments and indicators for the comparable assessment of measures and the establishment of
continuously improved energy policy. Small communities under 10,000 inhabitants, on the basis of their
special situation (lack of know-how and lack of financial and personnel resources), need a special set of
instruments. This project seeks to overcome these problems through assessing the barriers and
instrument deficits to introducing innovative energy instruments in communities.
Scientific objectives and approach
Several regions within Germany, Austria and Switzerland have already come up with different
approaches for improving energy efficiency in communities and in developing energy concepts. This
project's aim is the introduction of new energy-related structures in public administration as well as new
participatory models in energy policy, communal processes and administrative behaviour integrated in a
quality management system for energy-related tasks and processes in communities. This will lead to the
development of a differentiated certification system that allows communities the opportunity for selfassessment
and benchmarking. A pilot test phase of the certification system in twelve communities in four
countries will show the potential of improvement and advance the implementation of energy-efficient
measures. Polish communities will provide a test-bed for the methodology in Central and Eastern Europe.
For smaller communities, special instruments will be established for their specific needs. The gathered
experiences will lead to the instrument "tool-kit" for the implementation of energy efficiency measures on
a communal level, exemplary participatory processes for the inclusion of citizen and interest groups
tested, and special measures for small communities with under 10,000 inhabitants delivered. Finally, the
current status of research and practice EU-wide will be evaluated and advanced. Experiences will be
exchanged and a transfer of know-how will take place during a series of workshops. The most manifest
sign of sustainable local energy policies is the development of an EU-wide labelling and certification
system documenting exemplary energy efficiency in communities. The label will in turn contribute to the
economy and employment in these energy efficient communities.
Expected impacts
The project will lead to the creation of instruments that potentially can be used across the EU, as well as
to countries of Central and Eastern Europe, to judge the energy efficiency of towns and communities and
establish a quality management system for continuous energy work. These instruments build on the
experience already existing within the countries examined in terms of local or communal energy concepts
and develop an optimisation and evaluation system operating against the backdrop of changing energy
policy conditions.