Retrofitting districts with sustainable energy systems can be a success if enough data is available to analyse the suitability of each chosen energy-saving solution
By relying on district heating combined with heat and power production, municipalities in Sweden power their cities from renewable energy sources.
A residential energy-saving retrofitting program adopts strategies to convince local inhabitants of its benefits.
Involving all the players in a comprehensive retrofitting project from the start, an approach known as Integrated Project Delivery, could be the key to its success
Citizens living in near-zero energy districts will make significant savings and benefit from an increased comfort in their homes
Zero-energy districts are the only possible future for European cities, as costs associated with palliating the effects of climate change soar, but there are many challenges ahead
Solutions to halving energy consumption, costs and greenhouse emissions in cities may be on the horizon, as long as partners find suitable ways to cooperate
Renovations of entire districts, designed to reach near zero energy consumption, need to be replicable if they are to be widely adopted
Three cases studies will constitute the basis for developing an easily replicable strategy for renovating districts so that they reach near zero energy consumption
Thanks to innovative techniques and a more ecological lifestyle, the municipality of Växjö, in Sweden, could be on its way to become the first fossil fuel free city in the world
Households and cars currently contribute to more than 50% of all energy consumption in the EU. Innovative energy-efficient architecture can help to bring this percentage down