space
Heating and cooling accounts for almost 80% of all energy used by households, which in turn, are responsible for 21% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. By rethinking heating and cooling systems at local level, municipalities can have a big impact on advancing towards EU’s decarbonisation targets. Planning and implementing a fossil-free heating and cooling system (such as renewable district heating and cooling) can have disruptive consequences for the community, but by involving citizens, one neighbourhood at the time, municipalities can progress faster, increase acceptance and fostering local and democratic ownership of the new system. Energy communities have proved instrumental to this process, but more knowledge and experience is needed to legitimise public-civic partnerships in this sector and make it easier for such projects to develop.
To discuss on this topic, on the 24th of October 2024, Energy Cities and Rescoop.eu have organised a webinar on how to involve citizens in heating and cooling.
After an introduction on the role of municipalities in implementing key EU legislation on heating and cooling planning, speakers presented success stories and tools to facilitate their involvement, as well as different ways and formats of cooperation, ranging from co-ownership of heating systems to hackathons on the topic.
space
Watch the recording or download the slides, which you can find on the Energy Cities’ website