Feedback Report

Feedback report

Peer advice Gijón, Spain Energy efficiency in building and districts

Report produced by CASCADE

Author: Gijón

Version:1

CASCADE is an EU-funded project led by EUROCITIES which aims to design and deliver large-scale networking and mutual learning actions on local energy leadership among EUROCITIES members. The CASCADE consortium is composed of: EUROCITIES, Wuppertal Institut, Koucky & Partners and the following cities: Amaroussion, Amsterdam, Birmingham, Burgas, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Gateshead, Genoa, Gijon, Malmo, Mannheim, Milan, Nantes, Stockholm, Sunderland, Tampere, Terrassa, Venice and Warsaw.

The CASCADE project is co-financed by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme. The sole responsibility for the content of this report lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EACI nor the European Commission is responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

CASCADE Feedback report – Peer advice in Gijón, Spain April 2014

CONTENTS

1. Introduction ...... 4

2. Participants ...... 4

3. The advice-giving ...... 5

4. Evaluation of the visits ...... 7

5. Conclusions ...... 7

Annexes ...... 8

CASCADE Feedback report – Peer advice in Gijón, Spain April 2014

1. Introduction

Within the framework of the CASCADE project, Gijon organized two peer advice visits with the municipality Langreo. The two visits were held on 3rd November 2013 and 26th February 2014.

During the first visit, there was a presentation by the Head of Environment Department in Gijon. Also, energy efficiency actions in the Municipal Housing Company were presented, as well as the principles of the PAES. During the second visit, the focus lay on the measures taken by the Gijón City Council when it comes to outdoor lighting.

Langreo was involved mainly because of its implication and interest on the subjects addressed in the CASCADE project. Particularly in the involvement of Enernalón, a not-for-profit foundation, whose activity is focused on energy efficiency, renewable sources of energy and climate change.

The first contact was made through Marta Vírseda, an Enernalón technician, who has collaborated previously with Gijon in formative training.

2. Participants

First visit Second visit CASCADE city Gijón Carmen Aguado, Head of Adela Garrido, Technician of environment department. the Department of Promotion and Entrepreneurial Enrique Rodríguez Martín, Head Development, Municipal Center of European and International of Enterprises (Gijón City Affairs. Council). Technician of CASCADE project. Miguel Ángel Mejido, Head of Heritage Management Unit of Raúl Losa Estrada, Grant holder Gijón City Company (Gijón City at the Department of Council). Promotion and Entrepreneurial Development, Municipal Center Adela Garrido, Technician of of Enterprises (Gijón City the Department of Promotion Council). and Entrepreneurial Development, Municipal Center of Enterprises (Gijón City Council). Technician of Esther Feito. Responsible for CASCADE project. public lighting

Raúl Losa Estrada, Grant holder at the Department of Promotion and Entrepreneurial Development, Municipal Center of Enterprises (Gijón City

CASCADE Feedback report – Peer advice in Gijón, Spain April 2014

Council).

Peer to peer learning city First visit Second visit Langreo Marta Vírseda, Technician at Marta Vírseda, Technician at Enernalón Enernalón

Álvaro Díez Vega, Head of Álvaro Díez Vega, Head of Operational Services Operational Services

Vicente Fernández Fernández, Councillor for works

Ignacio García Matamoro, Municipal Architect Patricia Barahona, Grant holder José A. Llaneza, Grant holder Asunción Noval Rodríguez, Municipal biologist

3. The advice-giving

3.1. The peer advice city:

As of 2013, the municipality of Langreo has a population of 43 070 inhabitants. It has a total surface area of 82.46 km2. It is located in the central zone of the province (20 km away from Oviedo, the capital). Its highest altitude is at a height of 1021 meters above the sea level. It is organized into eight administrative divisions, with La Felguera and Sama being the most important districts.

Langreo is a pivotal place in the industrial activities in Asturias, highlighting the technological centre Valnalón.

Langreo is not a member of the Covenant of Mayors and the council has not developed a plan on sustainable urban mobility for the municipality. However, 13 years ago it created Enernalón, a non-profit foundation with which the council is closely linked. Nowadays, Langreo has almost 450 points of power supply.

During the first visit, the thematic areas of CASCADE were presented, and after serious consideration, the theme of energy efficiency in districts, particularly focused on public lighting,

CASCADE Feedback report – Peer advice in Gijón, Spain April 2014

was chosen for the peer advice.

3.2. First peer advice visit

The purpose of the visit was to encourage a peer-to-peer learning between the two municipalities in one of the crucial CASCADE areas. In this case, energy efficiency in building and districts was chosen.

The event started with Gijón presenting the project CASCADE and its tools and methodologies. Thereafter, the head of the Environment Department presented the Sustainable Energy Action Plan of the Gijon City Council. The last point of the agenda was the presentation of the project on energy efficiency in building and districts by Miguel Ángel Mejido, Head of Heritage Management Unit of Gijon Housing Company.

As of now, Langreo are using some ideas coming from the visits. They were very impressed by the outdoor lighting actions taken by Gijón, and were very vocal about focusing collaboration in this particular matter.

When it comes to climate and energy policies discussed, it was particularly the possibility of developing a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. This is unlikely at this point, though. Also discussed was Gijón’s work on public housing, specifically in facades and low energy electrical systems.

The key problems identified were budgetary constraints, and lack of personal to develop necessary actions.

The recommendations given during this first visit were: - Replacement of the street lamps with more efficient ones. - Revision of each supply point - Control of electricity consumption

Due to the fact that it was the first peer advice visit, understood as a first contact, each area of the CASCADE benchmark was presented to Langreo. That helped decide which their areas of activity during the time between the two peer advice visits. The benchmark was really useful to mark a pattern of assessment, and facilitated the set-up of the visit.

3.3 Second peer advice visit

Since January, Langreo have been implementing several actions related to public lighting. Langreo council is developing a 5 year link of strategy actions. Public lighting is a very measurable issue, and Langreo checks the progression in comparison with the results of previous years, using quantitative criteria, such as number of power supply points or number of kilowatt hours consumed.

The next step for Langreo will be the revision and probable replacement of the electrical switchboards. They are still discussing this matter, since technicians wants to change the lighting for switchboards, while the politicians prefer to do it by streets. As of now, they are discussing

CASCADE Feedback report – Peer advice in Gijón, Spain April 2014

also the possibility of reducing power only in specific segments, even if this is a very complicated matter, due to the different charge scales.

The CASCADE benchmark/toolkit was really helpful when organizing the schedule of actions planned.

4. Evaluation of the visits

The visits have been productive for both cities, particularly the second one. In the last reunion, Langreo staff was really specific about its learning needs so during the entire meeting there was a focus on public lighting (recommendations, feedback, hinders and possible solutions).

5. Conclusions

Both cities will continue their collaboration, since Langreo is eager to develop the actions planned in their long-term strategy.

CASCADE Feedback report – Peer advice in Gijón, Spain April 2014

Annexes

1. Signed list of participants

CASCADE Feedback report – Peer advice in Gijón, Spain April 2014

2. Action plan

PLAN DE ACCIÓN Medidas a adoptar tras la primera visita de aprendizaje entre iguales

El Ayuntamiento de Langreo, va a centrar la mayor parte de sus actuaciones en el alumbrado público, puesto que Langreo cuenta con 434 puntos de suministros. Entre las diferentes actuaciones que se van a realizar están:

- Inventario de todos los puntos de suministro eléctrico por cuadro de mando, conociendo el emplazamiento exacto y las instalaciones que abarca - Revisión de todas las potencias contratadas de todos los puntos de suministro - Bajada de potencia en los puntos que se considere necesario - Revisión de los consumos en cada período - Actuaciones sustituyendo las lámparas existentes por otras más eficientes

Calendario previsto

- El inventario de las instalaciones se lleva realizando desde principios de año y se estima una duración de 5 meses. - Revisión de las potencias, consumos: meses de junio y julio. - Actuaciones en las lámparas durante el último cuatrimestre del año.