Municipality of Brindisi

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1. CONTEXT 1.1 National level

The Italian Government is committed in identifying and implementing policies focused on the achievement of the objectives set by the guidelines of the Europe 2020 strategy, since the beginning. Through the transposition of EU directives, the procedures for implementation of rules on energy efficiency and consumption reduction were initiated, from the national legislation, to the local level, with a particular eye to the "green economy", fundamental meeting point between sustainable development and the needs of the free market.

Among these new rules, we could underline: Decree n° 115/2008, transposition of EU 2006/32/CE directive, about the efficiency of the final uses of the energy and the energy services, involving any local level, from Regions to municipalities; Presidential Decree n° 59/09, il Gouvernment Decree 26.06.2009 and the National Guidelines for Energy Certification of Buildings to make operative the Decree n° 192/2005, which is the transposition of the EU 2002/91/CE about the energy efficiency in builging; Decree n° 28/2011, which is the transposition of EU directive 2009/28/CE; The Rotational Fundil created by the Financial Law 2007, which is supposed to funding renewablee, energy efficiency and the forestry management; National Action Plan for Renewables, which follows the EU directive 2009/28/CE.

Since 2007, the Gouvernement launched campaigns to support the energy renovation of the private housing stock, through certifications and tax deductions.

Europe 2020 Strategy: – New National Action Plan; – Covenant of Mayors; – New release of the “buildings directive”; – ESF for the renovation of buildings; – strengthening of the “white certificates”; – New financial tools: ELENA, European Local ENergy Assistance – Funding for 146 mil. euro to support energy efficiency.

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1.2 Local level

The Apulia Region has shown great sensitivity to the environmental issues with a special focus on energy issues; furthermore, the position and the natural morphology of Apulia has allowed the rapid and constant diffusion of solar panels and wind turbines for renewable energy production.

The results are considerable and the Puglia is on edge among the Italian region for production, accounting for 1/5 the national demand, according to data from 2010. There have been numerous measures in regional rules, for funding energy efficiency of public buildings and to support private investors. The city of Brindisi is committed since a long time to energy issues, due to the presence of 3 thermo electric implants, with 2 of them are working with coal. Even if politicians turned their attention to the environmental aspects of the production, they adopted measures for the energy efficiency of the public housing stock in local deprived areas.

2. ANALYSIS

2.1 Problems

Fuel Poverty

The European economic crisis, along with the side effects on investment and employment, has exacerbated the emergence of energy poverty, which has increased the vulnerability of the most exposed social groups, now in trouble for fuel costs.

A quantitative definition of fuel poverty has been given by the British institution charged to study the phenomenon and to suggest intervention strategies; it stated the critical level before the poverty is an energy expenditure more of 10% of disposable income.

The different climatic conditions in the country do not allow a consistent index for the definition of fuel poverty valid for each EU member state.

The weak social groups usually live in houses built when energy efficiency was a subject anti- economic and away from any design consideration.

In Brindisi, low income people is not enough aware about the risks of the fuel poverty.

Energy Behaviours

The current living conditions of many people can be improved through a new sensitivity to the building materials, to the building techniques, using renewable energy to provide the energy needs of housing stock.

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The retrofit of public housing stock could be complicated because of the fragmentation of property; it could be more incisive and decisive to inform residents about the technological advances in the field of renewable energy, through information campaigns to raise a new awareness towards a more correct and responsible use of energy.

Since the beginning, the Brindisi USLG meetings focused on people living in a neighborough built in the early ’60, trying to find out: how high is the level of information about energy issues; how much they know about the buildings they’re living in; which are the current energy behaviours; how much they know about their energy bills.

The analysis was very concerning and it worked to warn officers and stakeholders about the actual level of awareness of people.

Specific problem of the social housing

Public housing stock could have different problems from the private one, as for energy efficiency: - stock features (bad maintenance, low availability of data); - tenants with low income and high level of arrears; - lack of incentives (tax reductions of 55% for energy renovation usually denied); - lack of specific funding; - problem with the payback of investment just from rents. The dichotomy between who invest and who cover the investment by saving energy is increasing; Rents are not enough high; - average rent is 40 euro/month; - average money available for housing maintenance is 20 euro/month. This scenario makes hard to ask for funding from third parties; - need for guarantees of rent to be paid regularly; - need for deal with tenants Relations with the final users, their level of awareness and their will to cooperate is the key.

2.2 Causes

To find the right strategies, we should analyze the causes of the following problems: lack of alternative sources for energy production; need for a way of thinking the energy efficiency renovation with an eye to the management issues after the renovation; lack of integrated approach to the problem;

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bad energy behaviors of the tenants; low level of monitoring.

Main causes are: • high price of fuel; • low income of tenants (sometimes too low); • behavior change is something that is a long-standing problem; • energy bills and lack of coordination between energy providers.

Strategies could be: • identify easy-to-use and low-cost plans, as for example: - individual calculations of consumption could increase the responsibility of final users, “forcing” them to change behaviors; - change of behaviors itself could help to save consumption, up to 30%; - information campaigns to disseminate good practices; - pilot project to show how much is important to improve a sustainable way of building; - periodic upgrade for officers and institutions involved in social housing.

2.3 Consequences

The rise of the energy costs brings to increase the fuel poverty; furthermore, this leads to the very poor state of health and the built environment, basically for social housing, where low-income families will have to borrow to cover the costs of fees and energy for gas, electricity. The difficulty to challenge energy costs and to support the renovation of existing buildings contribute to the lack of perspective of urban renewal programs, programs that also aim to tackle the economic, social and environmental problems, in a coordinated and collaborative way with the private sector.

3. Local Action Plan goal

What.

3.1 Long term strategy.

The long-term strategy for the city of Brindisi is to improve the energy efficiency of its public housing stock. Members of the local ULSG subscribed a letter of intent with the I.A.C.P., the public SHO, which is a sort of commitment to achieve a reduction of CO2 emissions and they agreed to promote common actions, to implement activities and to share the experience that will increase the energy efficiency of public housing, through regional funding and the tool of “self-management”.

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The “self-management” was authorized by a decision of the National Committee for Economic Planning and it allows the final users to manage by themselves the budget for the ordinary maintenance and the heating. So, one of the main goal is the involvement of tenants, and people as well, in the process. That’s the reason why, Brindisi USLG focused on the participation of people, on a tool to inform people about energy issues. Some members of ULSG are representatives of tenants unions and they ask for more information, for more examples. The combination of new investments on public housing stock, following energy efficiency tips, and a new generation of tenants, well informed and aware of their role, could be the key of a successful experience.

3.2 Key issues

Main goal of Brindisi LAP is to fight the fuel poverty, starting with a new approach to the problems and to strengthen the relations between tenants, public SHO, public officers.

We basically would like to: 1. identify the weak social groups as our main target; 2. disseminate good practices to let tenants know how much they can save just changing energy behaviors.

1. to social housing tenants we should: - provide an efficient and user friendly information; - work for raising their own awareness about “self-management”; - work for raising their own level of knowledge about energy issues; - work for a new involvement of neighborough, starting from schools, churchs, local associations.

2. to let people change behaviors we should: - inform them about energy issues, in general; - convince them they can play an active role in the process; - teach them how to read an energy bill and which information are actually important; - provide them tips to save energy; - show them how to monitor consumptions in a long term period. When.

The plan could last up to 3 years. The stakeholders have been identified and the new city council1 is working on the next steps, using the CASH experience. In the meanwhile, USLG had several

1 Citizens of Brindisi elected a new council in may 2012. The former Mayor resigned in july of 2011.

______meeting to focus on the problems, to talk with tenants and to look for new partners.

How.

LAP should integrate the contribution of the members; from the public SHO, I.A.C.P., as for Istituto Autonomo Case Popolari, to the regional institution involved, O.R.C.A., as for Osservatorio Regionale sulla Condizione abitativa, to the tenants unions. Workshops, labs are required to work together on an information campaign meant for the tenants, and on the new tools available for politicians to implement energy efficiency at any level.

4. Strategic axes

Fuel poverty: main targets.

Objective: To identify the deprived areas and the social groups more exposed to fuel poverty.

Proposed actions: 1. A survey of the incomes and the rents, according to I.A.C.P. and Housing Policies office of the municipality of Brindisi; 2. A screening on the level of energy efficiency of the buldings involved.

Energy behaviors: need for a change.

Objective: The main goal is the dissemination of a basic knowledge for an ethical and aware use of energy in social housing, in order to reduce consumption, pollution and to improve the control on the energy bills. The citizen who, through a good experience, reaches a level of greater awareness on environmental issues, on energy efficiency and on control of consumption, could be an expert himself and could involve other citizens.

Proposed actions: 1. In the fall of 2009, O.R.C.A. (Osservatorio Regionale sulla Condizione Abitativa) ran an interesting experience, together with the I.A.C.P. (Istituto Autonomo Case Popolari) of Bari and the local tenants union SUNIA (Sindacato Unitario Nazionali Inquilini e Assegnatari), using the light and funny formula of competition.

The experiment, which aimed at raising awareness among families about the concept of energy saving, focused on the daily habits related to energy consumption, with the help of a handbook of good practices, supposed to suggest families a new use of domestic energy. The results went beyond expectations. Among 77 families participating in the project, 67 have achieved the goal of saving energy.

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Although the period of competition coincided with the daylight saving time (less daylight hours and more consumption not avoidable), the average energy savings amounted to 40 to 50%, while 10 families have exceeded the threshold of 50% of saving.

- Environmental achievements

After 1 month of experience, levels of energy savings were: • 10 families exceeded 50%; • 24 families reached 40 – 50%; • 18 families reached 30 – 40%; • 13 families reached savings above 30%; • 10 families do not save energy.

- Economic achievements

Considering the average cost of 20 euro/cents. for Kwh, in one month of experience, we have: • 11 families saved more than 20 euros; • 37 families saved from 10 to 20 euros; • 19 families saved less than 10 euros.

- Social achievements The 87% of involved families discovered a better use of domestic energy, learning about energy savings and renewables.

The formula of the competition, successfully adopted in the first program held in Bari, means to engage participants and make them active in the trial. Once the competition is over, there will be a screening of the consumptions and “winners” could be awarded with some prizes offered by a private sponsor (probably a retail chain of home appliances), low consumption bulbs.

2. There is a further goal to reach and it could hopefully lead to the installation on the flat roof of the "winner" building of solar panels for electricity production that can feed at least the common areas of the building, stairs and elevators. The idea is fascinating and for sure it could highlight the outcome of the project; it is currently being examined for the implications given by the surface rights and the legal framework of the property. 3. One more action could lead to a pilot project to experience with an ESCO company, after the tenants information program.

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Regional level coordinating

Objective: To ensure that good practices are available at any level and they could be transmittable in our region, Apulia, to attract new investors.

Proposed actions: 1. Improve the networking and increase the partnerships between public and private sector; 2. To ensure the presence of the same key players in each network focusing on energy efficiency.

Monitoring

Objective: The process, as a whole, and the results should be checked and evaluated to achieve a format, a standard to use as a meter for next ones to come. They could be the new good practices to follow and that’s why they should be uniform.

Proposed actions: 1. definition of a tool to monitor the process; 2. independent validation.

5. ULSG INVOLVED 5.1 Who.

Members of USLG are:

Regione Puglia As mentioned, during last years, Regione Puglia shows itself very sensitive to environmental topics and it’s a kind of avant-garde about energy issues. www.regione.puglia.it

IACP (Istituto Autonomo Case Popolari) Founded in Brindisi in 1937, now manages, 6.000 social housing units among the city and the surroundings. www.iacpbrindisi.it

ORCA (Osservatorio Regionale Condizione Abitativa) It’s a regional institution that is supposed to analize housing issues to help public decision makers, from a regional to a local level. orca.regione.puglia.it

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ARPA (Agenzia Regionale Protezione Ambiente) It’s a regional institution with the mission to care and prevent environmental issues. www.arpa.puglia.it

ENEL First energy supplier in Italy, even since the energy market is open to others companies. www.enel.it

CETMA (Centro di Progettazione, Design e Tecnologie dei Materiali) The Cetma is an non-profit operating consortium for R&D, that offers innovation, products and processes development, planning, simulation and characterization services for materials and components. www.cetma.it

ANCE (Associazione Nazionale Costruttori Edili) ANCE is the National Association of private construction contractors, active in public works, residential and industrial building. It represents 20 Regional organizations, 102 provincial associations and 20.000 building companies of any specialization and dimension. www.ance.it

Tenants unions Unione Generale del Lavoro, Settore casa Unione Inquilini Unione Italiana del Lavoro, Unione Nazionale Inquilini Ambiente Territorio

University of Pescara Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Geologia

5.2 Why.

Public officers of Brindisi and private players could be a good mix to have all the perspectives of the problems.

Local USLG coordinator called for public and private sectors to be part of the working group and the attendance was very stimulating and inspiring.

Members agree to follow up the experience, beyond CASH network.

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6. WORK PLAN OF THE INFORMATION CAMPAIGN step title activities first contact with the families to explain the project, Introducing the project the goals and the activities; print of leaflets to disseminate; meetings to talk about the energy and the possibility to save money with new behaviors; definition of a short “10 golden rules to save energy” handbook; sharing of experiences;

Phase 1 Phase analysis of bills together with consultants; strategy of communication using social networks, blogs, newsletter, viral campaign; press conference with authorities and involved players.

The experience kick off meeting with the distribution of “energy

saving pack”, containing self-analysis sheets and the “10 golden rules to save energy” handbook; schedule of meeting while the competition is running to support families with tips and suggestions, together with experts and consultants; Phase 2 Phase reading consumption meters and collecting data to analyze.

Monitoring strategy validation of data; ranking of the winner families; final conference with all the families for a feedback and discussion about points of weakness and points of strength of the experience; Phase 3 Phase party with families, press and authorities for awards. First outputs

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Strategy for a long term to follow up the experience, families, Municipality result and I.A.C.P. should talk about a common commitment which could involve all the players

toward a new “policy for energy saving”, built on the

participation of communities;

For example: families could change their own

Phase 4 Phase behaviors; Municipality and I.A.C.P. could work to provide solar panels on the roofs to produce enough power to light common spaces.

6.2 Stakeholders analysis

The stakeholders analysis was the first step of the USLG. Local coordinators found it is a well-balanced working group, with private, CETMA, ENEL, ANCE, and public actors, IASCP, ORCA, ARPA. Tenants representatives were always present and very inspiring. They were charged to make people confident about the project, showing the good results achieved with the previous experience in Bari. ANCE, the private association of building contractors, was very concerned and his role could be one of the most strategic for the future of the USLG. ENEL attended the early meeting and it was supposed to provide consumptions data, according to a historical profile. IACP owns and manages the public housing stock in Brindisi and, even if it’s coming from a very hard financial situation, soon it’s going to support an important energy efficiency renovation on a block of a deprived area in Brindisi, the “Paradiso” district.

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7. PRIORITY ACTIONS / PILOT OPERATIONS

The first action should be the information campaing to disseminate tips for energy savings, along with a general information to improve the knowledge about renewables and building renovation.

A pilot operation is going to be implemented in Brindisi, in the same district “Paradiso”, and it is already funded with national funding for a total amount of 5 mil. euros.

An important amount of 400.000 euros should be spent on energy efficiency of a block, owned by the municipality.

8. POLITICAL COMMITMENT

The new council is working since few months and the Mayor of Brindisi, mr. Consales, feels the environmental issues and the fuel poverty risks as well.

The commitment at regional level is very active.

9. REFERENCES

MUNICIPALITY OF BRINDISI

Name Francesco Cannalire Institution Municipality of Brindisi Position Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Position Deputy Mayor for International Cooperation Address Palazzo Guerrieri mail francesco.cannalire@comune.brindisi.it MUNICIPALITY OF BRINDISI

Name Arch. Valerio costantino Institution Municipality of Brindisi Position Officer for Housing Policies Address Piazza Matteotti, 1 Phone +39.392.0026516 mail [email protected]

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OSSERVATORIO REGIONALE CONDIZIONE ABITATIVA / O.R.C.A.

Name Arch. Maritè Cuonzo Institution ORCA / Osservatorio Regionale sulla Condizione Abitativa Position Director Position Via delle Magnolie, 8 / Z.I. Modugno (BA) mail [email protected] Istituto Autonomo Case Popolari / I.A.C.P.

Name Arch. Gianluca Tucci Institution Istituto Autonomo Case Popolari / Brindisi Position Officer mail [email protected] UNIVERSITY OF PESCARA

Name Arch. Beniamino Attoma Pepe Institution University of Pescara / USLG coordinator Position Consultant Address Via De Giosa, 46 / 72015 Fasano di Brindisi (BR) / Italy Phone +39.335.6693391 mail [email protected]