City Profile Bydgoszcz City Profile Bydgoszcz Introduction Bydgoszcz is a city located in northern Poland, on the Brda and Vistula rivers and is home to a population of 363,020 (2011). It is the largest city in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kujawy and Pomerania) region and the eighth largest city in Poland. The Voivode’s office and majority of central government authorities are situated in Bydgoszcz. The city is located at one of the biggest railroad junctions in Poland, where two important lines cross (the east-west and the north-south lines). The major economic activities of Bydgoszcz include trade, construction, transport and storage industries. In 2004, Bydgoszcz opened an industrial and technological park over an area of 283 hectares, an attractive place for business. The city of Bydgoszcz started its work on climate protection issues in 2009 as a result of involvement in the international LAKS project (Local Accountability for Kyoto Goals), implemented within the LIFE+ programme. The aim of the project was to increase the awareness and responsibility of local authorities, businesses and citizens for actions to mitigate climate change and to implement the commitments of the Kyoto Protocol. In order to find out the sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a respective inventory for 2005-2009 was carried out. The city then established a climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plan (MAP) that was approved by the City Council’s resolution in 2010. The plan set out an emission reduction target of 18.7% by 2020. In November 2011, the city joined the Covenant of Mayors. In 2012, the city of Bydgoszcz carried out the control GHG emission inventory for 2011. The carbon footprint per capita was 7.21 tonnes CO2 in the base year 2005, increased to 8.39 tonnes CO2 per capita in 2009, and dropped to 8.14 tonnes in 2011. Moreover, the City has updated its Mitigation and Adaptation Plan and created and adopted a Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP). The emission reduction target has been changed to 21.7% by 2020. The municipal utilities and Environmental Protection Department of the municipality of Bydgoszcz was responsible for the development and implementation of a climate protection policy until 2012. The Development and Strategy Department was responsible for planning the heat, energy and gaseous fuels supply for the city of Bydgoszcz. In October 2012, the role of energy manager was established in the municipality, who reports to the deputy mayor. At present, the energy manager is responsible for coordinating the implementation of climate protection policy as well as energy management within the municipal units and the city itself. The city was a partner of an international project called 3x20net: a European approach towards reducing CO2 emissions through awareness raising measures (2010-2012), co-financed by the Europe for Citizens Programme. The focus of the project was on climate change and energy- saving issues by educating the representatives of the municipality and its citizens about following good practices of project partners in relation to reducing CO2 emissions and increasing energy efficiency. March 2013 1 City Profile Bydgoszcz The city of Bydgoszcz is also engaged (but not as a partner) in the DOKLIP project (A Good Climate for Counties), coordinated by the Institute for Sustainable Development in Warsaw and supported by the LIFE+ programme. The main goal of the project is to raise awareness about climate change among leaders at a county level and stimulate initiatives in support of practical local measures to protect the climate and adapt to any changes. The city of Bydgoszcz hosted the first climate debate (03-10-2012) organised as part of the project, where representatives of different sectors discussed measures that should be taken into consideration to combat climate change and create a local programme for sustainable energy. Energy-Efficient Buildings and Districts The city of Bydgoszcz is renovating public buildings one after the other. To reduce energy consumption in public buildings, the city is not only carrying out public building renovation work but also gradually replacing office equipment, air conditioners, water heaters, household equipment and lighting with more energy-efficient equipment. The city intends to introduce power and heat consumption monitoring for public buildings. The responsibilities of the energy manager in the field of complex energy management for public buildings also include energy audits, training and information. Within the framework of the Air Protection Programme, the city has also implemented measures since 2006 in order to reduce PM10 levels by co- financing (by way of an incentive) the replacement of old, coal-burning furnaces with ecological heating systems in private buildings. In order to increase awareness on the topic of energy-efficient buildings, the city plans to cooperate with residents and different stakeholders and carry out educational campaigns and training, as well maintain a website on the subject. Some activities are currently being carried out in this area (workshops, meetings, conferences). While implementing the measures, the city has to deal with many challenges. One challenge is to convince local authorities that low-energy buildings are reducing energy costs in the long term. Establishing and improving communication with residents is also difficult to achieve as it means creating alliances with different sectors and banks to develop incentives and low interest loans. The city of Bydgoszcz is one of the partners in the CEC5 international project (entitled ‘Demonstration of Energy Efficiency and Utilisation of Renewable Energy Sources through Public Buildings’), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the framework of the CENTRAL EUROPE programme (October 2012-September 2014). To demonstrate energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources (RES) in the public and private sector, Bydgoszcz plans to construct a passive March 2013 2 City Profile Bydgoszcz building and incorporate RES. The building will be used by students of the Mechanical School Complex (where it will be located) as an ‘RES living laboratory’ that will be open to the public in order to share good practices, information on technology and products used. The city of Bydgoszcz participated in a competition called ‘Polish Energy Trophy’ organised by the Polish National Energy Conservation Agency in the framework of the informational and promotional campaign entitled ‘Energy- saving Office’. The goal of the contest was to implement measures not related to investments to achieve energy savings and also to promote energy-saving behaviour among municipal staff. Measures adopted, such as training municipal employees working in the assessed building, presenting an eco-behaviour catalogue to all municipal employees and replacing bulbs with energy-saving ones, allowed the city to achieve energy savings of 15% in the assessed period. Due to this result, the city of Bydgoszcz was awarded second place in the competition in the category of energy saving (2013). Moreover, the city of Bydgoszcz participates (but not as a partner) in the project ‘A garden over your head – Swiss green roofs and living walls as a model and inspiration for innovative activities of Polish self-governments in the field of energy conservation and climate protection’, coordinated by the Energie Cites Association of the Polish municipalities network, supported by a grant from Switzerland through Swiss contributions to the European Union. The aim of the project is to transfer Swiss know-how to Polish municipalities with a view to improving the energy efficiency of buildings through setting up gardens on roofs and walls as part of a local sustainable energy strategy. Examples of co-financed investments: The city of Bydgoszcz is implementing projects co-financed by the ERDF under the Regional Operational Programme (ROP), such as the thermo- modernisation of buildings, i.e.: - The project: Construction of the examination centre together with the land development, thermo-modernisation and equipment of existing buildings of the Motor Vehicle Engineering School Complex at Powstańców Wielkopolskich in Bydgoszcz (2010-2013). The total financial contribution: PLN 7,255,036 including ERDF funding of PLN 2,691,739. - The project: Reconstruction with thermo-modernisation of the technical infrastructure in the two educational institutions (SP No. 10, ul. Śląska 7 Street and ZS No. 25 ul. Ks. A. Czartoryskiego 18 Street in Bydgoszcz, 2010-2013). March 2013 3 City Profile Bydgoszcz The total financial contribution: PLN 6,210,436 including ERDF funding of PLN 2,993,165. In addition, the city of Bydgoszcz is implementing a Local Revitalisation Programme for years 2007-2015. The programme includes external beneficiaries, letting them apply for ERDF funding within the Regional Operational Programme for such work as the thermo-modernisation of buildings. The co-financing from the ROP is 25-35% of the eligible costs. Examples of implemented projects are as follows: - The Housing Cooperative is implementing a project funded with PLN 2,846,264.54 for thermo-modernisation and other tasks. - The Diocese of Bydgoszcz finished renovating the building at ul. Grodzka 1; the EU co-financed 897,292.34 PLN. - The Diocese of Bydgoszcz finished reconstructing the building at ul. Grodzka 18, with PLN 335,327.48 being co-financed. - For one of the projects, the Jedność Workers' Housing Cooperative received funding in the amount of PLN 516,509.79 to carry out the thermal modernisation of buildings. This work will reduce energy demand by 30%. - Eltra Tenants’ Association will conduct a comprehensive renovation job of four multi-family buildings and renovate the playground and path. Co-financing will amount to PLN 546,608.15. The aim of the investment is to reduce energy consumption, GHG emissions and improve the technical condition of public facilities. Renewable Energy Sources and Distributed Generation The city of Bydgoszcz plans to implement measures related to renewable energy sources. MAP and SEAP point to the construction of a small hydropower station. Moreover, the city is considering installing small-scale photovoltaic systems (e.g.