84296 December 20th, 2013 1 1 The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views and position of the Executive Directors of the World Bank, the European Union, or Table of Contents the Government of Romania. Executive Summary /1 The TRACE diagnostic is part of work done under the Romania Regional Development Program – a Reimbursable Advisory Methodology /8 Service activity, undertaken by the World Bank at the request Background /10 of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public National Legislation Regarding Energy /10 Administration, with EU funding. The report was written by a Background Brașov /16 team comprised of Manuela Moț, Ranjan Bose, Sebastian Burduja, and Marcel Ionescu-Heroiu. Cristina Zirimis has Brașov Sector Analysis /21 provided logistical and administrative support throughout the Street Lighting /21 process. The team would like to thank the colleagues at the Municipal Buildings /23 Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration Power Sector /26 (particularly Ionuţ Trincă, Costel Jitaru, and Bogdan Ţigău), as Urban Transport /27 well as the colleagues in the Brașov City Hall and the Brașov District Heating /34 County Council, who supported the team throughout. The Water and Wastewater /38 team would also like to thank peer reviewers Stephen Solid Waste /42 Hammer, Feng Liu, Paula Restrepo, and Pedzi Makumbe, for the excellent feed-back provided. Energy Efficiency Recommendations /45 TRACE (Tool for Rapid Assessment of City Energy) was District Heating /46 developed by ESMAP (Energy Sector Management Assistance Urban Transport /49 Program), a unit of the World Bank, and is available for Municipal Buildings /56 download and free use at: http://esmap.org/TRACE. Street Lighting /57 Water/58 Annexes /61 2 1 Executive Summary The limitations of TRACE Why a study on energy efficiency? The fact that TRACE is simple and easy to implement, also means that The main impetus for this report (and for the reports prepared for the there are limitations with respect to the depth of analysis. For example, other six growth poles) is a request received from the Ministry of Regional the tool may identify District Heating as a priority sector in terms of Development and Public Administration. The request came within the potential energy savings, but it does not go into detail on the required context of on-going preparations for the 2014-2020 Programming Period, costs to complete district heating rehabilitation projects. Thus, even if the with Energy Efficiency being one the major themes of the Europe 2020 energy savings potential is assessed to be high, the costs may be even strategy, and a critical priority for all EU Member Countries. Within higher, and an investment in the sector may not be warranted. Similarly, Romania, local authorities that will want to access energy efficiency funds although TRACE specifically focuses on the service areas that fall within under the 2014-2020 Regional Operational Programme will need to first the purview of local authorities, the tool cannot factor in the institutional prepare energy efficiency strategies. The TRACE tool is specifically and legislative mechanisms that need to be in place to make a specific targeted at local authorities, and is a good instrument for drafting such energy efficiency recommendation possible. strategies. Boundaries of studied area What is TRACE? While this work focuses on the growth poles in Romania, the analysis was The Tool for Rapid Assessment of City Energy (TRACE) is a simple and limited to the boundary of the center city. The reasoning for this is quite practical tool for conducting rapid assessments of energy use in cities. The simple: it is prohibitively difficult to collect individual indicators for all the tool helps prioritize sectors with significant energy savings potential, and constituent localities of a metropolitan area. In most cases, this would identifies appropriate energy efficiency interventions across six sectors — have required in-depth discussion with over 20 localities, ensuring that all transport, municipal buildings, water and waste water, public lighting, these localities had the required indicators for a particular service area, solid waste, and power and heat. It is a simple, low-cost, user-friendly, and and ensuring that they used the same methodology for the calculation of practical tool that can be applied in any socioeconomic setting. these indicators. Nonetheless, the sector analysis and recommendations took the metropolitan scale into consideration, and the section on sound The advantages of TRACE urban planning practices was done at the full metropolitan level. TRACE is one of the most powerful energy efficiency tools, specifically developed for cities. It is simple, easy to implement, and quite intuitive, Summary of findings and it allows a quick assessment of energy savings potential in six key After the 1989 Revolution, Romania began its transition from a centralized public service areas: urban transport; water and wastewater; municipal system to a market based economy. Today the country is a member of the buildings; street lighting, power and centralized heating; and, solid waste European Union (EU) and NATO. After more than a decade of economic management. The tool can be implemented relatively quickly and is not restructuring and political change, the country has taken significant steps data- or cost-intensive. Moreover it allows local authorities to get a rapid towards catching up with the economic performance of more developed assessment of their city’s energy performance, and to iden tify sectors that EU countries. Although radical reforms brought about significant changes may be subjected to a more in-depth analysis. in recent years, the standard of living of Romanians is still behind the EU average. Brașov is one of cities where such disparities are less obvious. This has to do with the relative proximity to București, the wealthiest area 1 in the country (around 160 kilometers away from the capital city), its management, the district heating sector is making serious efforts to strategic trade location (along some of the main European routes improve the quality of services and regain lost market. However, the hot including the second largest one, running from France to Kyrgyzstan), and water heavy losses in the oversized, obsolete network are an area for the also its revenues, which are the highest in central Romania. Despite of the government to look seriously into and try to address. recent economic crisis and economic decline, Brașov County’s GDP has Like every other city in the country, municipal buildings gone up in recent years, at 33% growth rate between 2008 and 2012, constitute one sector that requires proper measures towards improving ranking second in the country. However, like all other cities in Romania, energy efficiency – particularly in health care and education facilities Brașov has suffered from demographic decline, although the city does managed by the City Hall. A benchmarking of the municipal building stock, benefit some from its location along the București – Ploiești – Brașov along with audit and retrofit measures should be performed in order to growth corridor, which is the most densely populated and most developed identify the highest savings potential and proper intervention measures. area in the country. At the same time, although the water system covers the entire city and The economic development in the transition period after the end important investments have been done in recent years (such as household of the communist regime has led to significant changes in the social and water meters and new pumping stations) the network has a high non- economic life of the residents of Brașov. Some of these developments revenue water share. Although the city has implemented the selective have positively affected people’s life, whereas a few came along with collection of waste, the amount of recycled waste is still very low. inconveniences and difficulties. For instance, closing down several There are also many positive things that Brașov has successfully important industrial plants in the city (most notably, Tractorul Brașov) has accomplished recently. Almost all streets in the city are lit, and the local led to an increase in the number of unemployed people, and a difficult government is currently implementing the first intelligent lighting system process of economic restructuring. Today the local economy is driven by in the country. Although the city has given up on trams, they have been the construction and service sectors, which employ almost two thirds of replaced with trolleybuses, which are a good addition to the public the labor force in the city and metropolitan area. transport system. Brașov has a system of good pedestrian networks, and Similar to a country-wide trend, the rising number of cars in the the local administration has plans to continue expanding them in the has caused heavy traffic congestion, increased fuel consumption, and led future. A sophisticated parking payment system, through text messages, an increase in greenhouse emissions from transport. Commuting has has just been implemented, and new parking facilities in the city will be become difficult for both private and public vehicles. The main challenges built very soon. The generation of solid waste is comparable to other cities in the transport sector include: parking, modernization of the bus fleet, in the region and some of the organic waste is used to produce energy. and the development of non-motorized transport by building more bike The heat and hot water production have been taken over by a private lanes in the city and expanding the pedestrian networks. This sector has a company, and there are future plans towards improving the distribution significant potential for energy savings, and therefore the city authorities network and related services, in an attempt to bring back some of the should look into appropriate measures to decrease the fuel consumption customers that the system has lost over the past decade. Rehabilitation and reduce greenhouse emissions. The district heating sector faced work has been performed in some schools, health care and social serious challenges and incurred heavy losses once the large industrial assistance facilities in the city, and in a few cases the old hot water facilities were closed down. In addition to the loss of several large systems have been replaced with renewable energy systems. Nonetheless, customers, tens of thousands of residential customers have also further work needs to be done in order to decrease energy consumption disconnected from the centralized heating plant. Now the system is and reduce energy intensity. undergoing a number of changes and attempts to reestablish itself as the As everywhere in the country, electricity tariffs are regulated by key heat provider in the city. Under a mixed private and public the national government, who is still subsidizing the energy price for 2 domestic users. The liberalization of the energy sector is under way with recommendations were drawn out. These recommendations are industrial consumers and, starting in 2013, it will begin to affect non- summarized below. domestic users as well. Hence, the subsidies are going to be gradually eliminated by the end of 2017, when the liberalization of the market is District Heating Maintenance and Upgrade expected to be complete. As of now, the central government is In recent years, the district heating system in Brașov has undergone encouraging energy production from renewable sources, and Green serious changes. The number of customers came down drastically from Certificates are provided to such producers. Not in the least, Brașov has a 80,000 in the 2000s, to only 12,000 apartments at present. Today, the sustainable energy action plan (SEAP) that has been submitted to the district system has the smallest number of clients in the country, but the European Union a few years ago, under which the local administration has third lowest price for heat. Although some rehabilitation work has been taken a commitment toward reducing energy consumption by 32% by done and the efficiency of the system has slightly improved, the losses in 2020. the transmission and distribution network are still very high. Therefore, in In the short and medium term, the Brașov authorities plan a the short- and medium-term, the TRACE recommendation suggests that number of projects aimed at reducing the energy consumption in the city, the city government should continue the rehabilitation work and and, ultimately, at improving quality of life for city residents. The plans upgrading of the network, and the modernization of boilers and pipelines, include purchasing highly efficient rolling stock for the public transport in order to improve the overall efficiency of the system. In this way, losses (including the possibility of hybrid buses), developing non-pedestrian will be reduced, the quality of services will improve, and the company networks, building park-and-ride facilities, expanding the parking lots in could gain back some of the lost market. the city, improving the street lighting system, and reducing hot water losses in the district heating system. Non-Motorized Transport This report is based on the implementation of the TRACE tool in Local authorities should encourage non-motorized transport options in Brașov in February 2013 and it outlines some ideas on what the city could Brașov and boost efforts to improve and expand related infrastructure. further do to improve its energy efficiency performance. TRACE (Tool for The two main priorities in this respect should be the development of more Rapid Assessment of City Energy) is a simple and quick diagnostic tool that pedestrian areas and the expansion of the bike path network. If more is used to assess a city’s energy performance in six service areas (urban people walk or bike, they will rely less on private vehicles, and, ultimately, transport, municipal buildings, water and wastewater, solid waste this will translate into lower fuel consumption. Moreover, investments in management, public lighting, and power and heat) and to provide non-pedestrian network can help raise the quality of life in the city and recommendations for improving energy efficiency. In each of the service also could encourage business development in and around the newly areas, TRACE uses a benchmarking algorithm to evaluate energy cost established pedestrian areas, including additional leisure and savings potential and, factoring in the level of influence of local entertainment spots, such as restaurants and shops. Additionally, bike authorities, it prioritizes what the authorities should do according to rental programs should be encouraged, along with incentive schemes for where the biggest savings can be achieved. citizens (e.g., microcredits), including members of marginalized and low- To complete data collection and to get a more comprehensive idea of income communitites, to purchase their own bicycles. issues in the city, a World Bank field trip was organized in February 2013. The implementation of TRACE in Brașov was carried out in close Public Transport Development collaboration with local authorities and public and private utility services The TRACE recommendation is for the local public administration to adopt providers. At the end of this quantitative and qualitative analysis, several measures that encourage people to use public transport to cut down on fuel consumption and achieve energy savings. In order to do that, Brașov 3 should develop the public transport system in the city and make it more municipal buildings in the city. The results could prompt the local attractive to people. The city government has already drafted plans to administration to allocate funds for energy efficiency upgrades, invest in the modernization of the public transport fleet and replace purchasing new equipment, and performing renovation work on certain vehicles whose life cycle has reached its limits. At the same time, the City buildings. Few educational facilities in the city have been rehabilitated so Hall is focused on modernizing a number of five bus terminals and far and there are plans to carry on this work in the future. implementing a traffic management and monitoring system that is expected to improve the quality of public transport services in the city. E- Street Lighting Timing Program ticketing will be implemented, buses will be equipped with GPS and GIS The main TRACE recommendation for increasing the efficiency of the systems, and screens in the bus stops will display information on bus street lighting program is the introduction of a lighting-timing program. schedules, helping passengers better plan their trips. Also, based on the The Brașov authorities have already taken steps in increasing the system’s TRACE recommendations, city authorities may consider the option of bus efficiency. First, mercury lamps were replaced with more efficient sodium rapid transit that would give priority to public transport vehicles, as well vapor ones. Second, the city government is implementing an intelligent as dedicated bus lanes to bypass traffic congestion. A faster, reliable, and lighting system. Brașov will be the first city in Romania to have such a comfortable public transport system would attract more users and help sophisticated street lighting network. Sensors will be installed on lighting them switch away from the current extensive reliance on private vehicles. poles and will allow the light to be adjusted for specific needs of a particular area, according to varying weather, activity levels, and time of Parking Restraint Measures day. In addition, these sensors will be connected to a SCADA monitoring As the number of private cars in Brașov has gone up, traffic has increased system that will make possible the detection of any damage to the service, heavily, and existing parking lots can no longer accommodate the growing prompting a timely response to address the problem. number of vehicles. Local authorities are already considering a number of measures aligned with TRACE recommendations. Specifically, one of the Active Leakage of Water and Pressure Management immediate measures the city government is considering is the The TRACE results suggest that losses in the water sector could be development of “Park and Ride” facilities, aimed at promoting overcome through a leakage detection and pressure management multimodality by linking parking to public transport. People who travel to program. The city government should consider implementing a leakage the city will drive their cars to these facilities, from where they will take program that could help with the provision of minimal pressures and public transport to get to their workplace. At the same time, the dearth of encourage a more sustainable use of water resources. It could also reduce parking spots will be also addressed, as the municipality is building parking the ground contamination in the sewage network. The pressure facilities in the city that will be able to accommodate over 600 cars, management is helping reduce treatment and pumping costs. Such a including with EU structural funds. In addition, TRACE recommendations program should be developed in partnership with organizations and/or advise the local authorities to also take into account hiking prices for coalitions of non-profit entities to gain access to their experience and parking spaces in the city center and set a parking allowance for new expertise in order to implement the most appropriate improvements to residential and corporate developments. the pipe and pumping infrastructure. Municipal Buildings Audit and Retrofit Prioritizing Recommendations The next step recommended by the TRACE analysis is a full audit of the The process used by the team to get to the recommendations presented buildings administered by the City Hall. This would help draw a plan for above was twofold. On the one hand, the TRACE tool has a step-by-step how resources can be allocated to improve the energy performance of mechanism analysis system, which enabled the team to identify a number 4 of priority sectors. The chosen priority sectors usually included sectors heating options (e.g., individual gas powered heating units). In some cities, with a high energy and money savings potential, and sectors where local such as Brașov, the share of people who de-branched from district heating authorities had a high degree of control. Sectors which were either under represents a large majority of the population; in other cities, such as the control of private operators, or the control of county councils or Constanța, the number of people who left the centralized heating system national level authorities, were usually not considered. is lower. For each of these priority sectors, the team has chosen a number of key recommendations, based on the discussions with the public utility Priority sectors for energy efficiency improvements in growth poles operators, and based on the site visits and data collection. In turn, these Brasov Cluj Constanta Craiova Iasi Ploiesti Timisoara recommendations were discussed with local authorities, and a limited Private number of priority recommendations (usually around 10), were selected 3 1 1 2 2 3 2 Vehicles from the list prepared by the team. Public 2 2 3 1 4 4 4 In some cases, local authorities have chosen priority sectors and Transport recommendations that did not necessarily offer the highest savings District 1 5 2 1 2 1 potential. A more in-depth discussion on each of those recommendations, Heating including the position of local authorities is discussed in the Energy Municipal 5 3 4 3 3 5 5 Buildings Efficiency Recommendations Section. The Matrix below provides a snapshot of the priority sectors and recommendations chosen for the City Street Lighting 4 4 5 4 5 - 3 of Brașov. Solid Waste - - - - - - - Management Water and Cross growth pole comparison 6 - - - - - - Wastewater Having the benefit of implementing TRACE in seven of the largest cities in Local Authority Romania, the team identified a number of common challenges, and a - - - 5 - 1 - Management number of common approaches for addressing energy efficiency issues. For example, it became quite obvious that almost every city with a district For most growth poles, urban transport (private vehicles and public heating in Romania has issues running this system in an efficient manner. transport) was identified as a key sector, although cities like Iași and District heating systems in Romanian cities were almost exclusively built Timișoara (which have the largest tram networks in Romania outside before 1989, and they now have large segments of o leaky and poorly Bucharest), generally have energy efficient public transport systems and insulated pipes. Moreover, the district heating systems were not built to as such have this sector lower on the priority list. also serve large industrial facilities (which now are largely gone), and they Generally, solid waste management, as well as water and were not designed for individual metering (i.e. with a vertical distribution wastewater, did not make it on the priority list of growth poles. For one, system in apartment blocks, instead of a horizontal system). Because of solid waste management systems in Romania tend to largely be operated the losses in the system (which ultimately get reflected in the monthly by private companies, and energy efficiency improvements in these bill), because heating cannot be adjusted or turned off when not needed, systems are accrued by these private operators. On the other hand, water and because of the high and growing price of thermal energy, many and wastewater systems are generally run by public companies, with people have decided to de-branch themselves from district heating county councils being the majority shareholders. networks. Virtually, every growth pole has witnessed disconnections from the centralized heating system, as people have resorted to individual 5 Matrix with energy efficiency priorities and proposed programs PRIORITY 1 Energy spending in the sector Potential savings District Heating $15,000,000 $4,000,000 Responsible Energy savings Time of Cost Institution potential implementation 1. District heating maintenace and upgrade Bepco+Tetkron $$$ *** > 2 years PRIORITY 2 Energy spending in the sector Potential savings Public Transportation $10,700,000 $2,400,000 Responsible Energy savings Time of Cost Institution potential implementation 2. Public transport development RAT Brasov $$$ *** > 2 years PRIORITY 3 Energy spending in the sector Potential savings Private Vehicles $59,600,000 $1,400,000 Responsible Energy savings Time of Cost Institution potential implementation 3. Non-motorized transport modes City Hall $$$ ** > 2 years 4. Parking restraint measures City Hall $ ** > 2 years PRIORITY 4 Energy spending in the sector Potential savings Street Lighting $1,900,000 $450,000 Responsible Energy savings Time of Cost Institution potential implementation 5. Street lighting timing program City Hall $ *** < 1 year PRIORITY 5 Energy spending in the sector Potential savings Municipal Buildings $1,400,000 $260,000 Responsible Energy savings Time of Cost Institution potential implementation 6. Municipal buildings audit and retrofit City Hall $$$ *** 1-2 years PRIORITY 6 Energy spending in the sector Potential savings Water and Wastewater $1,900,000 $450,000 Responsible Energy savings Time of Cost 7. Water Leak Detection and Pressure Institution potential implementation Management Apa Brasov $$ ** 1-2 years 6 Also a number of the growth poles had drafted or were in the process of drafting Covenant of Mayors SEAP reports (e.g., Brașov, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara), while others (e.g., Ploiești or Craiova) were considering to start the process. All in all, every growth poles that has been part of this study has undertaken energy efficiency measures in the past years, and all have good practice lessons they can share with other cities. The importance of good urban planning for energy efficiency While TRACE does not explicitly deal with this issue, urban planning plays a crucial role in energy efficiency. Cities that promote and encourage a dense and compact urban development pattern tend on the whole to be more energy efficient. On the whole, dense cities require less investment in public services infrastructure development and maintenance (roads, water networks, sewer lines, street lighting, solid waste management, public transport, etc.), they allow higher profitability for public transport operators (since every transit stop serves on average more people than in less dense cities), they enable walking and biking as means of commuting, they discourage car use and transport-related pollution, they can help lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, they require less energy expenditures for the delivery of key public services (e.g., pump costs for water, fuel costs for garbage collection). It is estimated that the energy consumed for transport needs in a city with a density of less than 25 people per hectare may reach an annual average of 55,000 mega joules per person. By comparison, in an urban area with a density of 100 people 1 per hectare, this figure is about three times lower. Consequently, a separate section on spatial planning was introduced in the report, discussing some key related issues for each city studied. A more complete analysis of spatial planning challenges in Romanian cities is included in the Enhanced Spatial Planning report. 1 European Environment Agency. 2006. Urban sprawl in Europe: The ignored challenge. Copenhagen: European Environment Agency (Report No. 10/2006). 7 Methodology 3. Assessment and Ranking of Individual Sectors During the city visit, a number of meetings and interviews are conducted to collect additional data across city departments and The Tool for Rapid Assessment of City Energy (TRACE) TRACE consists of agencies, augmenting benchmarking results with contextual three principal components: (i) an energy benchmarking module which information. At the end of the first phase, a prioritization process takes compares key performance indicators (KPIs) among peer cities (ii) a sector place to identify sectors with the greatest technical energy savings prioritization module which identifies sectors that offer the greatest potential. Energy costs are also weighed, as is the ability of city potential with respect to energy-cost savings, and (iii) an intervention authorities to control or influence the outcome. Priority sectors are selection module which functions like a “playbook” of tried -and-tested EE reviewed in detail in the second phase. measures. These three components are woven into a user-friendly software application that takes the city through a series of sequential The main frame of TRACE steps: from initial data gathering to a report containing a matrix of energy efficiency recommendations tailored to the city’s individual context, with implementation and financing options. The steps are as follows: 1. Collection of Candidate City Energy Use Data TRACE contains a database of 28 key performance indicators (KPIs) collected from over 100 cities. Each of the data points that make up these KPIs is collected prior to the application of the tool and, as TRACE is launched, this collection of information will grow with current and reliable data. 2. Analysis of City Energy Use Against Peer Cities The performance of a city is compared with a range of peer cities — selected by the city based on population, climate, and human development—to determine their performance in each of the six sectors (3-6 KPIs per sector). The benchmarking process provides an overview of energy performance so the city can assess its relative rankings against peer cities in each sector. The Relative Energy Intensity (REI), or in simpler terms the percentage by which energy use in a particular sector could be reduced, is calculated using a simple formula. The formula looks at all the cities that are performing better on certain KPIs (e.g. energy use per street light), and estimates the average improvement potential. The higher the number of cities in the database, the more accurate the final result are. 8 4. Ranking of Energy Efficiency Recommendations Recommendations are then assessed based on five different factors: TRACE contains a playbook of over 60 tried and tested energy finance; human resources; data and information; policy, regulation and efficiency recommendations in each of the sectors. Some examples enforcement; and assets and infrastructure. This step helps cities better include: rank measures that are within its capacity to implement effectively. TRACE  Buildings | Lighting Retrofit Program then enables recommendations to be plotted on the basis of two  Organizational Management | Energy Efficiency Task Force, attributes on a 3x3 matrix (energy savings potential and first cost), with an Energy Efficient Procurement additional filter that enables the user to sort recommendations based on  Power & Heat | Solar Hot Water Program on Buildings implementation speed.  Public Lighting | LED Replacement Program for Traffic Lights  Transport | Traffic Restraint in Congested Urban Areas, City Bus Recommendations in each priority sector are quantitatively and Fleet Maintenance qualitatively evaluated based on key data, including institutional  Waste | Waste Management Hauling Efficiency Program requirements, energy savings potential, and co-benefits. Those  Water & Wastewater | Pump Replacement Program recommendations carried forward will be supported by implementation options, case studies, and references to tools and best practices. The TRACE Benchmarking Module 5. Report Preparation and Submission A Final City Report records the city review, along with city background information and various aspects of the city visit included in introductory sections and annexes. The report includes:  City background information, such as city contextual data, key city development priorities, energy efficiency drivers, barriers etc.  An analysis of the six sectors, including a summary of the benchmarking results.  A summary of sector prioritization based on city-owned and city-wide scales  A draft summary of recommendations provided as the City Action Plan  An Annex section, with a more in-depth discussion on energy efficiency recommendations and best-practice cases. The Final City Report enables the city to move forward with the most feasible recommendations in a structured manner to allow the city to eventually improve its overall rankings, performance, and save money. 9 Background After Romania joined the EU, many Romanians left the country to pursue better opportunities in Western Europe. Other factors responsible for this th decline are the aging of population as well as a significant rise in number The 7 largest country by population in the European Union (EU), of the families with no children. Romania is predominantly urban, Romania is located in Southeastern Europe, in the lower basin of the although the urbanization level is still below that of countries in Western Danube River. It has a stretch of coastline along the Black Sea and also Europe; half of population resides in municipalities, cities and towns, incorporates within its borders much of the Danube Delta. Romania while up to 10% lives in the capital city. neighbors Hungary, Serbia to the West and South West, Bulgaria to the According to the preliminary results of the 2012 census, the most South, the Republic of Moldova to the East, and the Ukraine to the North populous cities in Romania are the following: and East. Almost 50% of Romania’s territory is part of the Carpathian Mountains range. The country has a temperate continental climate, with Table 1. Ranking of select Romanian cities by population hot summers and cold winters. As part of the communist bloc countries for nearly half a century, Romania brought down the authoritarian regime City 2012 census 2002 census / Rank with the 1989 Revolution, and then it began its transition from a București 1,883,425 1,934,449 (#1) centralized system towards democracy and market economy by Cluj-Napoca 324,576 318,027 (#3) implementing a series of structural changes and reforms. If initially the Timișoara 319,279 317,651 (#4) economy was centered on agriculture, during communism it gradually Iasi 290,422 321,580 (#2) shifted to an industrial one, ultimately making significant steps towards a Constanța 283,872 310,526 (#5) service-based economy over the past two decades. In 2004 Romania Craiova 269,506 302,622 (#6) joined NATO and three years later it became a member of the EU. Brașov 253,200 283,901 (#8) After a period of massive economic restructuring and political Galați 249,432 298,584 (#7) change, the country has taken significant steps to catch up with the Ploiești 209,945 232,452 (#9) economic performance of more developed EU countries. Although Oradea 196,367 206,527 (#11) government policies and radical reforms brought about significant improvements, income levels of Romanians are still behind the average Source: National Institute of Statistics, 2012 Census level in the EU countries. In addition, the disparities within Romania mean http://www.recensamantromania.ro/rezultate-2/ that there are significant differences in terms of standards of living between the country’s regions. The country is divided into 41 counties, National Energy Efficiency Legislation plus the capital city, București (Bucharest), and into eight development Romania’s energy consumption per capita is almost twice as low as the regions (although regions do not yet have formal administrative powers, average in the EU, at 1.6 toe (ton of oil equivalent). Between 1990 and as of June 2013). Apart from Bucharest, each development region is 2000, energy consumption fell by an average of 5 % per year, and then includes a growth pole center (city), and comprises four to seven counties. increased slightly after 2000 by 1.3% per year. At the beginning of the Despite of being among the most populous countries in Europe, Romania economic crisis in 2009, energy consumption dropped by 14%, and then has experienced a decline in population in recent years. The stable increased by only 1.3% in 2010. Amid the economic recession, the population declined by 7.1% over the last decade, from nearly 22 million country’s GDP followed a similar decreasing trend and fell by 8.3%. Energy to 20.1 million, according to the preliminary results of the 2012 census. efficiency at the national level has increased significantly between 1990 However, the population decline did not necessarily come as a surprise. and 2000, from 23% to 39%. It is a consequence of the rising share of high 10 efficiency power sources (hydropower) in the electricity mix, as well as consumption. Estimates indicate that EU countries that have implemented improving efficiency of thermal power plants. However, it still remains such agreements reached 10 to 20% in energy savings. Large consumers lower than the EU average. must carry out energy audits and energy efficiency improvement In the early 1990s, Romania created its first institutional programs, while an energy balance must be produced every year for those framework for energy efficiency when the Romanian Agency for Energy consuming 1,000 toe/year and every two years for those who use Conservation, the country’s main specialized body in the field of en ergy between 200 and 1,000 toe/year. From 2000 onwards an energy saving efficiency, was established. Ten years later Romania adopted the National certificate has been issued for all new buildings, single-family dwellings Energy Efficiency Strategy, a document outlining steps to be taken to and apartment that are sold or rented. Heat insulation work benefitted increase energy efficiency. In the 2000s, Romania ratified the Kyoto from tax breaks and co-financing was provided for renovation work. 4 Protocol to the United Nations Conventions on Climate Change, under The Second Energy Efficiency Action Plan focuses on energy which the country has committed to cut its emissions of greenhouses savings in the primary energy and power sectors, and promotion of energy gases, between 2008 and 2012, by 8% from 1989 levels. from renewable sources. 5 The Romanian Fund for Energy Efficiency became operational in The First National Strategy for Energy Efficiency for 2004-2015 2003 and ever since it has provided subsidies for investments to 27 energy set an ambitious 40% target in energy intensity reduction for the period efficiency projects promoted by large industrial operators, totalizing $14.4 2005-2014. Decrease in energy intensity should be achieved through 2 million. In order to comply with EU requirements, the Government programs promoting high energy standards for new installations, as transposed the Directive No.2006/32/EC regarding energy efficiency following: 41% in buildings, 29% in the energy sector, 16% in industry, and among the end users and energy suppliers into national legislation, 14% in transport. Few years later, the National Strategy for Energy 6 requiring EU member states to undertake steps to reduce energy Efficiency for the period 2007-2020 set further targets to reduce energy consumption by at least 9 % for 2008-2016, as compared to consumption intensity by 41% through 2020 by advancing feasible solutions to cover for the previous five years. the country’s future energy demand at a lowest price. By then , estimated The Energy Road Map for Romania was approved in 2003 during primary energy savings and reduction of losses should achieve anything the negotiations for EU membership. Pursuant to EU Directive on energy between 25% and 40% (20-25% in industry, 40-50% in buildings, and 35- reduction, the First Energy Efficiency Action Plan for the period 2007- 40% in transport), by improving efficiency in the power sector. The energy 20103 set an energy saving target of 2.8 Million toe by 2016, and it further saving target was set to 3.4 Million toe by 2020. In this context, 1.9 Million aims for 1.5% annual reduction for the period 2008-2016. The toe saving is expected to come from fuel substitutions, 800 ktoe from high intermediate target of 940,000 toe by 2010 was far exceeded, as Romania achieved 2.2 Million toe in energy saving. The plan document foresees great potential for energy savings for the industrial sector through 4 voluntary long-term agreements between industrial agents and the Second Energy Efficiency Action Plan available at: Government, in addition to investments in equipment to oversee energy http://www.minind.ro/dezbateri_publice/2011/PNAEE_12_cu_anexe_2_1108201 1.pdf 5 The First National Strategy for Energy Efficiency for the period 2004-2015 2 Romanian Fund for Energy Efficiency available at: http://www.minind.ro/domenii_sectoare/H163-04.html 6 http://www.free.org.ro/index.php?Itemid=112&id=96&lang=ro&option=com_cont National Strategy for Energy Efficiency for the period 2007-2020 - updated ent&task=view version for the period 2011-2020 available at: 3 First Energy Efficiency Plan for the period 2007-2010 available at: http://www.minind.ro/dezbateri_publice/2011/Strategie_2007_actualizata_2011_ http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/doc/neeap/romania_en.pdf 01092011.pdf 11 efficiency co-generation (Combined Heat and Power), and 600 ktoe from policy was drafted in 2010, in the very difficult context of the economic new coal-fired units. crisis. It encouraged the use of liquid bio-fuels, liquid gas, geothermal and The main objective of the National Strategy Regarding the clean energy, as well as the integration of biogas into the natural gas grid 7 Thermal Power Supply of Cities approved in 2004 addresses key issues and retrofitting technologies. The Directive 2009/28/EC on renewable concerning energy efficiency of the heating system. The thermal power energy set the national target for the share of energy from renewable supply system is built on obsolete technologies and old pipeline networks, sources in gross final production of energy at 24% for 2020. The expected with low energy efficiency, very high losses (35 % on average), in addition total energy consumption in 2020 was set at 30,278 ktoe, of which to high production, transport, and distribution costs. Poor insulation of 7,267ktoe in renewable energy. Targets for specific industrial sectors have buildings adds another 15% to the losses. Actions meant to increase been designed, such as 10% for transport, 22% for heating, and 42% for energy efficiency include implementation of large scale co-generation electricity. plants, modernization of network, diversification of primary energy used Romania received funds from the European Bank for for thermal power production, and installation of meters in residential Reconstruction Development (EBRD) to help companies open credit lines buildings. Resource consumption for the centralized heating systems for energy efficiency projects. The country also receives financial support should diminish by 612,000 tons. However, the modernization of the through the Operational Sector Program for Boosting Economic entire heating system is very costly, and it requires investment of billions Competitiveness aimed at increasing energy efficiency. Small and of euro. medium-sized enterprises may receive up to 65% financial support for a 8 The Strategy for Use of Renewable Energy Sources, approved in period of three years to help them obtain environmental certificates for 2003, encourages energy production from renewable sources in order to appliances and office equipment. 10 increase the share of electricity produced from such sources. Romania’s Government Ordinance 22/2008 regarding energy efficiency potential of renewable energy sources is estimated at 14,718 ktoe. and promotion of energy from renewable energy sources to end However, the development of such energy potential is constrained by consumers requires local public administrations in towns with a obsolete technological limitations, economic efficiency, and population greater than 20,000 people to produce action plans to environmental restrictions. Therefore, the plan is pushing for transfer of generate the most efficient energy savings in the shortest period of time unconventional technologies from experienced companies, joint-ventures, (3 to 6 years). Similarly, companies and local and central government units and private public partnerships. The target shares for renewable energy owning more than 25 vehicles must develop fuel consumption monitoring sources out of the total energy consumption were set at 33% for 2010, and management programs. 35% for 2015 and 38% for 2020. Use of renewable energy could result in The National Multiannual Program for the Thermal 1.8 Million toe energy saving from primary sources by 2020. The National Rehabilitation of the Residential Buildings Built between 1950 and 1990 9 Renewable Energy Action Plan outlining the renewable energy national started in 2005 and was improved each year. The program is coordinated by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration 7 National Strategy regarding the thermal power supply of cities http://www.termopitesti.ro/HG%20882-2004.pdf version is available at 8 The National Strategy for Using of Renewable Sources was approved by http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/action_plan_en.htm (click on Government Decision 1535/2003 available at: http://leg- “Romania”). 10 armonizata.minind.ro/leg_armonizata/energie/HG_1535_2003.pdf Government Ordinance 22/2008 available at: 9 The National Renewable Energy Action Plan – available at (in Romanian) http://www.dreptonline.ro/legislatie/og_eficienta_energetica_consumatori_finali http://www.minind.ro/pnaer/PNAER_29%20iunie_2010_final_Alx.pdf English _surse_regenerabile_energie_22_2008.php# 12 (MRDPA) and it is developed in partnership with local authorities. It aims buildings within municipalities that have applied for funding through the at increasing the energy performance of buildings, improving the quality Regional Operational Program (Priority Axis 1 Development of Growth of life for inhabitants and, not in the least, contributing to a better Poles– Intervention Axis 1.2 Thermal rehabilitation of residential townscape. Public buildings and dwellings built between 1950 and 1990 buildings) will not receive further support through the thermal are very poorly insulated and offer low thermal comfort, causing rehabilitation multiannual program. However, the good news is that the significant loss of energy. The key beneficiaries of the program are program has been extended to houses that have been developed between owners’ associations. Thermal insulation can reduce maintenance costs 1950 and 1990. The new regulation also clears the way for local for heating and hot water consumption and decrease heat loss and authorities to establish the so-called “thermal rehabilitation tax”. This tax consumption. It can achieve up to 25% energy efficiency, while the will be paid by buildings that did not have any financial contribution to the heating bills are expected to drop by 40% during winter time. Moreover, rehabilitation process. in the summer, rehabilitated buildings can better keep the appropriate Following the success of the rehabilitation program, the thermal comfort of the dwellings without additional costs for air Government thought about reducing the public funding accessible for conditioning. A guide regarding how the rehabilitation work should be such projects, and loans with government guarantee were made available. 11 14 done is available on the Ministry’s website . According to Emergency Ordinance 69/2010 owners associations must 12 A few years later, Government Ordinance 18/2009 regarding have 10% down payment, while the rest is covered from a bank loan. The the thermal rehabilitation of blocks of flats added more consistency to the owners’ associations pay back the loan from the savings obtained over the program by specifying the minimum level of the thermal rehabilitation. heating bills before the thermal insulation work is complete. This new The execution work is financially supported from Government’s state program includes old buildings built between 1950 and 1990, those budget (50%), the local budget (30%), and by owners’ associations (20%). developed after 1990, and individual homes. Since 2009 MDRAP provided funding equivalent to USD 190 million (RON The Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of the 15 660 million) for the rehabilitation of 3,500 multi-story residential buildings buildings requires the Member States to adopt a methodology for in over 100 municipalities and cities. The law allows for the local city calculating the energy performance of the buildings, that should include councils to grant tax exemptions on residential buildings for owners who thermal characteristics, heating insulation, water supply, the air- have performed rehabilitation work from their own funds. conditioning installations, the built-in lighting installations, indoor climatic At the end of 2012, Government Emergency Ordinance conditions, and not in the least, electricity produce by co-generation. The 13 63/2012 brought some changes to the rehabilitation program EU law is concerning both existing and new buildings. The law is coordinated by the MRDPA. According to new regulations, residential exempting the historical buildings, worship facilities, temporary buildings, residential buildings intended for a limited annual time of use, and stand- 11 The guide is available at: alone buildings of which the surface area does not exceed 50 square http://www.mdrt.ro/userfiles/constructii_ancheta_publica_contr429_contr411.pd meters. The main objective of the law is to have all new building close to f) 12 Government Ordinance 18/2009 available at: 14 http://www.mdrl.ro/_documente/lucrari_publice/reabilitare_termica/OUG_reabil Emergency Ordinance 69/2010 approved by Law 76/2011 available at: itare.pdf Methodological regulations available at: http://www.dreptonline.ro/legislatie/oug_69_2010_reabilitarea_termica_cladirilo http://www.mdrl.ro/_documente/lucrari_publice/reabilitare_termica/Norme.pdf r_locuit_finantare_credite_bancare_garantie_guvernamentala.php 13 15 Government Emergency Ordinance 63/2012 available at: Directive 31/2010/EC available at http://eur- http://www.mdrt.ro/dezvoltare-regionala/programul-operational-regional-2007- lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32010L0031:EN:NOT 2013/-8748 13 nearly zero-energy by December 2020. Same criteria are applicable by can also provide financial support between 7% and 63% of the total st December 31 , 2018 to new buildings occupied and owned by public heating bill. authorities. Member States should come up with national plans that put Sixty-one cities in Romania are signatories of the Covenant of into practice the definition of nearly zero-energy building, and the Mayors, the mainstream European movement involving local and regional intermediate targets for improving the energy performance of new authorities voluntarily committing to increasing energy efficiency and use buildings by 2015. At the same time, the Member States must issue an of renewable energy sources on their territories, as well as reducing CO 2 energy performance certificates that should include the energy emissions by 20% by 2020. Participants to the Covenant must submit a performance of the building along with recommendations for cost Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) outlining actions they plan to improvements. This certificate should be available when renting and undertake with regard to energy savings. 22 out of 61 cities have selling a building/unit. The municipal buildings with a total floor area of submitted their SEAP to Brussels, namely: Aiud, Sântana, Petrosani, over 500 square meters and buildings of the same size frequently visited Făgăraș, Zlatna, Moinesti, Arad, București (District 1), Baia Mare, by public, must display the energy performance certificate in a prominent Timișoara, Cugir, Satu Mare, Vaslui, Alba Iulia, Bistrița, Mizil, Slobozia, place where this could be clearly visible. After July 9, 2015 the 500 square Brașov, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Avrig, and more recently Cluj-Napoca. So far, meters threshold will lower to 250 square meters. eleven action plans have been approved by the Covenant of Mayors, As part of EU requirements, Romania adopted Law 372/2005 namely the SEAPs of Moinești, Vaslui, Alba Iulia, Bistrița, Mizil, Slobozia, addressing the energy performance of residential buildings. An energy Brașov, Arad, Aiud, Râmnicu Vâlcea şi Baia Mare. performance certificate is issued based on the final energy consumption of buildings and apartments. The country also transposed into national Energy Sector 16 legislation EU Directive 2003/30 EC on the promotion of the use of bio- At the end of 2012, Romania’s installed capacity of electrical power plant s fuels or other renewable fuels for transport. Government Emergency was 18,481 MW, while the netto available power was 15,998 MW, 17 19 Ordinance 1844/2005 established a 2% share of renewable energy in the according to Transelectrica. The netto power provided was 11,424 MW, transport sector by the date of Romania’s accession to EU (2007) and a and domestic consumption accounted for 7,413 MW. In February 2013 5.75% share by 2010. the split of domestic consumption by types of energy production showed 18 The Government Emergency Ordinance 70/2011 establishes that the largest share is based on coal (33% - 2,593 MW), followed by social protection measures for the cold season, helping low-income hydro carbons (23.9% - 1,877 MW), hydro energy (24.8% - 1,948 MW), residents pay the heating bills. The Government is supporting people who and nuclear (18.1% - 1,419 MW). Wind energy is almost nonexistent, with use the district heating system, as well as heating systems using a only 0.3% or 24 MW. different type of fuel, be it natural gas, wood, coal, etc. The financial aid The electricity sector is unbundled, with several players in the range for single people and families with low income benefitting from aid field. There are quite a few companies in charge with production, a from the state budget can range between 10 and 90%. Local city budget significant number of distributors, and a noteworthy number of suppliers. However, there is only one player responsible for energy transmission and 16 who owns the entire transmission network, Transelectrica, a state-owned Directive 2003/30/EC available at: http://eur- company. Energy production is divided into seven major producers, lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2003:123:0042:0042:EN:PDF 17 Government Emergency Ordinance 1844/2005 available at: 19 http://ngo.ro/pipermail/mediu_ngo.ro/2006-February/004597.html RET Plan - Period 2010-2014, and perspectives for 2019 18 Government Emergency Ordinance 70/2011 regarding social protection http://www.transelectrica.ro/PDF/Planul%20de%20Perspectiva%20al%20RET%20 measures in the cold season. 2010-2014-2019%2013dec.pdf 14 20 namely Complexul Energetic Oltenia, Complexul Energetic Hunedoara, from hydro used in power plants with installed capacity up to 10 MW of Nuclear Electrica, CE Arad, SC Electrocentrale Deva, Hidroeletrica, and wind, solar (photovoltaic), geothermal and natural gas associated, OMV Petrom. CEZ, ENEL Energie Muntenia, Enel Energie, E.ON, and biomass, biogas, gas from the landfill waste fermentation and from Electrica Distributie (with its three branches, namely Electrica Distributie fermentation of sediment from sewage treatment of used waters. Energy Transilvania Nord, Electrica Distribuție Transilvania Sud, and Electrica producers receive a Green Certificate for each MW of energy produced Distribuție Muntenia Nord) are the distribution companies. Energy from renewable energy and sent to the national grid. The law is forcing distributors are by default energy suppliers. Accordingly, the main suppliers to purchase a mandatory quota of green certificates from the suppliers are Electrica Furnizare, CEZ, ENEL Energie (responsible for total amount of electricity distributed to the end users. A number of Dobrogea and Banat zones), ENEL Energie Muntenia, and E.ON Energie certificates are annually available. The Green Certificate has unlimited Romania. Of 177 energy suppliers registered in the country, only 20 validity, and it can be traded separately from the electricity associate companies are actually active. through bilateral contracts or on the green certificates centralized market. The price varies from 27 EUR (to protect the producer) to 55 EUR (to 21 The Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) was established in protect the consumer). At the end of 2012, 300 Million Green Certificates 1999 and is the regulatory body in the field of electricity (including heat were available in Romania for the period 2013-2019. The EU approved in produced in co-generation) and natural gas. The Agency is dealing with July 2012 an additional distribution of 71.4 Million Green Certificates for licensing, issuing technical and commercial regulations, and protecting of greenhouse emissions for 2013-2019. the interests of consumers and investors. The agency regulates tariffs for Recently, in June 2013, the Romanian government reviewed the energy and natural gas for domestic and non-domestic clients, approves compensation scheme granted to renewable energy producers, and cut the calculation methodology to set up tariffs and prices, and sets tariffs off the number of green certificates, as a „temporary suspension” until for captive consumers (those who cannot choose the energy provider). It March 2017 for hydro and solar/photovoltaic energy, and by January 2018 22 also establishes tariffs for electricity companies, transmission and for wind energy . The new provisions, which are effective July 1st, 2013, distribution systems and for activities associated with heat production are amending the Law 220/2008 for promoting energy from renewable through co-generation. OPCOM is the Romanian energy market operator sources. The new law is cutting down the number of green certificates. established in 2000, as a joint stock company subsidiary of the Romanian For each 1 MWh produced, the new small hydro plants with an installed Transmission and System Operator, Transelectrica. The company is capacity of less or equal to 10 MW will receive one green certificate less, providing the framework for the commercial trades’ deployment on the same for the wind energy plants. In case of solar energy facilities, the wholesale electricity market; it exercises the role of Day-Ahead market number of green certificates was cut down by two. In this way, the new operator and administrator of the Green Certificates, as well as of the small hydro plants would get 2 certificates instead of three, the solar greenhouses emissions certificates trading platform. Green Certificate is a plants would be awarded four certificates instead of six, while the wind mechanism promoting energy produced from renewable sources such as facilities would receive one certificate instead of two. Following the legislative elections in December 2012, the new 20 structure of the Government includes a Delegated Minister for Energy, a Complexul Energetic Oltenia was established in 2012 after the merger of four large energetic companies, namely Societatea Nationala a Lignitului Oltenia Tg. Jiu, Complex Energetic Turceni, Complex Energetic Craiova, and Complex Energetic 22 Rovinari. More information available at: 21 More information on ANRE available at: http://www.anre.ro/ http://media.hotnews.ro/media_server1/document-2013-04-2-14540999-0- proiect-privind-suspendarea-schemei-sprijin.pdf 15 new institution expected to add more consistency to the country’s energy – and is bordered by three hills (Tâmpa, Straja, and Dealul Cetății). It is the policies. only city in Romania that includes a natural reservation under its administrative area (Tâmpa). Poiana Brașov, perhaps the most popular ski Liberalization of the natural gas and electricity markets resorts in Romania, is located 12 kilometers from Brașov, and is an The Memorandum of Understanding agreed with the IMF, the World administrative unit of the city. Brașov is situated in the center of Romania Bank, and the European Commission in March 2012 opens the market for at the crossroad of the commercial roads connecting the Balkans to the electricity and natural gas. The regulated price for electricity for domestic rest of Europe, right where communication roads are connecting the and non-domestic consumers will be gradually eliminated by 2017, while South to North and West to East. Brașov is crossed by some of the main for natural gas the same principle will be applied by 2018. European roads (E60, E68, and E81) and the Pan-European Corridor IV – The price increase for natural gas for non-domestic consumers Railway (connecting Romania to Western Europe), and is also well (economic agents and industrial consumers) is going to be 35% for years connected to the national railway network. The city is included in the final 2013 and 2014 altogether. For domestic consumers, the price will go up leg of the Transylvania Highway (Autostrada Transilvania), from Brașov to by 10% in 2013, by another 10% in 2014, and by 12% each year from 2015 Borș, aiming to link the city with the Western border of the country. Only through 2018. Electricity prices will go up gradually, in parallel with the one portion of the highway (around Cluj-Napoca), consisting of 52 increasing of the quota of electricity traded in the free market. The price kilometers, is now operational; the rest of the construction has been of electricity for non-domestic consumers went up already starting in delayed because of lack of funding and contractual issues. Plans have also September 2012, when the quota traded in the free market increased by been hashed to develop a new highway, from Brașov to Comarnic, linking 15%, with an additional 30% in January 2013. The elimination of regulated with the București-Ploiești highway, and comprising 64 kilometers. tariffs will be complete by January 2017. Domestic consumers will pay Construction of this new motorway is intended to be completed under a more starting July 2013. By the end of 2017 when the gradual elimination public-private partnership. th of regulated price will be concluded, domestic consumers will be able to According to the final results of the 2012 Census, Brașov is the 7 choose their energy supplier. The supplier must introduce the most populous city in Romania, with 253,200 inhabitants. The population “competitive market component” to the final bill, providing to the clients registered a downward trend by 11% compared to the 2002 census, when information that should help them choose the best offer, such as prices there were over 283,000 people living in the city, and an even more depending on voltage, tariffs for transport and distribution, payment pronounced decrease over 1992, when Brașov was the second most methods and due days, and meter readings. populous city in the country. The city’s ethnic composition includes 7.1% Hungarians and 0.5% ethnic Germans. The municipal area is spread over 267 square kilometers. Background Brașov The Brașov Metropolitan Area comprises 14 localities: three municipalities Brașov is situated in the center of Romania, in the historical province of (Brașov, Codlea, and Săcele), three cities (Predeal, Râșnov, and Ghimbav), Transylvania, right in the curvature of the Carpathian Mountains, about and eight communes (Bod, Halchiu, Sânpetru, Cristian, Vulcan, Hărman, 160 kilometers north of București. It is the capital of the county with the Prejmer, and Tărlugeni). Poiana Brașov, one of the most popular mountain same name. The climate in Brașov is temperate-continental, but a bit and ski resorts in the country is located 12 kilometers from Brașov, and it colder than in other parts of the country, because of its location in a is under the administration of the city. The metropolitan area is spread mountainous area. over 1,360 kilometers and accounts for a population of 369,896. As of The city is located at 625 meters altitude above the sea level, in 2007, the highest density of population in the metropolitan area, between the Bârsei Depression, facing two mountains – Piatra Mare and Postăvarul 199 and 999 people per square kilometer, was along the Săcele-Brașov- 16 Codlea corridor. Brașov city is split into three administrative areas: 12 hydraulic transmissions, and assembling helicopter parts, such as the IAR- th neighborhoods comprising the main part of the city; Stupini, the 13 Ghimbav facility. neighborhood of the city, with specific economic features; and the Today, the local industry relies on cosmetics, textiles, shoes, 23 mountain resort Poiana Brașov. construction materials, and food processing. One of the largest brewery factories in the country, Ursus, is operating in the city. Brașov used to be View of Brașov’s historic center home to a chocolate factory that has been recently shut down. The pharmaceutical sector has picked up in the recent years, after a multinational company, GSK, established a production site in the city. Two of the largest employers in the metropolitan area are Schaeffler, a private company producing rolling bearings, and Reparatii Vagoane CFR, dealing with repairing and maintenance work for train wagons. The upcoming construction of the airport near Brașov city, at Ghimbav, is expected to enhance the economic development of the city and attract more investments to the region. The demographics of the metropolitan area changed in recent years, following a decreasing trend in the country. If between 2002 and 2007 the decline in population in Brașov city was less than 10,000 people, from 2007 until the last census in 2012, the number of city residents registered a more pronounced decline. The main reasons for the population loss are the external migration to Western Europe and internal Source: herutzu.wordpress.com migration (primarily to București). In addition, many people have moved from the center city to one of the suburbs around Brașov. This could During the interwar period, Brașov became a significant industrial center perhaps explain why in few of the adjacent localities, like Cristian, Hărman in the region, headquartering one of the largest factories in the country, and Sânpetru, the population has gone up by 14%. including the airplane manufacturing plant – IAR Brașov – which produced Brașov followed the same trend as the rest of the country, with a the first Romanian fighter planes. During the Communist times the plant 40% drop in the level of the active population. Conversely, in the same was converted to manufacture agricultural tractors and it was renamed period of time, the active population in the metropolitan area was “Tractorul.” In the 60s and 70s the city became very industrialized due to somewhere between 30 and 50%, with the highest figure in Brașov city. By the development of the heavy industry sector. One of the main plants at 2007, 75,000 people had lost their jobs in the wider metropolitan area. that time was Roman Brașov, where German MAN AG trucks were The most affected was the industrial sector. In Brașov two thirds of manufactured, as well as domestic trucks and coaches. The industry sector manufacturing workers were laid off. has declined in the transition period after 1989, as many factories closed The same declining tendency has been noticed in the agriculture down and many people lost their jobs. However, there are still a few sector, where four of five people lost their jobs. But the losses in these plants manufacturing trucks and agricultural machinery, auto-parts, two sectors were compensated by the increasing number of new hires in construction and service areas. Today, more than 60% of the employees in 23 The Status of Brașov city available at the wider metropolitan area work in the service sector, while 39% are http://www.Brașovcity.ro/documente/public/Statut-Mun-Bv-Extras.pdf employed in industry and only one percent are still engaged in agriculture. 17 Brașov is an important academic center, gathering thousands of The Local Council Brașov is granting tax breaks for owners who students in its six universities. The city is home to the Black Church, the have thermally rehabilitated their residential buildings on their own main Gothic style monument in the country and one of the largest expenses: they benefit from a 20% reduction of the building tax they owe 24 Lutheran worship places in the region, and also of the first Romanian to the local budget over a period of minimum seven years. In addition, school built in 1495. The mountain resorts near Brașov, such as Poiana people who renovate their building façade on their own expenses benefit Brașov, Predeal, and Bran attract annually a significant number of from a tax exemption on the building taxes for a period of five years. domestic and international tourists. The Management of Energy and Environment Agency Brașov (ABMEE) is an independent non-profit organization promoting energy The Black Church efficiency and it was established in 2003, with support from the European Commission Program SAVE II, a tool fostering rational use of renewable energy and advancing energy efficiency in the transport sector. ABMEE is one of the eleven local agencies organized in Romania benefitting from EU support. The agency, which is acting under the city government, is primarily promoting energy efficiency decisions and the use of alternative energy, acting as an intermediary between local and national players in the energy market. AMBEE is assisting local authorities in the design of energy projects and the distribution of public information on energy conservation. The agency is involved in creating a database on energy and environment indicators as a basis for sustainable development programs. ABMEE was involved in the preparation of the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) of Brașov city, submitted to the European Union under the Covenant of Mayors, and is currently acting as a monitoring structure for the implementation of the plan. Other activities of the local energy agency include monitoring of energy consumption in public buildings, organizing Source: City Hall Brașov trainings and public campaigns in the field of energy, etc. The president of the agency is the Mayor of Brașov. Local Energy Efficiency Laws The Board of Directors gathers local stakeholders in the field of The city is actively involved in energy projects and is part of a number of energy, including the City Hall and some of the public service operators, energy-related organizations. Brașov has been one of the beneficiaries of such as the Local Transport Authority, solid waste operators, the the Rehabilitation Program of Residential Buildings Built between 1950 electricity provider, the street lighting operator, the Environment and 1989 coordinated by the former Ministry of Regional Development Protection Agency Brașov, the National Regulatory Authority for Energy and Tourism (currently, Ministry of Regional Development and Public (ANRE), and the Technical University Brașov. One of the projects the Administration). Under this program aimed at increasing energy efficiency agency is currently working on is “Bambini” (children), aiming to teach the in the apartment buildings built during the communist regime, the city was granted close to RON 24 million for the thermal insulation of more 24 than 5,400 apartments in 132 multi-story residential buildings. The Brașov County Council decision available at: https://extranet.Brașovcity.ro/Registratura/Hotarari/Detaliu.aspx?registru=HOT- HCL&nr=99&an=2012 18 kids about simple mobility measures and inspire parents to use their the city was able to reduce the greenhouse emissions by 7%, i.e., 1,525 private vehicles less, so they can pass to their children the eco-friendly tons of CO2, from the rehabilitation work on schools and other education mobility concepts from a very early age. In partnership with the European facilities. Energy savings were also made in the street lighting sector Commission and some academic and non-profit organizations, including (12.1%) and public transport (5%). After 10 buses with energy recovery the Technical University of Crete and Sofia Energy Center from Bulgaria, system entered service recently, the local public transport authority AMBEE provides training for technical personnel and electricians managed to reduce greenhouse emissions by 88 tons of CO2. The most interested in acquiring knowledge and becoming proficient in installing significant reduction of greenhouse emission, 70%, was achieved in the photovoltaic solar systems. district heating sector, where the heat produced in environmentally A few years ago, the Commission for Energy Efficiency was friendly co-generation replaced the heat produced in old, highly polluting organized within the Brașov City Hall to supervise new constructions in coal-based plants. the city and monitor the tender procedures for projects targeting energy The priority objectives of the Energy Program of Brașov 2010- efficiency. 2012 include the goals and targets the city has committed to reach. By Brașov was among the very first Romanian cities that have 2016 the city aims to reduce the energy consumption of end users and signed the Covenant of Mayors, right after the Convention was launched. public service utilities by a total of 20% by 2020. The city also plans to By signing this document, the city has agreed to reduce energy have at least 20% of energy used in the city come from green energy in consumption and greenhouse emissions. Under the Sustainable Energy the same timeframe. Starting in 2011, the city requires certain minimum Action Plan (SEAP), a document that has been submitted to Brussels in energy performance indicators applicable to all projects implemented in 2010, the city government assumed responsibility to achieve a very the city. Not in the least, by 2011, the local public administration was ambitious target of cutting down greenhouse emissions by 32% by 2020, supposed to prepare the carbon emission balance of the city in order to and reduce the overall energy consumption by 12%, compared to 2008 assess what would be the necessary measures Brașov should take in order levels. In absolute figures, Brașov aims to reduce the energy consumption to reduce the greenhouse emissions by 20% by 2020. Later on, the figure by almost 300,000 MWh, cut off 292,000 tons of CO2, and produce 92,000 was reviewed upward, from 20% to 32% by 2020. MWh of clean energy. The plan lays down around 110 measures and their Brașov city is holding the chairmanship of Orașe Energie implementation requires RON 1.7 billion investments (approximately 404 Romania (the Romanian “Cities Energy” network), a non-profit EUR million). According to SEAP, the target sectors for improving energy organization acting as a supportive structure at the national level for the efficiency are buildings - equipment/facility (municipal, residential, and Covenant of Mayors. The network is gathering 32 municipalities from tertiary buildings), public transport, local energy production from across the country, interested in improving energy efficiency in public renewable energy, heating & cooling system, and green procurement services, increasing the use of renewable energy, and promoting guidelines. environmental protection. From 2009 through 2013, Brașov held the vice- The energy action plan was among the first approved documents presidency of “Energy Cities”, a European association of local authorities submitted by Romania and the first among the seven growth poles in the active in the field of sustainable energy development. The association was country. The SEAP must be updated every two years. The city is receiving established in 1990 and gathers more than 1,000 towns and cities from 30 financial support from the Swiss Government to review the energy action European countries. They focus on strengthening the role and skills of plan. Recently, the Romanian-Swiss Fund awarded EUR 10 million to municipalities in the field of sustainable energy, influencing EU policies in implement projects aiming to reduce energy consumption and decrease the field of energy, environmental protection and urban sectors, and the levels and amount of carbon emissions. Romanian and Swiss experts developing initiatives through the exchange of experiences, transfer of will analyze and review the document. The first assessment indicates that know-how and joint implementation of projects. 19 Urban Growth and Energy Challenges in Brașov Brașov’s urban mass While the TRACE tool does not directly address this issue, one of the most efficient ways of encouraging energy efficiency in cities is by promoting dense development patterns and compact urban expansion. This can be done by strategically using spatial planning tools. The less dense and the more scattered a city is, the larger its energy expenditure will be. Basically, without density public transportation is less viable and more people rely on private cars for commuting; commutes in private cars tend to be longer in sprawled areas and city streets tend to congested, with cars spending 25 more time in traffic. Water and sewage networks have to cover a much wider area, requiring more energy for pumping and water delivery. Garbage trucks have to run longer collection routes and spend more time delivering waste to disposal sites. The street lighting network has to cover a greater number of streets and consume more energy. A district heating network becomes less viable in areas with small density because of the high production and distribution costs, and because heat losses are larger when the distribution network is bigger. Of course, as a World Bank study has shown, the large majority of cities worldwide (whether they are located in the developed or the developing world), are losing density. As more people come to rely on cars, they are also more willing to move further away from city centers. With an increase in expandable incomes, they can also afford larger homes. Local authorities are not powerless in addressing those challenges. They have a number of tools they can use to ensure that the Nonetheless, the southern part of the growth pole where the Tâmpa loss in density is not too pronounced and that the city expands in an Mountain is located, has very few developments. This lends the city an organized, compact, and sustainable fashion. The challenge is of course to elongated development pattern, from east to west, along the mountain do spatial planning at the metropolitan level. Even if sound planning tools ridge. are well implemented in the center city, if they are lacking or are poorly As the city will continue to grow and develop, it is important to implemented in peri-urban areas, the growth pole as a whole suffers. use spatial planning tools to address, to some extent, this elongated form. Overall, the Brașov growth pole is relatively compact, wit h few One of these tools is brownfields redevelopment. Brașov has a number of scattered settlements. unused or underused industrial sites scattered throughout the city, which can be redeveloped and could provide an alternative to greenfield development. 25 In fact, the dramatic decrease in density in Brașov is one of the main reasons why the tram network became less efficient and was ultimately removed. 20 Brașov Sector Analysis recommendations that are likely to have the most significant impact with regard to energy efficiency, for the lowest amount of effort and resources invested. The following analysis and recommendations are about how Brașov can The TRACE team completed on-site interviews and field visits that become a more sustainable city. Although the focus will stay on energy have helped form a more accurate picture of sustainability, challenges, efficiency, the scope of the analysis goes beyond that. Energy is quite easy and opportunities in Brașov city. The sections below include a concise to quantify and measure, and is also a great binding element for thinking analysis of each of the six sectors assessed with TRACE, along with some about a city in a broader manner. Pretty much everything that is done in a salient findings. city needs some form of energy input. Therefore, TRACE (Tool for Rapid Assessment of City Energy) is not just a tool for assessing potential energy Street Lighting and cost savings, but it is also an instrument that allows local authorities The street lighting system in Brașov is performing well. It is operated by a and policymakers to think about cities as a whole. Eventually, TRACE is a private ESCO (Energy and Saving Company), Flash Lighting Services. In diagnostic tool that helps cities become more sustainable. 2005, the company signed a concession agreement with the City Hall for TRACE is focusing on six municipal service areas: urban transport ten years, from 2005 through 2015, to modernize, expand the street (public and private), municipal buildings, water and wastewater, power lighting network, optimize the energy costs, and provide system and heat, street lighting, and solid waste. For each of these service areas, maintenance services. Old mercury based lamps have been replaced with TRACE requires the collection of a number of indicators. Some of these modern, more efficient sodium vapor ones. Today there are over 14,000 indicators are energy related (such as the fuel consumption of the public lighting poles spread across the city. More than 97% of the 500 kilometers transport fleet), others are not (e.g., the urban transport modal split). The of streets in the city are lit. indicators on energy help analyze energy and cost savings potential in each sector, while the non-energy indicators give a more clear picture of Street lighting pole in Brașov these public utility services, and help choose the most appropriate recommendations so that they go beyond just energy issues. Energy and cost savings potential are assessed through a benchmarking process. Individual indicators selected for Brașov are compared with similar indicators from other cities included in the TRACE database. This comparison can be made in different ways. Hence, cities can be compared based on level of development, climate, or population. Those cities that do better than Brașov on a particular indicator can become a benchmark that Brașov itself can aspire to. For example, if several cities have lower energy consumption per passenger kilometer in the public transport sector, it is an indicator that the local government of Brasov could achieve energy savings in the ‘Public Transport’ sector (by modernizing the bus fleet, purchasing energy efficient rolling stock, etc.). The energy and cost savings potential is calculated for each of the six Replacing old mercury bulbs with sodium vapor bulbs helped reduce the service areas. Consequently, a priority list is prepared based on where the energy consumption of the system and improved the overall efficiency of most significant cost savings could be achieved. The list leads to a set of the street lighting in the city. If in 2008 the electricity consumption for 21 street lighting accounted for almost 10,000,000 kWh, four years later it by. The tele-management system can open and turn off the street lighting went down by almost 20%, to 8,124,300 kWh. With a consumption of 550 from distance. The operation schedule is pretty flexible and it can be kWh per lighting pole, Brașov is doing better than most of the cities in the programmed for the entire network or just few streets, depending on the TRACE database with similar climate and Human Development Index - weather and season. This innovative system identifies in real time any un- including Belgrade and Sarajevo. The city is the most efficient in terms of authorized interventions on the lighting poles, and is able to detect illegal energy consumption per light pole among all seven growth poles. When it branching. comes to electricity consumed per kilometer of lit roads, the city is The public administration has ambitious plans to improve the performing reasonably well. The electricity consumption per kilometer of street lighting in Brașov. The most important project in this respect, which lit road accounts for 16,671 kWh, a figure which places Brașov on the will be implemented soon, is expanding the street lighting intelligent lower side of the TRACE database, as the city is doing better than other system throughout the city, with financial support from the 2007-2013 comparable Eastern European localities. Regional Operational Programme. The value of the project is RON 10.8 million and implementation will take up to 19 months. The city has been Energy Consumed per Km of Lit Roads (KWh/km) awarded the project and the work will begin very soon. In this way, Brașov will be the first city in Romania to have such an intelligent and performing lighting system, which would not only save energy but it will bring down greenhouse emissions, a target that the city government has taken on under SEAP. All light poles in the city will be equipped with sensors The expenditure for the entire street lighting system in 2012 (including lighting of buildings, holiday lighting, and operating the fountains) costs the municipality USD 1.8 million, which accounts for 1% of the city budget. A pilot project for an intelligent lighting system, called Smart Flash City, has been implemented by the City Hall and Flash Group (the street lighting operator) in October 2010. The project was implemented in The special devices which will be installed at the lower part on each of the Crinului, Neptun, Apollo, and Avram Iancu streets that had both car traffic street lighting poles will be connected to a SCADA-like system managed and pedestrian network. Special devices were installed in each of these from a central location. This will allow the adjustment of light intensity streets lighting poles so they could adjust the light intensity depending on based on the time of the day and actual traffic conditions. The tele- the traffic or pedestrian activity, but also stop the lighting of the buildings management devices can start off the lighting from one pole or from at night if there was no one walking in the area and no cars were passing 22 many poles, depending on the needs, and also dim the light whenever According to Brașov County School Inspectorate, there are 110 26 necessary. Such an innovative and performing system will also increase educational units in Brașov city, including 60 kindergartens and day the intensity of light in high transit areas, including markets, plazas, and cares, 27 schools, 5 high-schools, 14 national colleges, 4 sports schools, neighborhoods with a high crime rate. The SCADA system will be operated and one theological seminary. One educational unit may include more and controlled from the City Hall, by the local electricity operator, than one building, such as sports hall, dining halls, dormitories, art and Electrica Distributie Transilvania. It will be able to prompt timely response performance halls, building annexes, etc. The public property assets to any damage to the system and service interruption. Currently, it may include a number of administrative buildings in the city center and a few take several hours and sometime up to day for the street lighting operator health care facilities. or Electrica to sort out the problem, unless someone from the Data obtained from ABMEE indicate that the City Hall paid neighborhood makes a call and points out the issue. Once the new around RON 2.5 million for the electricity consumed in buildings under its intelligent lighting system will be implemented, it is expected to have a management, while the heating bill amounted to around RON 6.8 million. 30% drop in energy consumption as well as a reduction of energy bills by Thus, the energy expenditure for electricity and thermal heating RON 300,000 annually. amounted to around RON 9.3 million in 2012, or around USD 2.7 million. Before the final decision regarding this project was made, local As the SEAP report has shown, not all municipal buildings are authorities had to clarify the property of streets and lighting poles in the connected to the district heating system, and many of them use individual city, and shed light on the issue with regard to number of the lighting micro-heating units and other heating sources based on natural gas. poles. The actual number of the lighting poles was different from the one recorded in the city’s land registry. In order to clarify this issue , the city Municipal buildings electricity consumption – kWh / square meter authorities had to perform an inventory of the lighting poles in Brașov. The city government is planning on issuing a law stating that all the streets and street lighting poles in Brașov are the property of City Hall. Municipal Buildings Brașov is the only growth pole that has a comprehensive and functional database and instrument that tracks energy consumption in public buildings. The database is administered by ABMEE (the Local Agency for Energy Management and Environmental Protection), a public utility NGO, which was established in 2003. Several other cities in Romania have adopted this instrument to manage their own municipal buildings energy expenditure, and the instrument could be considered by the other growth poles too. All municipal buildings in Brașov are administered by the city 2 When compared to other cities in the TRACE database, Brașov has a mixed government, and they sum up a floor area that is around 260,000 m , performance. On the one hand, electricity consumption per square meter consuming around 4 million kWh of electrical energy per year, and around 41 million kWh of thermal energy per year. 26 Brasov County School Inspectorate info available at http://www.isjbrasov.ro/retea-scolara/21/harta-scoli.html 23 is relatively low – at 15.62 kWh/m2/year. This is the case in every growth On the other hand, municipal buildings in Brașov have a relatively high pole in Romania, and could be attributed to the fact that the largest thermal energy consumption when compared to other cities in the number of buildings managed by local authorities in Romania includes database – 159 kWh/m2/year. This high thermal energy consumption educational units, which generally have low electrical energy could, to some extent, be attributed to the relative high altitude at which consumption. Brașov is situated and to the harsh winters the city usually has. While two other growth poles however – Craiova and Ploiești, have a higher thermal Municipal buildings thermal energy consumption – kWht / square meter energy consumption, it is clear that Brașov could benefit from investments in the improvement of energy performance in municipal buildings, and it has already taken steps in this direction. Within the 2008 SEAP report, the city government outlined a series of projects to be implemented by 2020 to help reduce greenhouse emissions and cut down energy and heating bills. The targets include the modernization of administrative facilities, installing photovoltaic panels on education units to cover the partial energy consumption with renewable energy sources, and endowing municipal buildings with solar and thermal equipment for the preparation of hot water. The city government has actively supported energy savings and encouraged buildings (both public and private) to be proactive in trying to save energy. Quite a few steps have been taken in this respect to fund renovation and thermal rehabilitation work, and replace the classical heating systems with green energy-based equipment. Energy consumption in municipal buildings in Brașov Municipal Floor area Type of energy consumed Buildings Electricity consumption Heat consumption m2 kWhe/year RON kWh/ kWhth/year RON kWhth/ m2 m2 Day cares 3,741.00 95,185.00 63,816.18 25.44 1,027,789.00 154,923.24 274.74 Kindergartens 44,562.64 407,394.00 268,027.63 9.14 7,507,516.00 1,265,758.12 168.47 Gymnasiums 61,799.00 520,520.00 331,740.00 8.42 9,051,211.00 1,712,818.37 146.46 High schools 128,667.00 2,290,554.67 1,368,433.47 17.80 19,250,872.89 3,127,705.51 149.62 Administrativ 17,810.00 695,538.00 418,544.12 39.05 3,832,663.00 564,874.80 215.20 e buildings Total 256,579.64 4,009,191.67 2,450,561.40 40,670,051.89 6,826,080.04 158.51 24 Rehabilitated school in Brașov been 152,954 kWh per year in energy savings, which amount to RON 18,000. Another major project currently under way in Brașov city is developed with the support of the Regional the Operational Programme 2007-2013, and is related to the rehabilitation and modernization of the Remus Răduleț Technical College. Remus Radulet High-School, Brașov Source: mytext.ro For instance, in 2012 seven kindergartens and schools received money from the city budget for energetic rehabilitation work. Thermal rehabilitation and insulation work was performed at educational units, while four schools and kindergartens which were using heating stoves were connected to the district heating system. In 2010, three buildings hosting sport and social assistance activities in Brașov (namely the sports hall, the center for elderly people, and the center for homeless people) managed to reduce their energy Source: brasov.net consumption for the production of hot water and heat by using solar energy, as part of a national program aimed at replacing the classical It is the only project focusing on the rehabilitation of the high-school heating system with those using renewable energy. These buildings campus in Center Region, funded through European funds. The total cost managed to save 128,000 cubic meters/year of natural gas, which of the project amounts to RON 14 million, of which RON 12 million from amounted for approximately RON 140,000/year, in addition to a 77 tons the ROP. The project implementation timetable spans 28 months. It is a reduction in greenhouse emissions. very complex project that includes rehabilitation of the dorms, At the same time, four day care centers in the city, catering to modernization and purchasing of new equipment for laboratories, and the almost 400 children, entered into a program that supports the use of expansion of the sports hall. renewable energy by producing hot water using solar panels. Priority was A number of 17 educational units recently entered a thermal given to those education facilities that operate throughout the year rehabilitation process, and the work is expected to be completed soon. (including in the summer) and have the possibility of installing solar panels Among these buildings are six kindergardets and seven high-schools. The on the building, as well as a good positioning of the building towards the municipality will spend RON 13 million from the city budget for the sun. The energy produced from solar panels reduced the natural rehabilitation work, in addition to RON 3.6 million for sanitation and consumption by 60% a year. Following the installation of the solar panels, repairing work. In 2010 the local agency on energy efficiency finalized the the energy consumption for all day care centers amounted to around energy performance certificate of the City Hall building, as required by 254,000 kWh/year, the equivalent of RON 30,000 per year; there have Law 372/2005 on buildings energy performance. 25 The City Hall Brașov Electricity distribution network Source: casafatului.ro The calculation was based on the achievement of specific indicators. Thus, Source: punctual.ro for its certified building the City Hall has been awarded energy class B (close to C) - good to very good - and energy class B (very good) for the For instance, in October 2012, the electricity requirements to satisfy the reference building. needs of the domestic clients in the city was 13.3 GW/ hour on average, while the amount supplied to economic agents was 10 GW/hour, and for Power Sector large industrial clients 12 GW/hour. The consumption varies from month There are 177 electricity suppliers in Romania of which only 10% are to month and from the hot to the cold season. For instance, in October, actually active. Six energy supply companies are operating in Brașov. The domestic consumers used 17 million kWh of electricity, almost 20% more largest of these is Electrica Furnizare Transilvania Sud, which is supplying than in January, when the consumption dropped to 13.2 million kWh. One 90% of the electricity in the city. The company was established in 2011 as of the explanations for this difference could be that some people who one of the largest electricity suppliers in Romania, covering the central have individual micro-heating units could have used these more in the part of the country, and catering for six counties: Brașov, Covasna, winter than in the summer. Harghita, Mureș, Sibiu, and Alba. The average price for 1 kWh of electric energy in 2012 was RON The losses in the distribution and transmission system are 11%, 0.43 without VAT. At the beginning of 2013 the Romanian Energy while the commercial losses amount to roughly 2%, the national average. Regulatory Authority (ANRE) regulated the price for captive consumers The company caters to 121,000 domestic customers, 7,000 economic (the domestic clients who do not have the technical capability to choose agents, and 30 large clients from the industry sector. The total amount of the electricity provider and connect directly to the network). Some electricity sold in Brașov city in 2012 amounted to 427 million kWh of economic agents fall in the same category of captive consumers, so they which 389.7 million kWh was supplied by Electrica Furnizare. use the same tariffs set by ANRE. The price of electricity depends on actual consumption, time of day, type of electricity, level of voltage, and type of consumer. For instance, for a low voltage electricity of up to 1 kV, the tariff starts from RON 0.1738 without VAT (if reserved in advanced), and it can go up to RON 0.8165 in the peak time. 26 People with low income pay the “social tariff”, which is a reduced the first green campus of its kind in the country. The project was financed tariff applicable since 2008 only to domestic consumers with a monthly from the Operational Program for Increasing Economic Competitiveness income less than or equal to the minimum wage. They can pay as low as (POSCCE), with a total value of EUR 24 million, benefitting from support RON 0.2008 for 2 kWh a day and go as high as RON 0.9502 if they exceed from the state budget as well as the university’s own resources. 3 kWh per day. The average tariff for economic agents and industrial A number of green energy projects have been already developed consumers ranges between RON 0.2788 and RON 0.8502 per kWh. The in Brașov County and some are under way. The first photovoltaic park in tariffs at night for high voltage equal or above 110 kV from 10 PM through the county was developed at Ucea de Jos, a village about 90 kilometers 7 AM are lower (RON 0.2230 per kWh), compared to the tariffs in the peak from Brașov city, where a Czech company invested approximately RON 9 time (RON 0.4878 per kWh). million for an energy facility with an installed capacity of 5 MW. A German A few years ago, in 2009, the Technical University of Brașov company, in partnership with a few Romanian private investors who have commenced a project to build the Development Research Institute already opened one of the largest photovoltaic parks in Eastern Europe at GENIUS (Green Independent Energy Campus), a self-sustainable energy Isaccea in Tulcea County, is planning to develop a rooftop photovoltaic education facility dedicated exclusively to the study and research activities project in Brașov city with an installed capacity of 536 KWh. Currently, on renewable energy (solar, photovoltaic, and geo-thermal). Eleven another photovoltaic project, managed by a Swiss company, is under way laboratories are dedicated to the study of renewable energy and they aim at Ucea. The project is spread across 420 hectares and requires to achieve energy autonomy. The studies focus on combined classical and investments of EUR 250 million. renewable energy solutions to produce heat and electricity. Urban Transport The GENIUS Campus in Brașov Public Transport Local public transport in Brașov is organized by the Local Transport Authority Brașov (Regia Autonomă de Transport), an autonomous company under the city government. The public transport system includes buses and trolleybuses. In 2006, local authorities have decided to give up the tram network, which used to serve only one route in Brașov (connecting two neighborhoods in the city – Rulmentul and Tractorul). The reasons behind the decision had to do with the deterioration of existing infrastructure and with financial aspects, given the closure of many large local industrial plans. After some deliberation, public administration managers considered that the rehabilitation of the tram network, along with the replacement of the old, noisy trams with new rolling stock, would Source: marketwatch.ro have been too costly for the city. Currently, the transport in the city is organized along 37 routes The first buildings of the campus were inaugurated in 2012. The campus is operated by buses and midi-buses, and 8 routes served by trolleybuses supporting a “zero-energy” building concept and is endowed with special from 5:30AM through midnight during weekdays, and from 6:30AM equipment capable of supplying thermal and electrical energy based on through 10:30PM during weekends and holidays. solar panels, photovoltaic panels, heating pumps, and biomass. The campus includes a Green Data Center in partnership with IBM and is the 27 Bus operating in Brașov where each bus has its own labeled recipient. The buses running on EURO 3 diesel are receiving the fuel directly from the gas pumps located inside the bus depot. The bus fleet has another 33 MAZ buses whose life cycle has reached 92%. In addition, there are 45 MAZ buses which have been bought in early 2000s and which have exhausted their life cycle entirely. There are also two types of 15 MBO buses with a capacity between 106 and 162 passengers and an occupancy ratio of 65%. The trolleybus fleet comprises 38 vehicles of which 11 vehicles have a length of 12 meters, while the rest are standard size second hand, old Volvo and MAN trolleybuses. The total length of trolleybus routes is close to 95 kilometers. The length of the bus routes in the city is 440 kilometers. In addition, 147 kilometers are operated by BMC buses. Since 2006, trolleybuses have replaced the only tram route in the city. At In 2012, the annual spending on fuel to operate the bus and present, the public transport fleet comprises 258 buses and trolleybuses. trolleybus fleet was over $ 10.6 million, which roughly accounts for a third The public transport network connects the downtown area to all of RAT Brașov’s annual operational budget. The diesel expenditure was neighborhoods in the city, allowing passengers to get to the closest USD 6.6 million, while the rest of USD 4 million is the cost for electricity. station within a 5 to 10 minute timeframe, by foot. In 2006, City Hall The amount of diesel necessary to operate the bus fleet in 2012 Brașov and RAT Brașov received a EUR 15 million loan from the European amounted to almost USD 4 million liters. In 2012 RAT Brașov paid an Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to modernize the public average price of RON 5.75 per liter of diesel, including VAT. In the same transport system and replace old buses with modern vehicles. 109 buses year, the company paid approximately RON 0.359 per kWh of electricity of different capacity compliant with EURO 3 greenhouse standard for trolleybuses. emissions were bought, of which 28 small buses and 81 large and medium vehicles. Trolleybus in Brașov There are 25 large capacity vehicles with a length of 18 meters, ready to accommodate 130 passengers. The rest of the fleet consists of medium capacity buses of 12 meters length, with a seating and standing capacity of 90 people. All 109 buses that have been purchased in 2006 reached 75% of their life cycle. The public transport fleet has also some small buses that can carry up to 70 people. In 2011, RAT Brașov purchased 15 BMC EURO 5 diesel buses of standard capacity from Turkey for which the company paid RON 14.5 million. These buses run on a special fuel that contains just a very small amount of sulphate. Initially, this fuel used to be brought in from Indonesia, but since 2013 it had become available at some Romanian oil producers. The fuel is kept in special containers in the RAT Brașov depot, 28 Overall, the energy consumption from 2008 to 2012 went down by 7%, to receive 10 free rides per month and a 50% discount when purchasing 4,143 toe (Tons Equivalent Oil), which enabled the local transport tickets. company to cut down the fuel expenditure by 7%. One of the reasons is that the traffic flow in the city had improved, so buses and trolleybuses Public Transport Tariff (RON/trip) did not have to spend too much time waiting in traffic. Brașov is doing very well in terms of energy efficiency in public transport, accounting for only 0.194 MJ per passenger kilometer. This figure puts the city among the top performers in the TRACE database compared to other cities with similar Human Development Index. The city performs better than some European cities, such as Budapest, Skopje, or Warsaw. The public transport energy intensity of Brașov is the same as for Ploiesti, and below some of the growth poles, like Constanța and Craiova. Passengers pay a flat tariff of RON 2 per trip, similar to most of the growth poles in Romania, except for Constanța and Ploiești, where the ticket price is slightly lower. Public Transport Energy Consumption (MJ/ passenger km) Source: Local transport authorities from the seven growth poles Starting in 2014, the buses will need to be replaced. RAT Brașov hopes that the next ROP financial programming 2014-2020 will help modernize both the bus and trolley bus fleet. By 2015, the local transport company will complete the reimbursement of the EBRD loan, and so they will be able to focus entirely on purchasing new rolling stock. Some thought is given to purchasing hybrid buses that operate on clean fuel and with less impact on the environment. In this way, RAT Brașov aims to fulfill the commitments the municipality had taken once it signed the Covenant of Mayors – i.e., to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse emissions by at least 20% by 2020. Overall, the public transport sector needs roughly EUR 100 million to meet the targets set with regard to cutting down fuel consumption and lowering greenhouse emissions. RAT Brașov and the As in many cities in Romania, Brașov Local Council provides ridership city government are hoping that the ROP 2014-2020 will allow them to incentives for certain categories of citizens. Former political prisoners and purchase new rolling stock. Given its good pervious credit performances people who have been persecuted by the communist regime, war and the proven capability to pay back loans in time, the public transport veterans, former participants to the 1989 Revolution, and children under company could apply for loans of up to a fifth of the EUR 100 million the age of five ride for free. Students have 50% discount for monthly necessary to invest in the modernization of the fleet. passes, while school kids get 25% off. The City Hall subsidizes public transporation for retired people with a pension lower than RON 800. They 29 A traffic and monitoring system of the public and private is no wonder that the private transport energy consumption of Brașov is transport currently operates within City Hall, but local authorities are pretty high, i.e., 2.1739 MJ passenger kilometers, placing the city in the considering an integrated traffic management and monitoring system that first half of the TRACE database. could provide a better administration of the transport system in the city. An application was submitted by the City Hall and RAT Brașov to the Traffic in Brașov Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013 and is currently under evaluation. Local authorities have ambitious plans in the upcoming future to modernize the public transport in the city, buy new rolling stock including hybrid buses, and improve the overall efficiency of the system. Projects outlined in this respect will likely be included for ROP 2014-2020 funding, and are targeting the construction of five terminals with park and ride facilities, e-ticketing systems, and expanding the public transport in the metropolitan area. Not in the least, RAT Bra șov is thinking to take further steps and train the bus drivers on driving more carefully, with fewer breaks and less speeding, as a way of cutting down fuel consumption. Private Transport As with many other cities in Romania, traffic in Brașov is quite congested. Indeed, the energy intensity of the city is lower than some of other More than two decades of transition and economic development along European cities such as Budapest, Paris, and Warsaw, but is at least 50% with investments in the region pushed for a rapid expansion of the private higher than in some other cities (e.g., Sarajevo, or Belgrade). The energy vehicle stock. consumption is similar to Ploiești and Craiova, and it is slightly higher than The city’s location along the București-Ploiești-Brașov growth in Timișoara, Iași, and Cluj-Napoca. corridor, the access of people to better opportunities, the proximity to the mountain resorts, have all brought more development to the area and Private transport energy consumption - MJ/passenger km have subsequently provided more expendable income for people. In this context, the number of private vehicles in the city has gone up significantly. People bought more cars in recent years and used them not only for commuting to their workplace in or outside the city, but also for leisure, traveling to and from mountain resorts. Nowadays there are almost 100,000 cars registered with the Traffic Police Bureau Brașov. For a population of 253,200 people, the number of cars indicates that there is one vehicle for every 2.5 people. One third of cars use diesel, while two-thirds run on gas. The fuel consumption for private cars in 2012 exceeded 44.2 million liters, for which USD 80 million were spent. Given this figure, there 30 As of 2012, there have been almost 1,600 registered taxis in the city and who bring old cars a premium for buying a new car. Since its inception in around 1,000 mopeds. The City Hall has stopped issuing taxi 2005, the program has played an important role in helping renew the authorizations since 2012 because the number of cars reached the ceiling vehicle fleet in Romania. For instance, in 2010 a number of 186,854 old allowed by the local legislation. cars have been scrapped and the vouchers have been used to purchase A few years ago, the City Council adopted a law limiting the almost 60,000 new vehicles. number of taxis in Brașov to one car for 1,000 people. Based on the population of the city, the maximum number of cars allowed should be Taxi tariffs (RON/km) in the Growth Poles around 2,300. However, as this threshold has already been reached, the local government is not issuing any new licenses. Taxis must obtain authorization from City Hall, which is also responsible for regulating the price and the color of cars. The regulation says that the cars used as taxis should not be more than five years old. Most of the cars charge RON 1.35 per kilometer, which is the cheapest rate among the seven growth poles. Taxis in Brașov Source: taxi companies in seven growth poles Like in other growth poles, the city lacks information on the transport mode split. The local government does not have information on how many people use public transport, how many walk, and how many of them commute using their own cars. City authorities should document information on trips, to understand exactly how many people complete trips and commute in the city and by what means. Without documenting Source:todoinbrasov.blogspot.com such information, it is almost impossible to do proper transport planning. The road length in Brașov city is 500 kilometers, of which 430 Approximately one third of private cars in the city are between 6 and 10 kilometers have been rehabilitated in recent years. There are also a years old. A little over a fifth of the fleet is between 11 and 15 years old, number of parking facilities in the city, both private and public. and 13% between 16 and 20 years old. Almost 17% of the cars are older The public parking spots owned by the City Hall have been taken than 20 years, whereas 12% are between 3 and 5 years old, and only 2% under concession by a private company. Due to the lack of parking and the are up to two years old. Like all cities in Romania, Brașov is taking part in increasing number of cars, the municipality has to come up with a plan to the national scrappage program (“Programul Rabla”), which offers people expand the parking system in the city and accommodate more cars. To 31 this end, the city government thought about unblocking the parking Parking in Brașov by meters and text messages spaces from the city center that have been allotted for public institutions and private companies. Parking spots in Brașov Sources: newsbv.ro; ciocalau.ro However, the price is different when paying by cell phone than using coins. Those who use the parking meters pay RON 1.5 per hour, whereas people who pay through their cell phones are charged with EUR 0.4 per During business hours they should be used by the entities that have been hour plus VAT (roughly 1.8 RON plus VAT). The flat rate per 12 hours of entitled to park their cars, but afterward these parking spots should be parking from 8 AM through 8 PM is EUR 2.60 plus VAT. The city made available to everybody else. At the beginning of 2013 the City Hall government is planning to ease the payment system and modernize the Brașov started auctioning over 2,800 parking spots that have been leased parking meters to give people the option to also pay with bills, in addition to residents who missed to pay their due fees. The first leg of the to coins. auctioning was organized between March and May 2013 and should be The City Hall has been very active in applying for EU funds to continued in the summer, if necessary. So far, almost 35,000 residents expand and improve the parking system in Brașov. In the near future it is have rented out parking spots from the City Hall. Of these, 1,423 have expected that the city will benefit from approximately EUR 10 million from been given for free to disabled people and other groups. structural funds, including ROP 2007-2013 funds, to build a number of In April 2013, Brașov joined a number of select cities in the new parking lots. This will add up a few hundreds of new spots to the country (including Timișoara, Arad, Oradea, and Satu-Mare) that have already existing parking facilities in the city and Poiana Brașov, the implemented a simple and attractive payment method for parking by mountain resort administered by the Brașov local government, easing up mobile phone. The driver sends a text message with the registration the painful parking issue for both city residents and tourists. Soon after number of his/her car, and instantly receives a text message with the the contracts will be signed, parking facilities will be built in areas such as confirmation of the payment, including the confirmed time of parking. The Spitalul Militar and Biblioteca Județeană, Dealul Warthe, as well as in parking time can be extended using the same method, by simply sending a Poiana Mică. text message. Now the payment for parking can be done both by putting parking meters and by sending an SMS. 32 The location of the upcoming parking near the County Library protect these buildings from noise and pollution, the local government decided to operate only small buses in the city center. Pedestrian network in Piața Sfatului Source:adevarul.ro The City Hall already secured 2007-2013 ROP funding for building a multi- level parking structure in Poiana Brașov and now the tender for choosing the construction company is under way. Serious efforts have also been targeted at developing a good However, Brașov is not doing well in terms of its bicycle network. There pedestrian network. Recently, city authorities have developed the main are only 15 kilometers of dedicated lanes for bicyclists. Moreover, even pedestrian area in the historical center, surrounding Piața Sfatului and the this small network is not in the best shape, as it has not been rehabilitated Republicii Street area. In 2008, at least 10 streets in the city center were in a long time. closed to car traffic, and they were repaved with cobblestone. This project Despite this, the residents are very pro-active with respect to the cost EUR 4.5 million, with support from the ROP 2007-2013. use of bicycles, and they have petitioned the local government to push the Now Diaconu Coresi, Sfântul Ioan, Michael Weiss, Ludwig Roth, city managers to take the necessary steps to improve and expand the bike and Paul Richter are a few of the streets that have become essentially paths in the city. The StudentOBike project was launched in 2010, pedestrian. The car traffic is restricted to only residents who live in the providing 100 bicycles to students to help them commute between the area and drive their vehicles to the backyard of their buildings. Once University’s buildings in the city. Immediately after, the municipality made pedestrian works were completed, the municipality focused on the available another 100 bicycles to be used for free for two hours daily. In restoration of the building façades in the downtown area, including in the 2010, the municipality in partnership with a commercial bank and Green Republicii and Mureșenilor Streets and the adjacent small streets and Revolution Association launched a new bike program. 50 bicycles are allies. When the city authorities banned the traffic in some parts of the available at the docking station located in the city center in Piața Sfatului city, they had in mind the level of noise and vibrations that could have a the main pedestrian plaza in Brașov. The project aims to encourage biking negative impact on the old, beautiful historical buildings. In order to in the city and determine people to rely less on their private cars. 33 Bike lane in Brașov of Brașov was one of the largest in the country, spread over 30-40 hectares, and located just 6 kilometers away from the city center. The district heating plant, known better as CET (Thermal Electrical Center) was commissioned in the 1980s, using Russian technology, and it was managed directly by the national government. The plant became operational in 1990. CET was designed as an oversized steam producer based on coal to serve the industrial sector in the region. In those days, the plant operated 90% on coal and 10% on natural gas, with a very small scale of heat produced in co-generation. The total installed capacity of the plant was 100 MW electrical and 370 MW thermal. The plant was catering primarily to the industrial sector in Brașov, a sector which was spread over 100 hectares, with a total of 50,000 employees. At that time, 60% of the customers were represented by industrial factories, and only 40% were domestic clients living in communist-style residential buildings. The latter accounted for a little over 36,000 apartments in 1990. After 1989, there have been times when the plant was running out of fuel and had no money to buy the fuel (coal) to produce heat. People were freezing in cold residential buildings because the plant could not provide them with heat. In April 2013, the feasibility study for the construction of two bike lanes comprising a total of 7 kilometers in Poiana Brașov was approved by the Old CET facility city government. The construction of the new bike network and docking station is expected to be completed within 22 months. The upcoming network for bicyclists is expected to make the mountain resort more attractive to tourists. In the past couple of years there have been discussions regarding the expansion of the bike network to the metropolitan area, between Brașov and Râ snov via Cristian. The project has been abandoned, however, due to a lack of available land for building the network in Cristian. District Heating The district heating sector in Brașov is managed by two operators: Bepco, a private company that is the main producer of water and heat in the city, and Tetkron, a public company under the local government that is the heat distributor and supplier. Tetkron alo produces heat that is supplied to a few neighborhoods in the city. Before 1989, the district heating system 34 The political pressure was high and the national government used to send are of a modular type and can expand their production and serve more trains of coals to Brașov in order to provide the plant with fuel to restart clients, if necessary. the heat production. Tetkron is the hot water / heat distribution and supply company Part of the problem with CET was related to production, part was in Brașov, and also the heat producer for a few neighborhoods in the city. concerning the distribution system. Once the local industry died and many The company was established in 2011 and has 99% shares from the City plants in the Brașov region were closed down (e.g., the Tractorul factory), Hall Brașov. As of 2013, Tetkron is operating a network of 328 kilometers CET started incurring heavy losses. Soon after, the centralized heating of pipelines, of which 69 kilometers for transport and 259 kilometer for system gradually lost a significant number of customers – most of which distribution. The hot water network and pipelines are owned by the city switched to micro-heating units. In 2002, the main heat transmission and government. Today, through this network, Tetkron is supplying hot water distribution network was taken over by the City Hall. For a few years, the and heat for 15% of the existing apartments in the city – 12,000 of 80,000. City Hall covered the losses, about EUR 14 million per year. However, in At the same time, the public company produces heat through 2010, the plant has become insolvent, so the heat production stopped. neighborhood plants and thermal sub-plants in Bartolomeu and Astra In addition to CET, another natural gas-based district heating neighborhoods in Brașov. plant, Metrom, was providing thermal energy to 10% of customers in the region (around 22,000 customers in total). More than 19,000 apartments Bepco’s co-generation plant in Brașov received hot water and heat from 30 decentralized sub-plants. Overall, in the 1990s, almost 80,000 apartments in the city were connected to the district heating system, which supplied thermal energy based on steam. By the beginning of the 2000s, all district heating facilities in Brașov supplied less than 15,000 customers (6,000 apartments were connected to CET, 500 to Metrom, and only 4,000 received heat from decentralized sub-stations). In 2010, Bepco, a private company, signed a 15-year concession agreement with the city government over the heat production in the city. The company started the heat production in 2011, becoming the main thermal energy producer in Brașov. Bepco invested EUR 33 million to generate new business, and to this end has built new power plants based on co-generation. The company produces heat for the northern part of the city, and Tractorul and Florilor neighborhoods. The investment took place in two phases. During the first leg of the investment process, the company spent EUR 21 million to build four new, modern power co-generation plants, and replaced the two old Technically, Tetkron is buying hot water from Bepco and further delivers it facilities, CET and Metrom. During the second phase the company to the customers in the city. There is a commercial contract between completed the construction and become operational. The installed Tetkron and Bepco, which involves also the City Hall. capacity of the co-generation plant is 42.7 MW electric, and 107.9 MW thermal, and it is designed to cater to 20,000 apartments. The new plants 35 District heating pipe apartments leaving the district heating plant in favor of individual micro- heating units. Heat Tariff (RON/Gcal) Source: www. brasov.net Source: www.anrsc.ro In 2012, the overall production cost for the hot water/heat was RON The City Hall failed to inform Bepco that disconnections were under way, 244.62 per Gcal. Tetkron is paying Bepco RON 150 per Gcal without VAT, and the company found about it while these were ongoing. In the past st and sells it for RON 170 per Gcal to the population. (From October 1 few years, only a thousand people disconnected from the district heating 2013 onwards the cost of heat purchased from Bepco went up to RON plant, a smaller number compared to previous time period. Currently, 163.2 per Gcal). The price for population is including a 14.3% discount, 12,000 apartments are connected to the district heating system operated from the original price of RON 198.5/Gcal. The difference from RON 170 by Bepco. to RON 244.62 per Gcal (the production cost) comes in the forms of After Bepco took over the old district heating plant, the company subsidies from the city budget. The subsidies are calculated based on the managed to increase its efficiency, from only 25% in the early 90s to 75% difference between the production cost and the original price for today. But despite of the good performance in this respect, in 2012 the population. Tetkron, the heat supplier, provides incentives for those who losses in the transport and distribution system went up to 69%, of which pay the bill within two weeks. 50% are losses in the transmission network, and 39% in the distribution The economic agents and other type of customers pay RON 393 network. This figure is the highest in the TRACE database among cities per Gcal. Brașov has the third highest price for heat of all the seven that operate district heating systems. It is much higher than any other growth poles (see figure below), and the smallest number of customers – comparable city in Europe: almost double as in Pristina and almost three 12,000. This is a huge drop from the early 1990s when 80,000 apartments times more than in Cluj-Napoca or Ploiești. The losses are the highest were connected to the centralized heating system. In 2010, when Bepco among the growth poles in Romania. was just about to take over the heat production there were 26,800 apartments connected to the district heating system. But in the summer of 2010 a massive disconnection took place, with more almost 10,000 36 Percent of heat loss from the network and December 2011, the number of apartments disconnected from the district heating plants in the country decreased every year. For instance, in 2007, there were 41,878 apartments disconnected from the district heating system, and the number came down to 40,064 apartments in 2008. In 2009, only 32,582 apartments disconnected from the heating system. This trend created the false impression that the evolution of the de-branching is positive and will keep smoothing as people would connect back to the system. But the surprise came in 2010, when the total number of apartments disconnected in the country went up to 59,035 – 81% higher than in 2009. In 2011, the number went up by a further 19% over the previous year. There are good news too, though, as some people chose to connect back to the centralized system. From 243,991 apartments that have been disconnected from the system between 2007 and 2011, around At the beginning of 2013 the losses came slightly down to 64%. The losses 10% (28,544) decided to connect back. Only in 2011, 10,013 apartments in the system are higher in the winter than in summer, as is to be connected back to the network, with 232% more than in 2010. expected. For example, the total hot water loss due to leakages in the pipelines and non-payments of bills amount to 42 cubic meters per hour Residential buildings in Brașov in the winter, and then go down to 25 cubic meters per hour in the summer. Of the 1,100 cubic meters of hot water injected in the pipes during winter time, 42 cubic meters are gone every hour. The volume of the transmission pipes is 11,300 cubic meters. The transport pipes are older than the distribution network, therefore incurring more losses. The total expenditure to produce heat is around EUR 16 million, of which 60 to 70% goes for fuel (natural gas). The heat supply company, Tetkron, is incurring heavy losses, as the network is old and obsolete, and leakages in the transmission and distribution system are high. Therefore, Bepco, the heat producer, gave Tetkron a commercial discount of EUR 2 million, as a financial support for the supply company to help improve its network. The money accounts for Source: www.realitatea.net 40% of the Tetkron’s annual operational expenditure. This discount has been given at the same time when the Brașov City Hall made some There are two major reasons responsible for the disconnections from the investments in the heat distribution network in Astra neighborhood, as district heating system in Romania: the low price of natural gas and the part of a project connecting this part of the city to Bepco’ heating plant. poor quality of hot water and heat services. There is also an individual From the mid-2000s onward, a massive disconnection from the preference for controlling the heat level, which is perceived to be easier district heating system took place in Romania. However, according to the when owning a micro-heating unit than when relying on the centralized Public Service Utility Regulatory Authority (ANRSC), between May 2007 37 system. These factors are the same culprits in Brașov. Once the industrial water is available to all apartments in the building, including upper floors, plants were closed down, many people lost their jobs and moved out of at any given time of the day. the city. Population numbers also went down, while quality of heat and In the future, the two district heating players in Brașov are hot water services became increasingly poor. Since the plant used to thinking about starting an incentive pilot program to determine people to produce hot water only in the winter, people often did not receive hot reconnect to the centralized heating system. Bepco and Tetkron are water in the summer. Even when hot water was available, it could not get planning to allow some of the apartments who switched to individual through the upper floors. Therefore, it was not a surprise to anyone that heating units to reconnect to the centralized system and, at the same once individual micro-heating units were made available in Brașov many time, stay connected to their plants. In this way, people will have the residents switched to them. chance to compare the centralized heating system with the micro-heating units, and then see which one works best for them. Micro-heating units have replaced central heating for many consumers The main concern of the local authorities and heat operators is to address the losses in the transmission and distribution network, improve the overall efficiency of the system, and increase the quality of services to customers. An upcoming project with a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is targeting the rehabilitation of the district heating network. In the future, there are more projects in the pipeline targeting the upgrading of the district heating network. Water Sector Potable Water The water sector in Brașov, both potable and waste water, is managed by a public company under the County Council Brașov. Apa Brașov is a regional operator, with 49% shares from the Brașov County , 49% shares from all municipalities to which the company is catering water, and 2% shares from the company’s employees. The company is responsible for producing, pumping, treating and distributing potable water, as well as Source: www.ziareromania.ro managing waste water treatment. Apa Brașov is using both underground and surface water sources. However, switching to these micro-plants might have worked out in the The water is drawn from many sources, including underground wells, short term, but it does not seem to be a feasible solution in the long run, spring water, and lakes. The company is buying the raw water from the as the price of natural gas is going up and will keep doing so as part of the Water Management Service Brașov (SEGA) and from the National liberalization process of the energy market expected to be completed by Administration for Land Improvement (ANIF). Part of the water is 2017. Since 2011, the number of customers connected to the centralized delivered by gravity, part is pumped from underground wells. While the heating plant went slightly up, as the people started reconnecting back to water drawn from underground wells is stored in reservoirs and is only the system. In addition to the growing natural gas prices, another treated with chlorine before being supplied to the population, the water incentive for reconnection is the improved quality of services. Now hot from other sources needs more intensive treatment. For instance, lake water must be both treated and chlorinated. There are several pumping 38 stations and only one potable treatment plant serving the City of Brașov, Energy density to produce potable water (kWhe/cubic meter) located near Tărlung Lake. The pumping stations are at least 12 years old and need to be modernized, and some of them have to be replaced entirely. As of 2010, the overall annual water production for Brașov was around 25 million of cubic meters, for which almost 6,000,000 kWh were used. The company sold a little over 14 million cubic meters of water. The water distribution network of the company throughout Brașov County is exceeding 1,040 kilometers. Around 772 kilometers are covering the urban area in the county, including Brașov city. Half of the water network th in the city is pretty old, as some of the pipelines have been built in the 19 century. The energy expenditure for producing and treating water amounts to 4.42% of the total operational budget of Apa Brașov. On average, approximately 0.24 kWh are necessary to produce one cubic A SCADA system is connected to the pumping stations and water network meter of drinking water. This figure puts Brașov in the lower side of the operated by the company. Losses in the water system account for an TRACE database, among the cities with the most efficient potable water average of 40%. This figure places Brașov in the first upper half of the system. From this perspective, Brasov is performing similarly to Ploiești, TRACE database. There are cities that are doing better than Brașov, such and better than other cities with a similar Human Development Index, as Ploiești, Budapest, and Ljubljana, and cities that are doing worse, such such as Banja Luka or even Vienna. From this perspective, Brașov and as Cluj-Napoca, Banja Luka, and Constanța. Ploiești have the most efficient potable water system s among the seven growth poles. Percentage of non-revenue water In 2012, the energy consumption for producing potable water in the entire area operated by Apa Brașov ranged between 0.43 kWh per cubic meter and 0.59 kWh per cubic meter. In 2010, the water consumption per capita in Brașov city was 176 liters per day. The city was performing better than similar cities within the TRACE database, such as Cluj-Napoca or Sarajevo, but there are some cities in the region with lower figures, like Ploiesti or Pristina. In 2012, water consumption per capita improved, as figures went down to only 120 liters per day, an equivalent of approximately 4 cubic meters of water per month. 39 Although the energy performance of the water system is quite good 2001, the company worked on an USD 18 million (approximately EUR 13.5 compared to other cities in the TRACE database, leakages in the systems million) rehabilitation project within the Municipal Utilities Development are quite significant. Most losses are due to old pipes. Although half of the Program (MUDP), with EBRD support. Under this project, 82.9 kilometers water network in the city has been rehabilitated, the leakage rate still of old water network connections were rehabilitated and almost 47 varies between 10 and 20% in metered areas. The losses can go up to 50% kilometers new connections were built, covering a total of 166 streets in in some of the areas where the pipe network is very old and where there the city. The water filtration hall within the Tărlung Water Treatment is no metering system. Plant was upgraded, which almost doubled the treatment capacity (from The tariffs for water are based on expenditure related to 370 liters per second to 600 liters per second). Four new reservoirs were production and distribution. As of 2010, the domestic consumers in put into function, three of them with a capacity of 5 million liters each, Brașov paid RON 2.63 without VAT per cubic meter of potable water and and one with a capacity of 2.2 million liters. Water meters were also RON 1.59 for one cubic meter of waste water. In 2011, Apa Brașov slightly installed in more than 6,500 residential buildings and households in the increased the tariffs to RON 3.47 including VAT per cubic meter for city. In order to be able to supply water to the city, including during dry domestic customers, and RON 2.39 including VAT for waste water. As of periods, the capacity of drilling wells doubled by replacing a number of 30 2013, the tariff applied to the population in Brașov for potable water is in old underground pumps. As of today, 97% of the domestic customers in the higher range compared to the other growth poles (see figure below). Brașov are connected to water meters. In early 2000s the company received EUR 3.4 million through the Large Scale Infrastructure Facilities Water Tariff (RON/cubic meter without VAT) component of the EU PHARE Program for the modernization of the water network and the rehabilitation of the sewage system in the city. Water treatment plant in Brașov County Source: ANRSC Since the early 1990s, the company has invested heavily in improving the Source: judbrasov.ro water network and increasing the overall efficiency of the system. Since then, Apa Brașov has accessed between EUR 80 to 100 million for system Another important project was funded through the ISPA Program and investments from different grants and loans (e.g., from the European Bank targeted the treatment of drinking water and wastewater collection in for Reconstruction and Development --EBRD--, from EU pre-accession and Brașov and neighboring localities. The total value of the project exceeded structural funds, as well as other funding sources). Between 1995 and 40 EUR 58 million. The project was developed during 2002 and 2010, and had Wastewater four components. The first one dealt with the rehabilitation of the water The wastewater sector is managed by Apa Brașov, the same company in treatment plant at Tărlungeni Lake. It increased the treatment capacity of charge with the potable water sector in the city. There are two the plant to a maximum flow of 2,200 liters per second, even when the wastewater treatment plants serving the City, of which one is located in water is very turbid. Other improvements include the monitoring and the outskirts of Brașov. automation of the entire technological process. The wastewater sector is very efficient and requires a small The other component focused on the development of the water amount of energy – only 0.06 kWh for treating one cubic meter of water. sewage network, sewer collectors and water supply in the region, Thus, in the TRACE database, Brașov ranks among the most efficient cities. including development of the drinking water distribution network in The city is also the most efficient among the growth poles in Romania. The Tractorul and Stupini neighborhoods. It covered the construction of 76 most noteworthy aspect about the wastewater treatment plan is that the kilometers of drinking water network and 8.72 kilometers of new sewage facility is able to produce biogas. The biogas is going through a filtration pipes in the city. In addition, the project included the installation of waste system that has the capacity to generate electricity. The installed capacity water flow meters equipped with data transmission connected to the of the plant is 230 kWh. The plant is producing 180 kWh of electricity, company’s integrated collection and control center. Under this which accounts for 80% of the necessary energy to run the plant. The component, 4,550 water meters were bought and installed. The third energy produced is used to operate the waste water treatment facility. As component of this large project increased the distribution efficiency of of 2011, the tariff for one cubic meter of wastewater was RON 2.39 additional water flow treated in the Tărlung treatment plant, and including VAT. rehabilitated the water supply network in Triaj neighborhood. Finally, the last component focused on eliminating flooding risks during rainfalls and Energy density for waste water treatment (kWhe/cubic meter) gravitational transport to the waste water treatment. In order to reduce the share of non-revenue water, Apa Brașov and its stakeholders need to further invest in the water network. Currently, a large project of RON 796 million (approximately EUR 186 million) focusing on the rehabilitation of the water and waste water sector in Brașov County is under implementation. The project is funded through Environmental Operational Program, with co-financing from a reimbursable loan of RON 80 million from EBRD guaranteed by the Brașov County Council. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2013, and is targeting the rehabilitation of old pipes, the extension of the drinking water network, the construction of a new pumping station and two new reservoirs, the rehabilitation of a treatment plant and the construction of two more facilities, the extension of the sewage network, the construction of 10 waste water pump stations, the rehabilitation of a Over time, the treatment plant was modernized and rehabilitated in order waste water treatment plant, and the construction of four more plants. to comply with EU environmental protection standards, and to improve the overall efficiency of the system. One of the first rehabilitation and upgrading works took place towards the end of the 1990s, and it was implemented through EBRD’s Municipal Utilities Development Program 41 with USD 8 million. Treatment capacity increased by up to 1,620 liters per Solid Waste second and the biological treatment technology was replaced with a new The solid waste system, including both collection and operation of the aeration system. In addition, a new ecological lagoon (the first of its kind) landfill, is managed by the private sector. There are primarily two was built. The lagoon complies with EU environmental standards companies, Urban and Comprest, both sharing almost equal business requirements and stores sludge resulted from the wastewater treatment shares in the waste collection in Brașov city. A very small share is held by a process. third company, Cibin. The only eco-framed solid waste landfill in Brașov Later on, another project continued to improve the performance County is located at Săcele, approximately 19 kilometers far from Brașov of the plant. This included, among other, the rehabilitation of de-sanding city. The landfill is managed by Fineco, a company for which one of the screens, of primary sludge pumps, of sludge digesters, the modernization main shareholders is Comprest. The ownership of the landfill is split of old tanks, and the construction of a new water treatment plant that between the local administrations of Săcele and Fineco. could produce biogas. The project also further increased the treatment A few years ago, the county managers thought to include the capacity from 1,620 liters per second to 2,200 liters per second, and landfill managed by Fineco in the Solid Waste Master Plan of Brașov improved the parameters of the treated flow. In addition, in 1999, Apa County, and in addition, build a new solid waste dumping facility at Brașov received USD 1 million in financial support from the Danish Făgăraș. Meanwhile, the EU came up with a proposal to build two Government to improve the sludge treatment and disposal in the facility incinerators for domestic waste in Romania, of which one was to be on the Bârsa brook. A sludge treatment plant and an ecological lagoon for located in Brașov County. The revision of the Master Plan indicated that a de-watered sludge were built, thus reducing substantially the risk of new landfill would not be required anymore, as additional waste would be environmental pollution. brought to the incinerator. The ambitious EUR 140 million plan proposes the burning of 270,000 tons of organic waste annually, and in the process Wastewater treatment plant in Brașov County produce energy, obtain green certificates, and sell heat to the heating system of Brașov. However, in the meantime the number of clients connected to the district heating went down by a large margin. The incinerator would be a feasible solution provided there is high number of customers connected to the centralized heating system. Moreover, of the 270,000 tons collected annually in Brașov County, more than a third is processed at the sorting station and burning facility owned by Urban in partnership with Lafarge, a cement company. Given these circumstances, an incinerator plant is not the most efficient solution in the near term. In 2012, the total amount of solid waste generated in Brașov city by residents and economic agents (excluding industry) was 79.3 million kilograms. Of this, almost 32 million kilograms were collected by Urban, approximately 44 million kilograms by Comprest, whereas Cibin’s share was a little over 3 million kilograms. Source: kissfm.ro 42 Fineco landfill facility Urban, one of two main private companies in charge with the collection of solid waste, was established in 2001 and it is operating in the field of solid waste collection, transportation, and disposal in several cities in Romania. The company has a concession agreement with the City of Brașov to operate the solid waste collection in the city. Urban is catering to approximately 97,000 residential customers and 2,300 economic agents and public institutions in the city. Overall, the company is responsible for 40% of solid waste collection in the city. Comprest, the other solid waste operator has around 100,000 domestic customers. Selective collection in the city is done through containers of Source: adevarul.ro different colors, placed in front of residential buildings. Urban had placed The overall annual solid waste amount generated per capita in Brașov 75 such selective collection platforms, where containers of 2.5 cubic (including all types of customers – residential, economic agents, and meters are available, and another 92 collection platforms where people public institutions) is 347 kg, a figure that places Brașov in the lower side can dump the recycling waste in smaller containers of 1.1 cubic meters. of the TRACE database comparable with cities with similar Human The waste collection at the source is done through three different bins. Development Index. The city is performing better than some of the The green ones are for bottles, the yellow for plastic and metals, and the growth poles, such as Constanța or Cluj, but it is slightly below others, blue for paper and cardboard. Plastic has the highest rate of collection, including Craiova and Timișoara. Of the total of 347 kg of solid waste followed by paper and glass. The trucks are picking up the recyclables a produced in the city, a third (122 kg) is generated by domestic customers. couple of times a week. However, despite the solid waste operators’ efforts, the recycled waste rate in Brașov is less than 6%. This is one of the Waste per capita (kg/year) lowest rates in this respect within the TRACE database comparable to cities with similar Human Development Index. The recycled waste share in some of the cities in the region, like București, Ploiești, and Cluj-Napoca is three and four times time higher than in Brașov. Anyway, the city is doing slightly better than Constanța or Iași. It would be important for local authorities to take serious steps towards addressing this issue, by organizing public awareness campaigns, and by teaching people to be aware and mindful about recycling waste. It would also be worth assessing how much of the recycled waste is picked up by informal networks of collectors. Alternative systems with underground collection containers – such as the ones in Slatina and Ploiești – can be further explored. 43 Percentage of recycled waste Urban garbage truck Despite the low collection rate, recycling proves to be a profitable activity. The company usually operates 18 solid waste trucks, but when there is a Standard rates for different types of recyclables are ranging from RON higher demand, the company can bring more vehicles from neighboring 100/ton for colored glass bottles to 1,950 transparent plastic bottles (PET) cities where the company operates, including București. The average age and EUR 80 per ton of paper and cardboard (more details about tariffs for of the truck fleet operating in Brașov is seven years. In 2012, the annual recycled waste in the table below). The plastic bottles and other fuel expenditure for the collection, transport, dumping of the solid waste recyclable materials are sold on the private market. in Brașov city cost Urban RON 1.8 million including VAT, representing about 8% of the total operational budget. Type of recyclable waste Tariff The tariff paid by domestic customers for the collection of waste PET transparent RON 1,950/ton is RON 8 per person per month (including VAT), whereas economic agents PET colored RON 1,000/ton and public institutions pay RON 49 (without VAT) per cubic meter. The PET blue RON 1,000/ton tipping fee that Urban is paying at the waste processing facility at the Glass colored bottles RON 100/ton landfill site at Săcele is RON 80 per ton. Glass transparent bottles RON 200/ton Neither the city nor the county has a compost station. Urban Cardboard and paper EUR 80/ton built a sorting station in partnership with Lafarge, a large cement Source: Urban Brașov company, for which the two entities invested more than EUR 1 million. After the organic waste is separated at the sorting station, Urban takes the remains to the landfill managed by Fineco. The landfill is only 3 kilometers from Urban’s sorting station, which is located 10 kilometers from the city center. Overall, the amount waste taken to the landfill accounts for 80% of the total waste collected. The part of the organic waste recuperated following the sorting process is supplied to Lafarge. The cement company is using the energy generated by the waste to operate the factory. 44 Energy Efficiency Recommendations are “District Heating,” “Public Transportation,” “Private Vehicles,” ”Street Lighting,” and “Water.” “District Heating” is the sector with the highest TRACE is a tool that allows for the estimation of energy savings potential potential of energy efficiency gains, although this field is controlled by in different city service areas by benchmarking the performance of a city both the private sector and the city government. The sector with the against other cities with similar characteristics, such as climate, second highest potential of energy saving is “Public Transport ,” a domain population, or Human Development Index. For example, energy under the City Hall Brașov. The third sector with significant saving consumption per street light pole in Brașov was compared to similar potential is “Private Vehicles”, although the local public administration consumption of other cities within the TRACE database with similar does not have much control over this sector. The next area with a good climate. The energy savings potential with regard to street lighting in potential of energy savings as highlighted by TRACE is “Street Lighting,” Brașov was calculated using a method that factored in the cities that which is under local municipality control. The “Water” sector is under the performed better than the city, and the degree to which these cities County Council Brașov, but since the City Hall Brașov has some shares in performed better. The more information is available in the TRACE the water company, it can influence some decisions. Although TRACE has database, the better results it can provide. Currently, TRACE has data on identified some saving potential regarding “Solid Waste,” the sector is almost 100 cities, which allows for good comparisons. under private management with limited local control. The energy saving potential is also determined by the level of local control. The more control local public authorities have over a Sector prioritization particular service area, the higher the energy saving potential. Like in many cities in Romania, in Brașov some public utility services are managed by the city itself, whereas some others stay with the private sector or they are regulated at the national level. Solid waste, including the landfill operation, is managed by the private sector, and so the City of Brașov does not have any significant say in this matter. The potable water sector is under public management, in which the largest shareholder is the County Council Brașov; other municipalities to which the water company is catering also have shares in the water company. The district heating is split between the private and public sector, as the production of heat is managed by a private entity, whereas the transmission and distribution of heat is done by a public entity. The city also has very little influence over the energy sector, as policies and regulations are decided by the Government at the national level. “Private Vehicles” is another service area where the local level of control was considered low. In this sector the policies and decisions are taken by the Government, with limited scope All priorities identified by TRACE were presented and discussed with local for local involvement. public administration officials. A number of eight recommendations have After the saving potential for each sector was calculated, a sector been highlighted, and these will be discussed in more detail in the next prioritization was done in TRACE, based on the amount of savings sections. potential. The sectors with the largest energy savings potential in Ploiesti From the get-go it has to be mentioned that all recommendations made in this section should be seen as indicative, not as normative. While 45 the TRACE tool enables a quick overview of key energy efficiency issues most significant cost savings for local authorities, and most significant within a municipality, it does not provide an in-depth analysis of each energy savings for the city as a whole. At the same time it is important to sector. For example, in most studied cities, the sector with the highest note, as was done in the case of Cluj-Napoca that an in-depth cost-benefit energy savings potential was district heating. Obviously, achieving higher analysis of district heating maintenance work should be done before savings in this sector usually also entail high costs. These costs may commencing such an endeavor. District heating rehabilitation work is outweigh potential benefits, and may not warrant investments in the costly, and in an environment where the large majority of people have de- sector. Also, if people continue to de-branch themselves from the system, branched themselves from the system, it is worth considering the any investments done to rehabilitate the network may be nothing more potential long-term impact. than wasted money. The ultimate objective of such measures would be to reduce the Similarly, urban transport recommendations should ideally have leakages in the network and improve overall efficiency of the system. This an urban mobility plan at their foundation (EBRD is in fact supposed to can be achieved through a maintenance program targeting the repair and prepare mobility plans for all seven growth poles and București). The upgrade of boilers, pumps, pipes, and insulation. An initial investment of recommendations made in this report are general in nature and draw on a USD 1 million over two years can prompt up to 200,000 kWh in energy pre-defined list of proposed interventions in the TRACE tool. These savings annually. A feasibility study prepared in partnership with an recommendations should be viewed by local authorities as an indication appropriate team including network planners, heat & power engineers, of what could be done to improve their city’s energy performance and and financial advisors could indicate the technological and financial reduce the city’s energy bill. The decision to actually implement a viability of the maintenance work. Subsequently, the local government recommendation or not should be done only after a comprehensive could approach an energy saving company that could implement the feasibility study is completed. For example, the development of a bike maintenance project with its own funds. In addition, local authorities network may have the adverse effect of reducing the share of people who could pass legislation that will require a minimum efficiency level within use public transport instead of reducing the number of people who the generation and supply infrastructure of the district heating network. commute by private vehicles. Operated by a mix of public and private management, in which Lastly, energy efficiency interventions should not be viewed or the heat producer is a private entity, while the supplier is a public conceived in a vacuum. Often, energy efficiency interventions have company, the district heating system in Brașov has undergone significant benefits that cross sectors. For example, improving the public transport changes recently. From one of the largest operators in the country in the network, will not only encourage a more energy efficient commuting early 1990s, having 80,000 customers connected to its hot water pipes, options, but it could also improve quality of life, help boost local the district heating structure shrunk soon after the local industrial base economies, and enable poor and marginalized communities better access collapsed. After the heating plant went bankrupt and eventually was shut to opportunities. In the same vein, interventions that aim to improve the down, the heat production was taken over by the private sector. Today, energy efficiency of a municipal building could be done in tandem with the district heating user base in Brașov is the smallest of all similar retrofits that make these buildings more resilient to disasters. systems in other growth poles with only 12,000 customers (apartments). Due to the oversized, obsolete network, as well as leakages in poorly maintained pipelines, the losses incurred by the district heating District Heating Network Maintenance operator are around 64% - one of the highest rates in the country. The TRACE analysis indicates that district heating has the highest energy Although the heat price paid by population is the third lowest in Romania, saving potential. It is the sector where proper investments and measures the losses in the transmission and distribution network make the district (e.g. the rehabilitation of the district heating network) would bring the heating operations quite inefficient. 46 The state-owned Brașov CET was closed down after it went bankrupt The evolution of Gcal distribution in Brașov City for 1999-2010 Source: National Institute of Statistics That is why the local administration, who owns the pipeline network, may consider improving the efficiency of the system by performing network Unlike in many other cities in Romania where the system was built in the maintenance and rehabilitation work. The network rehabilitation should 60s and 70s, the centralized heating structure in Brașov has a little over 20 result in a better functioning of the centralized heating structure, increase years. However, the quality of the material used for the pipelines was the comfort for residents in their apartments, and, not in the least, reduce poor, as they leak hot water during both transmission and distribution. disconnections from the system and make people reconnect to the plant. Bepco, the private heat producer, is focusing on how to reduce these The closing down of large industrial facilities in the city and the losses and make the system attractive to people, in an attempt to regain disconnection of thousands of apartments from the district heating have market share. led to a significant decrease in the demand for heat. For instance, the heat Bepco, the heat producer, and Tetkron, the heat supplier, are produced in Brașov reached its peak in 1999, when 1.16 million Gcal were working together to make sure that the centralized heating system will be distributed to the customers in the city. Gradually, the heat production kept alive in the future and that local government will stick to the went down. 962,887 Gcal were distributed in 2001, 775, 909 Gcal in 2003, commitments to further support the system. One of the reasons for 420, 996 Gcal in 2006, and only 222,041 Gcal in 2008. The lowest figure maintaining the district heating system alive in the future has to do with was achieved in 2010, with only 120,140 Gcal, almost ten times less than the 12,000 customers who receive hot water and heat from the district the amount in late 1990s. heating operators. Most of these customers in old communist residential The good news is that the number of customers has been buildings are people with low incomes, and they could not afford to stabilized at 12,000, as no disconnections have occurred in 2012. On the switch to individual heating units, if the centralized system stopped contrary, a small number of people started connect back to the district operating. Moreover, the city is located in the heart of the mountains heating system, mainly because the micro-units have become difficult to where winters are longer than in other parts of the country, and so people sustain, as the natural gas price has gone up. In order to attract back more need to rely on heat for a longer period of time. customers, the district heating operators must improve quality of services and reduce the losses in the network by rehabilitating the water pipes. 47 District heating pipes heating units. The company would allow apartments to reconnect to the centralized system and, at the same time, stay connected to their individual heating units. The new co-generation plant is providing better services to people Source: mytext.ro A network rehabilitation project, financed with a EUR 12.5 million EBRD loan, is currently under way. Another project is targeting the rehabilitation and upgrading of the small sub-plants. The project is expected to be Thermally rehabilitated building with some apartments disconnected executed with EUR 2 million grants from the Romanian-Swiss Fund, for from the district heating system in Brașov which Brașov is competing against other cities in Romania. However, one of the main investments that the district heating system needs is the rehabilitation of the distribution system inside residential buildings. More specifically, it is important to make the switch from vertical heating networks to horizontal ones. In addition, heat meters and allocators should be installed in all apartments, so people can control the level of heat. Such an ambitious plan requires over EUR 120 million investments. In addition, in the future, the co-generation system should be consolidated and expanded. Both the operators and the local government are looking into getting back the lost market share and making former customers reconnect to the district heating system. Bepco is thinking of starting an incentive pilot program to persuade people to come back to the centralized system. The district heating operators are targeting some of Source: newsbv.ro the apartments that have switched from centralized to individual micro- 48 Having both options, people would get the chance to see which system is As of now, it seems that the model of having two companies in charge most efficient and works best for them. It is expected that the thermal with the operation of the district heating system may work to some rehabilitation performed on a few thousands of apartments within old extent. However, in the future, it may be more efficient if the entire residential buildings in recent years actually increased heating efficiency, operation of the centralized heating structure will stay with only one and so it increased the satisfaction of the clients. As such, this would be a company, an entity that could have the capabilities and the means to be in good motivation for people to reconsider moving back to the centralized charge of the entire process, from production to distribution. In any heating system. A few owner associations have already approached the situation, the agreement between the city government and the operator district heating supplier asking for technical support to reconnect back to should be conducted in a transparent, equitable manner to ensure that all the centralized hot water and heat distribution system, and more are parties are fulfilling contractual obligations. expected to do the same in the future. In addition to these current efforts, based on the TRACE analysis, local authorities could consider passing legislation or creating policies that Urban Transport require minimum efficiency levels in both the generation and supply TRACE identified the urban public transporation as one of the sectors with infrastructure of the district heating network. The efficiency levels should significant potential for energy efficiency gains in Brașov. The city make sure that the replacement program is staggered, and the first assets managers have in mind a series of initiatives that seek to improve the targeted are actually those that perform the worst and that need public transport in the city, bringing in less poluting vehicles, improving immediate attention. traffic, and providing citizens with good quality transport services. Therefore, the TRACE recommendations bellow fall mostly within the Example of Jiamusi District Heating Network in China scope of what the local public administration is alredy undertaking, or is planning to take on in the near future. The Jiamusi district heating network in China is a good example of These measures include: traffic restraint measures, improving the how an energy service company could help improve the performance public transport network, and expanding the pedestrian network in the of the network and also increase satisfaction of clients with regard to city. In addition to that, Brașov should establish a database with key hot water and heat services. The management of the network was transport indicators, which are easy to update and to monitor. For taken over by an energy saving company that implemented a large example, at the very basic level, it is important to know the modal split in the city – i.e., what means are used by people for daily commutes (e.g., scale initiative to improve performance and up grade the network’s private vehicles, public transport, or biking and walking). Documenting the facilities. The upgrading work included, among other things, a SCADA number of commuters and understanding the means of transportation is system, enabling real-time management of the sub-stations and the vital information for any city in order to prepare a comprehensive mobility network, and resulting in improved optimization of energy efficiency plan. A good mobility plan can form the foundation for developing a and users’ comfort. As a result, water losses were reduced by 30% sustainable transport network. The Ministry of Regional Development and and energy consumption by 13.5%. The relationship with customers Public Administration is working with the EBRD to prepare mobility plans has also improved and the percentage of late-paying customers was for all seven growth poles and București. reduced from 7% to 2%. 49 Public Transport Development One of the main priorities for the local government with regard This main TRACE recommendation focuses on the need to develop a to public transport is to renew the fleet. The city must replace the vehicles modern and safe public transport system. Developing a good public that have reached the end of their life cycle. For instance, most of the 109 transport would not only provide citizens with better quality services, but buses that were purchased in 2006 have reached 75% of life cycle and would also reduce the use of private vehicles and encourage people to use they need to be replaced with new modern rolling stock starting in 2014. buses and trolleybuses for daily commutes. At the end of the day, this can The city has already begun investing in the modernization of the public help reduce fuel consumption, improve air quality, and increase the transport fleet, and it is advised to continue to do so in order to make the standard of life for Brașov’s residents. public system more accessible, more attractive, and more comfortable. This ambitious goal can be achieved by implementing efficient In 2011, the public transport fleet was renewed with 15 BMC measures, including giving priority to public transport vehicles over buses equipped with EURO 5 diesel catalyst, and plans are to continue in private cars, creating special signaling for buses, introducing e-ticketing, this direction. Overall, the public transport authority needs around EUR providing passengers with useful information about bus schedules, and 100 million in order to modernize the entire bus and trolleybus fleet in not in the least, establishing better urban planning policies and Brașov. RAT Brașov, the company in charge with the public transport, has regulations. Some of these measures are already under implementation, ambitious plans of purchasing hybrid buses and highly efficient while the city government should consider putting into practice additional trolleybuses. The local authorities hope that purchasing of new rolling tools that could have a positive impact on the public transport network. stock would become eligible under the financial programming of the ROP The public transport system in Brașov is currently run by two for the period 2014-2020. Of course, EU funds will not be enough for the means of transportation: buses and trolleybuses. Brașov is one of the renewal of the entire fleet. cities in Romania that has lost their tram network. At the end of 2005 local authorities have decided to remove the tram lines because of financial New public transport vehicle considerations and because the infrastructure was quickly deteriorating and was difficult to maintain. Instead of investing in the rehabilitation of the tram tracks, the city government focused on modernizing the existing bus and trolleybus fleet and on improving the overall quality of public transport services. There are 253 buses and trolleybuses serving 45 routes within the city. According to the National Institute of Statistics, the number of buses in Brașov has fluctuated quite a bit in the past decade: from 141 in 2000 it dropped to 126 in 2004, and then went gradually up to 256 in 2011. Currently, there are 215 buses in operation, each of them with an average travelling distance of 125 km per day. The number of trolleybuses also changed over the course of the past years, as it came down from 131 in 2000 to only 45 in 2011. As of now, there are 38 trolleybuses operating in the city, serving eight routes; each trolleybus is running on average 82 kilometers per day. The loss of the 58 trams (the full fleet in 2005) was Source: brasov.net compensated by the introduction of both buses and trolleybuses. 50 One of the main projects to be developed in the immediate future is the The good news is that if a bus is late, it will be given the “green light” to modernization of five bus terminals: Noua neighborhood - Brazilor Street; pass through intersections and help with the traffic flow. In addition, all Roman neighborhood - Poienelor Street; Rulmentul neighborhood - 13 buses will be equipped with GPS and GIS integrated systems that would be Decembrie Street; Saturn neighborhood – Saturn Boulevard; and Triaj centrally controlled from a new monitoring center. Adding such neighborhood- Hărmanului Street. The value of the project is RON 34.3 equipment on the buses would cost the municipality and the local million, of which almost 28 RON million comes in grants from the 2007- transport authority an additional RON 4.5 million, as EU funds cannot be 2013 ROP. The feasibility study has already been prepared, the project used for purchasing such devices. This equipment will contribute to the was evaluated, and now the city government is waiting to sign the better management of the bus fleet. It would also help improving the contract. traffic flow of public vehicles in the city, especially during the rush hour. Once the contract is signed, the modernization work will start off Another important project expected to be implemented soon is in the summer of 2013. The implementation of the project will take 18 e-ticketing – i.e., paper tickets will be replaced by electronic cards. The months. All 119 bus stops in the city will be equipped with LCD screen system is implemented already in a few cities in the country, including displaying relevant information about the bus routes, schedules, arrival București and Timișoara. The cost of the project is RON 31.5 million , of times, delays, and other travel related information. This information will which 20.3 million comes in grants from the ROP 2007-2013. E-ticketing allow passengers to better plan and manage their trips, enhance could be used for more trips and means of transportation within a given attractiveness of the public transport, and thus increase the number of amount of time, but also for the future park-and-ride facilities the city is users. planning to build in the immediate future. This bus terminal will be modernized with ROP funds E-ticketing card in București Source: ratb.ro Source:kissfm.ro E-ticketing will not only reduce the cost of travel and encourage more people to use public transport, but also provide support for revenue 51 collection, and will give the local authorities reliable figures on how many In addition, local authorities may also consider setting up people use public transport on a day-to-day basis. A similar system is dedicated bus lanes. Such dedicated lanes will allow buses to bypass already implemented in a few cities in Romania, including Bucharest. In traffic, enhancing their reliability and reducing travel times. Cities that the capital city, people use e-ticketing for all public transport trips in the have developed a good network of dedicated bus lanes were able to city. The e-card can be used for public transportation above ground, such successfully manage public transport traffic, attract more people toward as buses, trolleybuses, and trams, but it has an option to be charged and public means of transportation, and increase system efficiency. Such utilized as a monthly pass for the underground metro as well. initiatives could be accompanied by a few information campaigns to raise The plans concerning the development of the public transport in citizens’ awareness of the benefits of the public transport. the city include employing an integrated traffic management system. A Not in the least, local authorities could also consider improving dispatcher and a command and control room will be located in the City some of the current planning regulations. In some cities, in order to obtain Hall, from where the traffic in Brașov will be monitored with the support planning permits, developers must show how a new construction/building of video cameras installed throughout the city. The system will help the links to the existing or planned public transport networks. For example, city authorities ensure and improve traffic safety in the city, identify traffic Curitiba, a city in Brazil, encouraged high-density residential and congestions and bottlenecks, and then take the proper actions for rapid commercial development around and within walking distance of transit interventions to ease up the traffic. stops, with lower densities elsewhere in the city. RAT Brașov has forward-thinking measures to make the public transport more energy efficient and reduce fuel consumption. One way of Non-Motorized Transport doing so is by training the drivers to operate the buses more carefully and One of the main TRACE reccommendations made to city managers is to efficiently and achieve a 2% in fuel consumption. The company has a encourage and expand the non-motorized transport infrastructure in computer-based system through which they can monitor the daily and Brașov, including pedestrian areas (“pedestrianization”) and dedicated monthly diesel consumption, and see if there is any fluctuation and cycle/walking lanes. Additionally, bike rental programs should be whether the consumption is going up or down. RAT Brașov will enforce a encouraged, along with incentive schemes for citizens to purchase their reward system for the bus drivers who achieve a significant diesel own bicycles, including – particularly in marginalized, poor communities – reduction and win the monthly contest in this regard. The company will potential microcredits for bike purchases. consider a salary raise of 10% for the drivers who successfully bring down These TRACE recommendations are meant to create a virtous the monthly fuel consumption and make the highest savings. Not in the circle whereby public mentality regarding the use of non-motorized least, expanding the public transport to the wider metropolitan area is transportation gradually evolves away from the status quo, which is another priority for the city government of Brașov, as the local heavily dominated by the use of private vehicles, toward a healthier, more government wants to ensure good connections to adjacent local efficient, and more prosperous environment. Indeed, the experience of communities. countless cities around the world proves that, for instance, pedestrian These current plans and efforts are well aligned with several areas stimulate local businesses. Over the medium-to-long term, as more TRACE recommendations, but there are also some additional suggestions and more people turn to non-mototized transportation, others will also that local authorities should consider. For example, a complementary realize the benefits of this alternative way of getting around (i.e., lower solution for achieving a better, more attractive public transport is to cost, faster times, cleaner air, healthy exercise, etc.). develop special infrastructure for bus-priority signaling. Transponders that Local authorities in Brașov have already begun to implement use GPS systems are linked to buses, and give them priority at green some of the measures recommended above and have ambitious plans for lights. 52 building up current efforts in the near future and for the 2014-2020 I Velo docking station in Piața Sfatului programming period of the Regional Operational Program. For example, the main pedestrian area in Brașov includes over 15 streets and alleys in the historical city center, from Republicii Street to Sfatului Plaza where the famous Black Church is located. The municipality has restored the façade of some old, historical buildings benefitting from ROP 2007-2013 support. Today this area is the main attraction in the city for both local residents and tourists, not only for its pedestrian network, but for its commercial activities, such as shops, restaurants, bars, service stores, and souvernir boutiques. The number of pedestrians in the area has gone up and businesses and business activity in the area have increased substantially, as the whole area has increased in quality of life standards. Indeed, as business activity improves, more and more building owners are renovating their properties to take advantage of tax breaks guaranteed by the local authorities, thereby generating even more business. For the fufure, local Source: green-report.ro authorities could look at other areas where pedestrian areas could be created. In particular, they could consider residential neighborhoods, The new bike network and docking station are expected to be ready in the which are often neglected when such projects are pushed forward. next 22 months, and will provide tourists with the opportunity to admire In addition to enlarging pedestrian areas, the city government is the scenic views of the region while biking. looking into improving and expanding the bike lane network. The city has Currently, the local government is working to finalize the only 15 kilometers of dedicated lanes for bicyclists, and part of the technical project. The total value of the project is RON 4.68 million, network is damaged and needs to be rehabilitated. The city has a docking including VAT, while the annual maintenance cost is expected to amount station in the city center in Piața Sfatului, where people can rent 50 to RON 42,000. The new bike paths include signaling and docking stations bicycles during the summer. This is part of a project the municipality has and parking spots for the bikes. Resting platforms with belle-views will be developed in partnership with a commercial bank and a non-profit created at every 1.5 kilometers. Of course, this will not change organization. The “I Velo” biking program is operational in the summers significantly the pattern of transportation for people, nor reduce only, in many cities in Romania, including Timi șoara, Cluj-Napoca, and considerably the level of fuel consumption. București. However, people tend to use the bike lanes once they are there. Developing and expanding the bike infrastructure in the city is In time, once some people start using bicycles for their transportation one of the City Hall’s priorities when it comes to the transport sector. In needs, others could get encouraged to bike, and so increase the 2012, local authorities prepared the documentation for a tender aimed at popularity of this non-pollutant transportation mode. For example, Critical designing the bike network to connect the main neighborhoods in the city. Mass movements, which aim to popularize biking and to encourage safety The future network will connect areas and streets along public institutions for bikers in traffic, have spread throughout the country (particularly in and plazas to mountain trails and leisure areas. larger cities, such as București and Cluj-Napoca) and are gaining in Just recently, local authorities have approved the feasibility study popularity. for the construction of 7 kilometers of bike lanes in Poiana Brașov, the mountain resort under the administration of the City of Brașov. 53 Bike networks will be built in Poiana Brașov Critical Mass event in Cluj-Napoca Source: www.facebook.com/criticalmass.cluj?fref=ts Other cities around the world have adopted microcredit programs that allow poorer residents to acquire a bike and gradually pay it back at Source:paginibrasovene.ro favorable interest rates. This is particularly appropriate for younger citizens with low incomes, as well as for members of marginalized and City managers are also concerned to change people’s mindset on bicycles poverty-stricken communities. This measure would complement the and bikers, and want to encourage people to endorse this efficient means current bike rental program, which can also be expanded to fully current of transportation. The city authorities are determined to work on making demand and promote even stronger bike ridership. bicycles and bicyclists traffic participants with equal rights, encouraging drivers to pay proper attention to them on the streets, and pedestrians to Parking Restraint Measures watch out for them on dedicated portions of sidewalks (issues that are The TRACE analysis recommends local authorities in Brașov to put requested through Critical Mass events in several Romanian cities). measures in place that discourage the use of private vehicles and provide Therefore, the investments in new bicycle infrastructure should also take incentives for using alternative modes of transportation. Fewer cars on into consideration traffic safety issues. the streets would translate in lower fuel consumption and less traffic Regardless of how developed and lengthy the bike infrastructure congestion. Lower energy consumption can be achieved by developing will be, people are not going to take this mode of transportation into park and ride facilities aimed at promoting multimodality by linking consideration if they believe it is unsafe. Bicyclists are often victims of parking to public transport, and by setting parking allowances for new accidents, as drivers do not always see bicyclists in time. In order to residential and corporate developments. increase safety for bicyclists the new bike lanes should be developed to The number of cars in Romania has increased dramatically after have a “buffer” of parked cars. On-street parking spots could be the fall of the communist regime, which has created significant problems developed so as to also accommodate bike lanes – particularly on large with regards to traffic and parking. Most of the parking lots were built corridors in the city, where sufficient space exists. several decades ago when the number of cars was much smaller, and so In addition to these much welcomed measures and future plans, currently they cannot accommodate the growing number of cars. Brașov the Brașov City Hall should also consider projects for facilitating bike has been no exception in this respect. The number of cars in the city has ownership. 54 increased in the past couple of decades, which has led to traffic A multi-story parking will be built near the Military Hospital congestion and inconveniences regarding parking in the city. With the increase in the number of city residents’ cars and the flow of tourists driving in their own vehicles, the streets in the city center are congested and the demand for parking spots has been on the rise. Moreover, the construction of a planned airport near Brașov, at Ghimbav, is expected to bring more cars into the region and aggravate the already congested traffic in the city. Therefore, the city authorities have had to find solutions to accommodate the parking demand and now they are expanding on existing measures. The new system of paying for parking by sending a text message from the cell phone has been implemented very recently, hence facilitating the payment method, and making it easier and more accessible to people. Now the payment can be done by merely sending a text message with the car details and also by introducing coins into the parking meters. Further projects are tackling the parking issue by building a number of parking lots in the city with EU funds, thus expanding the parking spots by at least 1,000 in the next couple of years. Source: informator.md One of the solutions TRACE recommends for countering traffic congestion is the park and ride concept, which promotes multimodality by One of the future parking lots in Brașov is in the city center, near the linking parking to public transport. The city managers have already Military Hospital. The total value of the project is RON 24.2 million with considered this option and the five bus terminals that will soon be 2% co-financing from the City Hall. It is going to be a seven-floor parking modernized with EU funds in the city include such park and ride facilities. structure, which will accommodate 310 cars. The other project included in People who commute into Brașov from suburban and peri-urban areas 2007-2013 ROP is the new parking on Warthe Hill, located in the city will be able to drive their cars to these parking facilities, from where they center, just behind the County Library. It will be a “green parking can take public transport to their workplace. structure,” as it will be integrated in the green landscape surrounding the In addition, new parking facilities will be built in the city and parking site. Poiana Brașov with support from ROP 2007-2013 funds. In the near The facility will be integrated within the surrounding landscape, future, the city expects to receive approximately EUR 10 million in grants and plants and grass will be planted on the roof as well on the sides of the to expand the parking system and improve traffic. Some of these projects building. In fact, the only visible component will be the entrance and the have been evaluated and the contracts are expected to be signed soon. sides of each floor, which will make the facility look like a green hill. The The implementation work would start within three months after the four-level parking structure will have 322 parking spots spread over nearly contracts are signed and will be completed in approximately two years, 12,000 square meters. Eight designated parking spots for disabled people before the end of 2015 (the end of the implementation period for projects will be included on the first floor. funded by 2007-2013 structural funds). Two parking facilities will be built A new parking facility will also be built in Poiana Brașov and the in the next couple of years in the city and one in Poiana Brașov. public bus terminal will be expanded. The overall cost of the project is 55 RON 24.4 million plus VAT, and it is expected to help improve the traffic immediate investments from the city budget, it should be coordinated to, from, and within the mountain resort. with expanding public transport in the area, as necessary. The future “green parking” located near the County Library Municipal Buildings Municipal Buildings Audit and Retrofit Once the municipal building benchmarking is done, the next step the city management in Brașov should take into consideration is an audit and retrofit process. This could enable cost savings in municipal buildings, while also reducing the carbon footprint of the city. The building audit is targeting specific energy consumption for end users and activities, such as computers, lighting, air conditioning and heating systems, etc. Depending on results, the city government may have to allocate money for energy efficiency upgrades, purchasing of new equipment, and some building renovation. The retrofit program can be executed in a cost-effective manner by involving Energy Service Source: adevarul.ro Companies (ESCOs), which will pay for the first cost of the upgrades and will share in the savings from the retrofits. Audit and retrofit programs The multi-level underground and surface parking will spread over nearly make a great impact on energy savings, as studies show that the 10,000 square meters of which almost 3,000 square meters on the reductions can go down to as much as a fourth of the initial consumption. underground levels. The parking will accommodate 434 cars, and will have In recent years, the city government has actively supported six designated spots for microbuses, two for buses, and six for tour buses. energy savings and encouraged buildings, both public and private, to be It will also include 80 square meters of bike network, in addition to proactive and save energy in any of its forms. Quite a few steps have been another 50 meters of parking spots for bikes. At the entrance, a screen taken in this respect – e.g., renovation and thermal rehabilitation work will display the number of free spots, showing the available places where and the replacement of classical heating systems with green energy-based a car could be parked. The access to the parking will be made from DN 1 E, equipment. Rehabilitation work has been performed on quite a few the main national road connecting București to Brașov. education facilities in the city, while some schools have been connected to Finally, based on the current TRACE analysis, the city government the district heating system. A few municipal buildings, including social should also consider introducing parking provisions for residential and assistance facilities, have replaced their classical heating system with corporate developments. A maximum parking allowance with low car-to- those using solar and geothermal energy, a process that has led to unit ratios could discourage private-car acquisition and use. London is a significant reduction in energy bills. good example where this measure has been successfully implemented. In Some of this rehabilitation work has been done with support areas where there is bus connectivity the city government allocates less from the 2007-2013 ROP. The city government is hoping that other similar than 1 parking spot per unit. Although this option should be quite projects will become eligible for EU funding in the 2014-2020 convenient for the local public administration as it does not require programming period. 56 As an example, a successful model for improving energy energy consumption and, subsequently, carbon emissions and operational efficiency in buildings has been developed in Berlin. In partnership with costs. In addition, such programs can increase the life of light bulbs, the Berlin Energy Agency, the city government managed the retrofit of reducing maintenance requirements and associated costs. Also, they public and private buildings by preparing tenders for work that will could enable timely detection of faults, allowing for quick replacement . guarantee reductions in emissions. The public retrofit tenders require an This measure requires relatively small initial capital investments that can average of 26% greenhouse reduction so that winning Energy System prompt energy savings between 100,000 kWh and 200,000 kWh within a Companies (ESCOs) must deliver sustainable energy solutions. Under this year. program, 1,400 buildings have been so far upgraded at no cost to owners, managing to have more than 60,400 tons per year in CO2 reductions, and Street lighting control system can monitor power usage generate substantial savings, including in the short term. Andrei Șaguna National College has been rehabilitated Source:dcnews.ro Source: newsbv.ro Street Lighting Timing Program The street lighting system in Brașov is performing reasonably well The TRACE analysis recommends building on the city government’s compared to other cities in the TRACE database. Over the course of time, current efforts for improving the public lighting system. A very efficient, the street lighting provider has modernized lighting in the city in order to inexpensive method of reducing electricity consumption for public lighting increase the overall efficiency of the system and provide citizens with is the street lighting timing program, a system that can be tailored for the better services. Old mercury bulbs have been replaced with more energy- specific needs of a particular area. Lighting timing programs can reduce efficient sodium vapor bulbs. As a consequence, the electricity 57 consumption came down by 20%, a significant step towards meeting the be reported immediately to the monitoring center and will have an overall goals of the city’s Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP). appropriate and timely solution. But there is still room for improvement and a street lighting timing program can help the city achieve further energy savings. The local Example of Light dimming program in Kirklees, UK public administration has already considered innovative methods through For example, the city of Kirklees, UK, was able to dim lights to varying which street lighting electricity consumption can be diminished. The city levels throughout the day by installing retrofit systems on each managers are currently in the process of implementing one of the most existing lighting pole and wireless technology to monitor and dim the innovative programs that will not only improve the system’s efficiency and street lights. The retrofitting process simply required to add a small cut down the greenhouse emissions, but also increase safety for city antenna to the lamp heads, which plugged into the electronic ballast, residents. With financial support from the 2007-2013 ROP, Brașov will be with no need for additional wiring. As a consequence, the lights are the first city in Romania to implement an intelligent street lighting system. switched on 100% at 7PM, dimmed to 75% at 10PM, and then to 50% A pilot project has been already deployed since 2010 in a few areas in at midnight. If the lights are still on at 5AM, they are increased again Brașov. Now this system, which is also implemented in countries like to 100% lighting to ensure safe conditions for the morning Turkey, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates, will be expanded commuters. throughout the city. Special devices with sensors will be installed on each of the street lighting poles. A tele-management system will allow for adjusting the light The most noteworthy aspect about the new monitoring and light dimming intensity depending on traffic or pedestrian activity in the area. It will program is related to the potential of energy savings. In the first year of open and turn off street lighting remotely and, depending on weather implementation, the electricity bill for the street lighting will come down conditions, it will enforce a flexible operation schedule, since it can target by USD 100,000, which can be translated into an effective saving of the entire network or just few streets. The intensity of lamps will vary approximately 450,000 kWh. The system could also promptly identify any depending on the daylight intensity; for instance, during nighttime, the illegal branching and other non-approved activities on the lighting poles. brightness of streetlamps will be higher than in the evenings. At the same time, one of advantages of this performing and innovative The Brașov local authorities have similar plans. The intelligent structure is its resilience, as it should allow for the intelligent development street lighting in Brasov, including the new equipment, will be monitored of few applications that are related to the street lighting and road through a high-performing SCADA system from a control room which will network. be located within the City Hall. In the first stage of the implementation of this intelligent lighting system, 46 video cameras in 25 locations in the city Active Leak Water and Pressure Management will be installed to help identify any suspect and criminal activity in the The TRACE analysis recommends the implementation of an active leak area and prompt immediate intervention from the Police, if necessary. detection and pressure management program. A leakage detection Cameras will be set up in neighborhoods where the rate of criminal program could enable the provision of minimal pressures and encourage a activity is higher, such as Noua, Bartolomeu Nord, and Tractorul, but also more sustainable use of water resources. This can be accomplished in the city center, an area very popular for the city residents as well as through a partnership with other stakeholders (e.g., non-profits, tourists. In addition, panic buttons will be displayed on the lighting pillars universities, private firms) who already have the required experience and and will be connected to the dispatching and monitoring room from the expertise. A complementary water pressure management program is also City Hall. The new innovative lighting system will be able to identify any recommended. damage of the system (pillar) and service interruption. The problems will 58 As noted earlier in this report, although the water sector is few issues that need to be addressed for the system to become more controlled by the County Council Brașov, and the municipalities to which efficient. Some of these issues pertain to replacement of old pipes, Apa Brașov caters have limited shares in the company, this expansion of meter connections to all customers, and not in the least, recommendation could help Brașov and other cities in the region promote modernization of some of the old pumping stations. Brașov, together with measures to improve the efficiency of the system. The regional water other municipalities, may influence the company and the Brașov County operator in Brașov County has invested heavily in the rehabilitation of the Council to take some measures that would benefit all citizens. system and has implemented a series of projects covering a wide range of In the short- and medium-term, with an initial investment of up areas, from renovation and modernization of the water distribution to USD 1 million (approximately EUR 755,000), local authorities could network to building new pumping stations and the installation of water consider the implementation of an active leak detection and pressure flow meters and increasing the capacity of water treatment. The company management program. This measure could help not only reduce water, continues the rehabilitation process in the future, hoping to further but also enable energy savings. The active detection program could be benefit from different financial schemes, including EU structural funds. done using modern techniques, such as ground microphones and digital leak correlators, as well as demand management valves and meters. In Rehabilitation work on water pipes sewage systems, leak detections could significantly reduce risk of ground contamination. At the same time, pressure management programs can be efficient for reducing the treatment and pumping costs by minimizing the required delivery pressure and leakage. The pressure management program is suitable for large networks with several small leaks that would be difficult and expensive to locate and repair. One of the most efficient ways to implement such detection systems is through partnership programs. The local public administration could partner with organizations and/or coalitions of non-profit entities to gain access to their experience and expertise in order to implement the most appropriate changes to the pipe or pumping infrastructure. Often times, public organizations build public-private-partnerships to undertake research, educational programs, and policy advocacy, design and implementation of energy-efficiency projects, and promotion of technology development. Few cities in Romania have worked out such partnerships to successfully reduce the water leaks in the system. Iași is a good example in this respect. The local water company partnered with a US environmental Source: www.posmediu.catd.ro provider to develop a pilot leak detection program and a water conservation project in addition to a public outreach campaign, for a total However, the company and its stakeholders should look into solutions to investment of less than USD 120,000. reduce the water losses to make the system more efficient and provide better services to the customers. In the medium and long run, there are a 59 Digital water leak correlator Source: halmapr.com This leak detection program was a pre-requisite for the implementation of an infrastructure program that was to be i mplemented in Iași County. In addition, the citizens were encouraged to take part in water conservation efforts. The study showed that three of the leaks identified were responsible for a water loss of 60,000 cubic meters per year, accounting for USD 24,000 losses. At the end of the day, this project contributed to a much larger program to improve the overall efficiency of the water system in Iași County that eventually reduced the water losses by 8 million cubic meters and saved USD3 million (approximately EUR 2.25 million) per year. Another similar program was developed with USAID support in Galați, where the study identified that conservation measures could save up to USD 250,000 (EUR 190,000) per year in electricity costs. The study included low and medium cost measures, such as trimming impellers to better match pumps and motors with required flows and pressures. 60 61 62 Detailed Recommendations from TRACE Improving Energy Efficiency in Brașov, Romania Annex 1: District Heating Network Maintenance /64 Annex 2: Public Transportation Development /68 Annex 3: Non-Motorized Transport Modes /72 Annex 4: Parking Restraint Measures /76 Annex 5: Municipal Buildings Audit and Retrofit /80 Annex 6: Street Lighting Timing Program /84 Annex 7: Active Water Leak Detection and Pressure Management /88 Annex 8: List of abbreviations for cities in the TRACE database /95 63 ANNEX 1: District Heating Network Maintenance & Upgrade Program DESCRIPTION ATTRIBUTES Many cities already have established district heating networks. The primary plant (boilers) may Energy Savings Potential be operating at low efficiencies, or the pipework distribution networks may have poor or no > 200,000 kWh/annum insulation thereby losing thermal energy or considerable amounts of water through leakage. First Cost Advances in materials, boiler design or alternative system configuration (for example, improved > US$1,000,000 heat exchange) mean that higher efficiencies can be achieved, and there are various different Speed of Implementation methods for detecting leaks. More energy can be delivered to the end user through primary plant > 2 years upgrades, pipework repair and replacement and better insulation. Co-Benefits Reduced carbon emissions The aim is of this recommendation is to develop a program for maintenance and retrofits to Efficient water use upgrade boiler plant, pumps, pipework or insulation. District energy networks are inherently Improved air quality more efficient than individual systems, but further energy efficiencies could be gained through Financial savings repairing pipework and upgrading insulation, delivering more resource, operational cost and Security of supply carbon emission savings. IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS Implementation Activity Methodology The City Authority establishes appropriate partnerships to undertake a feasibility study. The CA should engage a team that includes network planners, power and heat engineers, environmental specialists and financial advisors to ensure the feasibility study captures all Feasibility Study pertinent aspects. The feasibility study establishes the technological and financial viability, as well as procurement and policy options. It establishes the baseline city energy expenditure associated with power and heat supply and the efficiency of their distribution across the network(s). 64 Technical ability, procurement methodology, incentives and taxes should also be given consideration. Each option should be appraised against the specific requirements and capabilities of the CA. The City Authority invests in the maintenance of the network as well as upgrades of the infrastructure where necessary. The main expenditures associated with a replacement program are the capital cost of plant and the civil works to access networks where the pipework is Direct expenditures “Municipal buried. The City Authority can pay for these items Buildings” where education and directly out of the city budget, and recoup the health care facilities are under the investment through lower primary fuel costs. city government control have a good The City Authority invests in the maintenance of the energy saving potential. & network as well as upgrades of the infrastructure where procurement necessary. The main expenditures associated with a replacement program are the capital cost of plant and pumps and the civil works to access networks where the pipework is buried. The City Authority can pay for these items directly out of the city budget, and recoup the investment through lower primary fuel costs. The City Authority contracts with an Energy Services Company (ESCO) to assume management of the district heating network, and maintain and investing in repairs to ensure consistent and efficient supply to users. The benefit of this approach is that the CA does not have to Energy Services Company commit to significant financial investment in the project or retain ownership of the project related risks. There are a number of potential ESCO contractual structures and it is recommended that if the City Authority explores the various advantages and disadvantages of each. See Jiamusi case study for further details. 65 The City Authority passes legislation or creates policy that requires minimum efficiency levels in both the generation and supply infrastructure of the district Legal or Statutory heating network. The efficiency levels should be set to ensure that the replacement program is staggered, targeting the worst performing assets first. MONITORING Monitoring the progression and effectiveness of recommendations, once implemented, is fundamental to an accurate understanding of their value over the longer term. Where the CA implements a recommendation a target (or set of targets) should be defined that indicates the level of expected progress over a given timescale. At the same time a monitoring plan should be designed. The monitoring plan does not need to be complicated or time consuming but should, as a minimum, cover the following aspects: identification of information sources, identification of performance indicators, a means of measurement and validating measuring equipment or processes, record keeping protocols, a schedule for measurement activity (daily, weekly, monthly etc.), assignment of responsibilities for each aspect of the process, a means of auditing and reviewing performance and finally, establishment of reporting and review cycles. Some suggested measures that relate specifically to this recommendation are as follows:  Establish baseline energy losses due to pipework and pumps(kWh/annum)  Establish baseline water losses due to pipework and pumps(l/annum)  Establish the City Authority goal for losses (kWh/annum) due to potential network upgrades  Compare actual program performance with targeted performance CASE STUDIES District heating network pipe maintenance, Seoul, Korea DBDH, Direct Access to District Heating Technology "Seoul Metropolitan District Heating Network", http://www.e-pages.dk/dbdh/12/ Established in 1985 by a public corporation, the district heating network in Seoul supplies 10,604 GWh of district heating and cooling to 832,000 households, commercial buildings and public buildings. During its first five years of operation, the network suffered from service interruptions caused by construction failures as pre-insulated pipe construction had only just been introduced in Korea and construction skills were too low to assure a good quality pipe construction. By the mid 2000s, 300 km of pre-insulated pipelines (20% of the total length) were around 20 years old, and investigation into pipe construction failure showed that these were mainly caused by loose casing joints 66 (51%) and the use of improper materials (21%). In order to improve the reliability of the supply network, and thereby reduce the cost of water and energy losses, the company invested in improving pipe construction skills and used a leak detection system which enables them to locate 'defaults'. As the leak detection system does not work well with the old pipes, faults are also located by means of "thermal graphic camera" and "injection gas to pipelines" methods. District heating network upgrade, Jiamusi, China DBDH, Direct Access to District Heating Technology "Dalkia Management of Jiamusi Urban Heating Network" http://dbdh.dk/images/uploads/pdf-news/hotcool_1_2010_low.pdf Due to a chronic lack of funds, the Jiamusi district heating network had for many years suffered from reduced maintenance, which had resulted in large energy and water losses. As interruption of service and low in-door temperature were the norm, the operator of the network, Jiamusi Heating Company (JHC), experienced increased dissatisfaction from its users. In May 2007 JHC, which was owned by the municipality, signed a 25-year agreement with an energy services company to take responsibility for the management of the network. A large-scale initiative to improve performance and upgrade the network's facilities was implemented. The heat supply temperature was raised; 90 new substations were built; and a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system was installed, enabling real-time management of the substations and the network, and resulting in improved optimization of energy efficiency and user's comfort. As a result, water losses were reduced by 30%, and energy consumption by 13.5%. By improving service quality, the company improved its customer relationships and was able to reduce the bad debt rate from 7% to 2%. The network has begun expansion and after two years of operation, it has increased its supply from 5.5 million sq. m (29% of the total heating surface) by 56% to 8.6 million sq. m. TOOLS & GUIDANCE Tools & Guidance DHCAN "District Heating System Rehabilitation and Modernisation and Modernisation Guide" projects.bre.co.uk/DHCAN/pdf/Modernisation.pdf. A guidance document for technical improvements resulting in higher energy efficiency and reduction of primary energy use. It attempts to set out a range of solutions from low-cost to high-cost, with consideration of financial circumstances, and links this to the fundamental need for a strategic view. IEA "Coming in from the Cold- Improving District Heating Policy in Transition Economies" http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2004/cold.pdf. A document which summarizes the institutional experiences of district heating rehabilitation, with focus on delivering clear policy on district heating. ESMAP Public Procurement of Energy Efficiency Services - Guide of good procurement practice from around the world. http://www.esmap.org/Public_Procurement_of_Energy_Efficiency_Services.pdf 67 ANNEX 2: Public Transport Development DESCRIPTION ATTRIBUTES Develop or improve the public transport system and take measures to increase its accessibility Energy Savings Potential and use. Public transport achieves lower emissions per capita than private cars, and has the > 200,000 kWh/annum potential to provide equitable transport network. A reduction in the number of private vehicles in First Cost circulation can lower emissions and improve air quality. > US$1,000,000 Speed of Implementation IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS > 2 years Implementation Co-Benefits Methodology Reduced carbon emissions Activity Improved air quality The City Authority establishes dedicated bus priority measures. This Enhanced public health & safety enables buses to bypass traffic queues enhancing their reliability and Bus priority journey times. There are a range of measures including bus lanes and priority at junctions that could be implemented. See the Bogota case study for further details. The City Authority invests in the necessary infrastructure for bus-priority signaling. Such systems are linked to buses via transponders which use GIS Signaling information, and favor the circulation of approaching buses either by extending green lights for buses or by shortening cycle for cars. The City Authority provides good quality passenger waiting facilities and as well as good information services. The provision of real-time bus Information countdown information allows users to understand and manage waiting times. These services enhance the attractiveness of public transport. The City Authority invests in the necessary infrastructure for electronic ticketing. This allows for use of multiple buses within a given amount of Operations time with one ticket, reducing the cost of travel, putting buses within the reach of the poorest, while attracting a wider patron base, when in combination with other modes, such as heavy rail or metro. Planning The City Authority links development densities to public transport 68 regulations & availability and funding. The City Authority reviews the city's zoning guidelines ordinances and considers making the following changes: Increase the permitted floor area ratio/ plot ratio on sites located near public transport hubs. In areas where it is appropriate re-zone single-use lands to allow multiple uses on the same site. Allowing higher densities of development along well-served public transport corridors creates a patron base for public transport and can be used in combination with other planning measures, such as capping parking provision to residential and office buildings, thus discouraging car use. Developers are required to show how a new development links to the existing or planned public transport network in order to gain planning permission. See the Curitiba case study for further details. The City Authority subsidizes travel on public transport. In certain areas Subsidies this can provide an incentive for people to use public transport. MONITORING Monitoring the progression and effectiveness of recommendations, once implemented, is fundamental to an accurate understanding of their value over the longer term. Where the CA implements a recommendation a target (or set of targets) should be defined that indicates the level of expected progress over a given timescale. At the same time a monitoring plan should be designed. The monitoring plan does not need to be complicated or time consuming but should, as a minimum, cover the following aspects: identification of information sources, identification of performance indicators, a means of measurement and validating measuring equipment or processes, record keeping protocols, a schedule for measurement activity (daily, weekly, monthly etc.), assignment of responsibilities for each aspect of the process, a means of auditing and reviewing performance and finally, establishment of reporting and review cycles. Some suggested measures that relate specifically to this recommendation are as follows:  Perform surveys of public transport passenger numbers.  Determine mode share of people travelling in area or city. 69 CASE STUDIES BRT system, Bogota, Colombia Source: ESMAP (2009). "Good practices in city energy efficiency: Bogota, Colombia - Bus Rapid Transit for Urban Transport Energy", available online from http://esmap.org/esmap/sites/esmap.org/files/Bogota_Case_Study_020310.pdf With the completion of its first two phases, the TransMilenio BRT system serves about 1.5 million passengers every day and has city-wide fuel consumption by 47%. Key success factors have been city-wide comprehensive planning of infrastructure, use of state-of-the-art technologies, implementation of a variety of design features to accommodate high volumes of passengers, and the use of a simple single price faring system. It does not require subsidies for operation - these are fully covered by fares. The project's capital cost totalled USD 240 million. The system is managed by a company which was set up by the Mayor, but runs independently from the city administration. While the company is in charge of all planning, maintenance and construction of infrastructure as well as organizing of schedules of bus services, buses and drivers are contracted through private firms, resulting in a complex but innovative management structure. Land Use and Public Transport Planning, Curitiba, Brazil Source: World Bank (2010). "Curitiba, Brazil -- Cost Is No Barrier to Ecological and Economic Urban Planning, Development, and Management . In ECO2 Cities: Ecological Cities as Economic Cities, pages 169-182." available online from http://www.esmap.org/esmap/sites/esmap.org/files/CS_Curitiba.pdf The case of Curitiba, Brazil, shows that cost is no barrier to ecological and economic urban planning, development, and management. Curitiba has developed a sustainable urban environment through integrated urban planning. To avoid unplanned sprawl, Curitiba directed urban growth linearly along strategic axes, along which the city encouraged highdensity commercial and residential development linked to the city’s integrated master plan and land use zoning. Curitiba adopted an affordable but innovative bus system rather than expensive railways that require significant time to implement. Curitiba’s efficient and well-designed bus system serves most of the urban area, and public transportation (bus) ridership has reached 45 percent. The city now has less traffic congestion, which has reduced fuel consumption and enhanced air quality. The green area has been increased, mainly in parks that have been created to improve flood prevention and through regulations that have enabled the transfer of development rights to preserve green areas and cultural heritage zones. Linking development densities to public transport availability, Curitiba, Brazil Source: Rabinovitch, J. (1992) "Curitiba: towards sustainable urban development", Environment and Urbanization, Vol.4 (2) pp. 62-73 Curitiba's Master Plan integrated transportation with land use planning. Zoning laws are used to direct linear growth by attracting residential and commercial density along a mass transportation lane. High-density residential and commercial development is permitted within walking distance of stops, with much lower densities elsewhere in the city. The city's central area is partly closed to vehicular traffic, and pedestrian streets have been created. In addition, a strict street hierarchy safeguards the right of way for the current BRT, which has significantly contributed to the success of the transportation network. Integrated urban planning and efficient resource use, Singapore Good practices in City Energy Efficiency: Eco2 Cities - Land and Resource Management in Singapore, available online 70 http://www.esmap.org/esmap/node/1230 Singapore is an island city-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. With a limited land area of 700 square kilometers and a population of 4.8 million, Singapore has become developed because of innovative urban planning integrated with the efficient use of land and natural resources. Singapore’s small size poses challenges related to the availability of land and natural resources. To optimize land use, Singapore promotes high-density development not only for businesses and commercial entities, but also for residential structures. High density lends itself to higher economic productivity per unit of land and facilitates the identification of green spaces and natural areas for preservation. Furthermore, high-density development has translated into greater use of public transportation as major business, commercial, and residential areas are well connected to an integrated public transportation network. In 2004, public transportation as a share of all transportation modes during morning peak hours reached 63 percent. The significant use of public transportation helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. High public transportation ridership also means Singapore has been able to recover all public transportation operating costs from fares, a feat achieved only by Hong Kong, China, and by Singapore among modern, highly developed cities. Integrated regional urban planning, Auckland, New Zealand Good Practices in City Energy Efficiency: Eco2 Cities - Integrated Regional Urban Planning in Auckland, available online http://www.esmap.org/esmap/node/1227 The interconnectedness of national and local Auckland issues (such as housing and education) with growth and innovation and the major required investments (particularly in land transport) have created complex and difficult issues among multiple authorities. Despite Auckland’s importance to the New Zealand economy and the areas of common interest, such as transportation and energy provision, the national government did not initially play a close role in directing regional and local government planning. Concern emerged that, without agreement on an overarching regional strategy and framework, decision making in the region could become ad hoc and adversarial if each stakeholder tried to have a say from a narrow perspective and without viewing the region as a whole. As a result, there was a clear need for coordinated strategic planning across the Auckland Region to ensure that Auckland would be able to remain competitive in today’s globalized world. The response involved the preparation in 2001 of a regional growth strategy that aimed to provide a vision of what Auckland could be like in 50 years. TOOLS & GUIDANCE Tools & Guidance Public Transport Authority Western Australia (2009). "Bus Priority Measures Principles and Design" A guidance document for planning bus priority methods and approaches. Available online from http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/PublicationsandPolicies/DesignandPlanningGuidelines/tabid/109/Default.aspx Transport for London (2006). "Accessible bus stop design guidance" A guidance document for designing bus stops which help make boarding easier for passengers. Available online from http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/businessandpartners/accessibile_bus_stop_design_guidance.pdf 71 ANNEX 3: Non-motorized Transport Modes DESCRIPTION ATTRIBUTES Non-motorised transport modes have zero operational fuel consumption and require low capital Energy Savings Potential costs for implementation. In addition to improving the health of users, their use reduces noise 100,000-200,000 kWh/annum pollution and improves air quality. Benefits include improved air quality, lower operating costs First Cost for users and providers, and lower infrastructure requirements. > US$1,000,000 Speed of Implementation IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS > 2 years Co-Benefits Implementation Reduced carbon emissions Methodology Activity Improved air quality Enhanced public health & safety The City Authority pedestrianizes networks of streets or larger city areas. Either permanent or temporary, the closure of streets to motor vehicles increases public awareness of non-motorised modes and removes noisy and polluting vehicles, as well as creating opportunities for street markets Pedestrianization and other initiatives. The City Authority researches the feasibility and probable take-up from origin and destination surveys, existing mode splits, and subsequently designs networks to suit commuting patterns and local/neighbourhood travel. See Oxford case study for further details. The City Authority includes dedicated cycle / walking route networks in its transportation or city land use plans. Replacement or reservation of rights- of-way in new-built areas creates the necessary conditions for adopting Dedicated non-motorised modes that may otherwise be less favoured if roads cater networks to cars only. The key to success is the linkage of cycle and pedestrian networks at local level, and the quality of the environment provided, that requires good drainage and adequate lighting and shading. See Bogota case study for further details. The City Authority makes micro credits available which can be used to increase the ownership of bicycles. Increased cycle ownership can have Microcredits significant financial benefits to low-income workers who may no longer be dependent upon expensive, inefficient and infrequent public transport. 72 See Lima case study for further details. The City Authority introduces bicycle rental programs which provide bicycles on demand for a fee. The key factor for success to is the setting of tariffs that encourage use as well as security procedures that avoid and penalise theft. Registered-user schemes require a credit card or bank Rental programs details of users, but are not necessarily open to all. Non-registered user schemes are more flexible, but more open to abuse. Branding of bicycles and facilities can create revenue for local authority. See Paris case study for further details. MONITORING Monitoring the progression and effectiveness of recommendations, once implemented, is fundamental to an accurate understanding of their value over the longer term. Where the CA implements a recommendation a target (or set of targets) should be defined that indicates the level of expected progress over a given timescale. At the same time a monitoring plan should be designed. The monitoring plan does not need to be complicated or time consuming but should, as a minimum, cover the following aspects: identification of information sources, identification of performance indicators, a means of measurement and validating measuring equipment or processes, record keeping protocols, a schedule for measurement activity (daily, weekly, monthly etc.), assignment of responsibilities for each aspect of the process, a means of auditing and reviewing performance and finally, establishment of reporting and review cycles. Some suggested measures that relate specifically to this recommendation are as follows:  Perform surveys of the number of cycles in circulation by using traffic counters on roads and cycle lanes.  Determine the mode share of people travelling in the area or city.  Determine KPIs such as % non-motorised transport mode, modal shift, km of dedicated cycle/walking infrastructure, take-up of cycle promotion schemes by analysing registers of subsidies CASE STUDIES Pedestrianization with road closures, Oxford, England European Commission, Directorate General for the Environment (2004). "Reclaiming city streets for people: Chaos or quality of life?", available online from http://ec.europa.eu/environment/pubs/pdf/streets_people.pdf 73 The main retail streets have been fully pedestrianized, while other through roads in the central area are only accessible to buses and pedestrians. The adoption of a step by step, integrated approach to the implementation of the road closure program has been seen as critical to the success of the significant road space reallocation element of the scheme. Opposition to the USD 6 million scheme was raised most notably on the basis that traffic congestion on two key routes in the city would worsen, as well as from retailers concerned about delivery access and trade levels. These concerns were attended to via an extensive consultation process and an effective publicity campaign prior to the implementation of the scheme. This included leaflets, advertisements on buses, city-wide poster boards, and a series of press releases Dedicated cycle network, Bogota, Colombia C40 Cities (2010). "Bogota, Colombia: Bogota's CicloRuta is one of the most comprehensive cycling systems in the world", available online from http://www.c40cities.org/bestpractices/transport/bogota_cycling.jsp CicloRutas is considered a unique cycling network where design has taken the topography of the city into consideration in order to create maximum flow and function (manmade and natural features, hills, waterways, parklands, essential facilities). In a period of just 7 years, following an investment of USD 50 million, the use of bicycles on the network increased by more than 268%. CicloRutas plays an important role for lower income groups, as more than 23% of the trips made by the lowest income group in the city are by walking or by bike. The development of CicloRutas has also helped to recover public space along riverbanks and wetlands, as for many years the city's wetlands were occupied by illegal settlements. Bicycle micro credits, Lima, Peru ICLEI (2009). "Case study 46: Assistance to purchase bicycles - Lima, Peru" in Sustainable Urban Energy Planning: A handbook for cities and towns in developing countries, available online from http://www.unhabitat.org/pmss/listItemDetails.aspx?publicationID=2839 In 1990, the Municipality of Lima set up a micro-credit programme to help low income citizens purchase bicycles. By saving on daily public transportation costs, workers can see their income effectively rise more than 12% once the loan is paid off. In order to enhance the success of the program, efforts have been made at standardizing the use of bicycles in the city. Actions to achieve this have so far consisted of the development of a manual of technical standards for the design and planning of cycle ways. Bicycle rental, Velib, Paris, France C40 Cities (2010). "Paris, France Velib - a new Paris love affair", available from http://www.c40cities.org/bestpractices/transport/paris_cycling.jsp Paris launched a 24/7 cycle hire scheme through Velib; a public private partnership between the city of Paris and a company led by a major advertising group. Users must purchase a subscription by day, week or year, and bike rental is free for the first half hour of every individual trip, after which it costs a fixed rate. The increasing price scale ensures the bikes are kept in circulation. Notably, the City of Paris generates revenues from the project without any investment (which cost USD 108 million). The public-private partnership is the reason for this success, with the private company paying operating costs plus rights to advertising space to the City, funded by advertising revenues. 74 TOOLS & GUIDANCE Tools & Guidance Sustrans (2007). "Technical guidelines for the development of cycle facilities" A series of guidance documents for professionals on the details of bicycle network design. Available online from http://www.sustrans.org.uk/resources/design-and-construction/technical- guidelines Transport for London (2010). "London Cycling Design Standards" A guidance document for designing to reduce barriers to cycling, in order to support road safety targets. Available online from http://www.tfl.gov.uk/businessandpartners/publications/2766.aspx 75 ANNEX 4: Parking Restraint Measures DESCRIPTION ATTRIBUTES Restricting parking availability discourages car use and provides an incentive to use more Energy Savings Potential sustainable modes of transport, including public transport. Removing vehicles from 100,000-200,000 kWh/annum circulation reduces fuel use and reduces congestion effects. First Cost < US$100,000 IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS Speed of Implementation Implementation > 2 years Methodology Co-Benefits Activity Reduced carbon emissions The City Authority introduces planning measures which determine Improved air quality car parking provision for residential and office developments. Enhanced public health & safety Introducing maximum parking allowances with low car-to-unit ratios Increased employment discourages private-car acquisition and use. Such measures do not affect the existing parking provision, however, and so need to be Planning supported by additional measures. While areas of intervention can measures be defined, larger coverage is more effective as it has less potential to overwhelm surrounding areas. A gradient approach solves this by making requirements less stringent from the center to the periphery. These measures safeguard energy use and efficiency in design and thereby bear no immediate cost to the city authority. See London case study for further details. The City Authority charges for on-street parking. Implementing a charging regime for car parking and formalizing parking arrangements will enable the parking stock to be controlled and Parking fees generate a revenue stream for sustainable transport measures. This type of approach requires a supporting system for enforcement, e.g. traffic wardens who issue fines to perpetrators, and are politically very sensitive measures. See San Francisco case study for details. Park & Ride The City Authority promotes multimodality by providing Park & Ride facilities locations at key interchanges. By linking parking to public transport 76 use, the necessities of non-inner city residents are considered. The success of Park & Ride is linked to availability of public transport and unavailability of cheap parking in central locations. The perceived cost should be lower than that of driving the entire way. Measures of this kind often require major capital investment in infrastructure by the city authority with respect to 'Park & Ride' locations on the periphery of the city, bus terminals and additional buses. See Oxford case study for further details. Complementary implementation activity: Planning measures MONITORING Monitoring the progression and effectiveness of recommendations, once implemented, is fundamental to an accurate understanding of their value over the longer term. Where the CA implements a recommendation a target (or set of targets) should be defined that indicates the level of expected progress over a given timescale. At the same time a monitoring plan should be designed. The monitoring plan does not need to be complicated or time consuming but should, as a minimum, cover the following aspects: identification of information sources, identification of performance indicators, a means of measurement and validating measuring equipment or processes, record keeping protocols, a schedule for measurement activity (daily, weekly, monthly etc.), assignment of responsibilities for each aspect of the process, a means of auditing and reviewing performance and finally, establishment of reporting and review cycles. Some suggested measures that relate specifically to this recommendation are as follows:  Perform surveys of parking stock and usage.  Perform traffic surveys of number of vehicles in circulation by using traffic counters.  Determine the average travelling speeds on the main transport corridors.  Determine the mode share of people travelling in the area or city.  Perform statistical analysis of rate of growth of car registration data. CASE STUDIES Parking standards, London Plan, London, UK London (2010). "Chapter 6: Transport" in The London Plan, available from http://www.london.gov.uk/shaping-london/london-plan/docs/chapter6.pdf pp.160-161. The London Plan establishes maximum parking guidelines for residential development. It stipulates that all developments in areas of good public transport accessibility should aim for significantly less than 1 parking space per unit. The main challenge continues to consist of 77 ensuring that these standards are supported other measures which reduce car dependency, both within the development and in the surrounding area, e.g. improved and increased public transportation accessibility. SF park curbside parking, San Francisco, USA Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (2010) "U.S. Parking Policies: An Overview of Management Strategies", available online from http://www.itdp.org/documents/ITDP_US_Parking_Report.pdf San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency's (SFMTA) installed new electronic, multi-space meters in 2009 and will activate parking spot sensors attached to the pavement sometime in 2010. The aim is to use pricing to help redistribute the demand for parking. The heart of SFpark is a Data Management System which sorts a tremendous amount of data collected from the networked array of remote sensors in all 6,000 parking spots. These wireless sensors can detect whether a spot is occupied by a vehicle and report parking occupancy information in real time to a central computer. The project will produce valuable data about the effect of meter pricing on occupancy. By 2010 the project will encompass 6,000 of San Francisco's 25,000 metered curbside parking spots in seven pilot neighborhoods. Parking fees, Aspen, US Source: Victoria Transport Policy Institute (2010). "Parking Pricing Implementation Guidelines", available online from http://www.vtpi.org/parkpricing.pdf The city used to suffer from high levels of congested on-street parking. In order to reduce the effects of the "ninety-minute shuffle" (where locals and downtown commuters moved their vehicles every 90 minutes to avoid a parking ticket), the city introduced charges for on- street parking using multi-space meters. Parking fees are highest in the center and decline with distance from the core. The city had a marketing campaign to let motorists know about the meters, including distribution of one free prepaid parking meter card to each resident to help familiarize them with the system. Motorists were allowed one free parking violation, and parking control officers provide an hour of free parking to drivers confused by the meters. Park-and-Ride, Oxford, United Kingdom Oxford City Council (2009). "Park and Ride Transfer", available online from http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decTS/Park_and_Ride_occw.htm Oxford city has five Park-and-Ride sites serving the city's shoppers, visitors and commuters. These sites used to charge for parking to provide income to cover operational costs, but were not able to generate additional money for repairs or improvement. In order to achieve savings, the management of the Park-and-Ride sites was transferred to Oxfordshire county, resulting in efficiency savings of 250,000 GBP per year for the city administration. These savings were achieved primarily through economies of scale, and by sharing the cost of providing the service with taxpayers across the County, and not just those in the city - both of which used the facilities. 78 TOOLS & GUIDANCE Tools & Guidance Victoria Transport Policy Institute (2010). "Parking Management: Strategies, Evaluation and Planning" A comprehensive guidance document for planning and implementation of parking management strategies. Available online from http://www.vtpi.org/park_man.pdf Victoria Transport Policy Institute (2010). "Parking Pricing Implementation Guidelines" A guidance document for implementation of parking pricing with details on overcoming common obstacles. Available online from http://www.vtpi.org/parkpricing.pdf Spillar, R. (1997). "A Comprehensive Planning and Design Manual for Park-and-Ride Facilities" A guidance document for the planning and design of Park-and-Ride facilities. Available online from http://www.pbworld.com/library/fellowship/spillar 79 ANNEX 5: Municipal Buildings Audit and Retrofit Program DESCRIPTION ATTRIBUTES Develop an audit and retrofit program focused on all Offices to survey and implement Energy Savings Potential opportunities for energy efficiency retrofits and upgrades. The benefits of the program will be > 200,000 kWh/annum cost savings for municipal government offices and reduction in carbon footprint of the CA. The First Cost program will identify immediate savings opportunities, and implement rapid payback items to > US$1,000,000 yield cost savings that can go to other municipal services. Speed of Implementation 1-2 years IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS Co-Benefits Implementation Reduced carbon emissions Methodology Improved air quality Activity Enhanced public health & safety Identify a CA staff position or hire a new position to be responsible for Increased employment opportunities Identify Offices execution and delivery of energy efficiency projects in municipal office Financial savings Program Leader buildings. This individual must be able to work across agencies, understand building systems and manage subcontractors. Using results from the Benchmarking Program or data collected on office buildings by Office Program staff, identify preliminary opportunities for energy efficiency such as: new lighting systems, new air conditioning systems, new heating systems, new computers, server cooling Identify Preliminary opportunities, etc. Opportunities Offices buildings can be more complex buildings and can have a high variety of system types, for example some may have simple window A/C (or no A/C) and others may have larger central A/C systems with chillers, cooling towers, air handlers and ductwork. Walk through a variety of office buildings to identify specific energy efficiency opportunities across the following end-uses and activities: Perform Detailed  lighting systems Energy Audits  air conditioning systems  heating systems  computers 80  server rooms and cooling of servers  appliances (water cooler, fridge, vending machines) The Municipal Offices EE Spreadsheet includes estimation methods for energy efficiency potential for offices which include equipment retrofits, behavioral changes (turning lights off, heating set points, time of operation, etc.) and procurement guidelines. Allocate budgets for energy efficiency upgrades in municipal office buildings. Combining upgrades with natural building renovations tends to be the best use of limited financing. For example if a new roof is required due to leaks, this is a good time to add insulation and white roof; or if Set Budget and new windows are being installed they could be upgraded to highly Requirements insulated windows using Office Building Energy Efficiency Program funds. Alternatively contracts may be set up with Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) who will pay for the first cost of the upgrades and will share in the savings from the retrofits. Considering the benchmarking data, detailed energy audits and Design Retrofits / budgetary constraints, design retrofits, equipment replacement and Upgrades renovation upgrades specifically for each building. Prepare an RFP for mechanical or electrical contractors to bid on the retrofit projects. Combining a large number of similar retrofits across Hire Contractor to dozens of office buildings will allow the CA to obtain economies of scale Implement and quality assurance with lower overheads. Alternatively prepare a RFP Retrofits and award an energy service contract to a private company (ESCO) who will guarantee energy savings, put forward the initial investment, and share future savings with the CA. Walk through and verify each construction project has been performed Verify Retrofit and per the specifications in the energy efficiency retrofit RFP. Continue to Performance collect electricity and heating bills for each building with improved systems and compare to historical data. 81 MONITORING Monitoring the progression and effectiveness of recommendations, once implemented, is fundamental to an accurate understanding of their value over the longer term. Where the CA implements a recommendation a target (or set of targets) should be defined that indicates the level of expected progress over a given timescale. At the same time a monitoring plan should be designed. The monitoring plan does not need to be complicated or time consuming but should, as a minimum, cover the following aspects: identification of information sources, identification of performance indicators, a means of measurement and validating measuring equipment or processes, record keeping protocols, a schedule for measurement activity (daily, weekly, monthly etc.), assignment of responsibilities for each aspect of the process, a means of auditing and reviewing performance and finally, establishment of reporting and review cycles. Some suggested measures that relate specifically to this recommendation are as follows:  $/m2 - Benchmark annual energy cost on a per-square-meter basis for all municipal office buildings.  kWhe/m2 - Benchmark annual electrical energy consumption on a per-square-meter basis for all municipal office buildings;  kWht/m2 - Benchmark annual heating energy consumption on a per-square-meter basis for all municipal office buildings;  $/yr saved - aggregate total energy savings generated through the life of the program. CASE STUDIES Model for Improving Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Berlin, Germany http://www.c40cities.org/bestpractices/buildings/berlin_efficiency.jsp The City of Berlin in partnership with Berlin Energy Agency (BEA) has pioneered an excellent model for improving energy efficiency in buildings. They project manage the retrofit of public and private buildings, preparing tenders for work that will guarantee reductions in emissions. CO2 reductions of an average 26% are written into the public retrofit tenders so that winning Energy Systems Companies (ESCOs) must deliver sustainable energy solutions. 1,400 buildings have so far been upgraded, delivering CO2 reductions of more than 60,400 tons per year - these retrofits cost the building owners nothing - and the buildings make immediate savings. Internal Contracting, Stuttgart, Germany http://www.c40cities.org/bestpractices/buildings/stuttgart_efficiency.jsp Stuttgart saves around 7200 tons of CO2 each year through an innovative form of internal contracting, making use of a revolving fund to finance energy and water-saving measures. The city is able to reinvest savings directly into new activities, creating a virtuous circle of environmental improvements and emissions reductions. 82 EU and Display Campaign Case Studies http://www.display-campaign.org/page_162.html The European Display Campaign is a voluntary scheme designed by energy experts from European towns and cities. When started in 2003 it was initially aimed at encouraging local authorities to publicly display the energy and environmental performances of their public buildings using the same energy label that is used for household appliances. Since 2008 private companies are also encouraged to use Display for their corporate social responsibility CSR activities. Energy Management System, Frankfurt, Germany http://www.managenergy.net/download/r164.pdf In 1996 the City of Frankfurt (Building department) entered into a contract with a private company to install and operate an energy-management system (EMS) for the city hall (Romer), Paulskirche and Museum "Schirn". The goal of the project is to reduce the costs for energy- and water as well as the CO2-emissions. Based on the annual costs of 2.6 Million DM in 1992/1993 the potential cost reductions were estimated to be approximately 320,000 DM per year. To reach these cost savings an investment of 1 Million DM for control equipment was necessary. Repayment of the invested capital will be provided from the energy savings (54%) over a period of 8 years. The remaining 46% will reduce the operating costs for the buildings. Energy Efficient Office of the Future (EoF), Garston, UK http://projects.bre.co.uk/envbuild/index.html The new Environmental Building at Garston was built as a demonstration building for the Energy Efficient Office of the Future (EoF) performance specifications, drawn up by a number of companies representing the manufacturers, designers and installers of building components and the fuel utilities, as part of the EoF project run by BRECSU. A key part of this specification is the need to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 30% from current best practice. Air conditioning is not used in the new building - the major energy consumer in many existing office buildings. Other savings will be made by making better use of day lighting and by using the building's 'thermal mass' to moderate temperatures. TOOLS & GUIDANCE Tools & Guidance EU LOCAL ENERGY ACTION Good practices 2005 - Brochure of good practice examples from energy agencies across Europe. http://www.managenergy.net/download/gp2005.pdf ESMAP Public Procurement of Energy Efficiency Services - Guide of good procurement practice from around the world. http://www.esmap.org/Public_Procurement_of_Energy_Efficiency_Services.pdf Energy Conservation Buildings Code provides minimum requirements for the energy efficient design and construction of buildings and their systems. http://www.emt-india.net/ECBC/ECBC-UserGuide/ECBC-UserGuide.pdf 83 ANNEX 6: Street Lighting Timing Program DESCRIPTION ATTRIBUTES Public lighting usually only has two states of operation, i.e. 'on' and 'off', and only switches Energy Savings Potential between these states in the early evening and early morning. The demand for lighting varies > 200,000 kWh/annum significantly throughout the day, however, with periods of very little use of public space during First Cost the middle of the night. A program with strategic timing and/or dimming tailored to the specific < US$100,000 needs for lighting in specific areas can significantly reduce energy consumption whilst still Speed of Implementation delivering appropriate levels of lighting for e.g. providing safety and sense of security in public < 1 year areas. An intelligent monitoring system can be used to adapt the levels of lighting according to Co-Benefits varying weather and activity levels. The aim of this recommendation is to identify public space Reduced carbon emissions usage patterns and adjust the lighting system levels accordingly. Often lighting timing programs Enhanced public health & safety are integral to a full audit and retrofit program, but for cities that already have energy efficient Increased employment opportunities public lighting systems, a lighting timing program may still be a small and effective program. Financial savings Lighting timing programs can reduce energy consumption, and subsequent carbon emissions as well as operational costs. Such programs often also increase the design life of light bulbs, reducing maintenance requirements and associated costs. The use of intelligent monitoring systems also enables quick detection of faults, allowing for quick replacement, enhancing the quality of the public lighting service. IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS Implementation Activity Methodology Prepare a study to estimate the types of streets and luminaires that Study illumination timing have the opportunity to have reduced timing and dimming during alternatives late night hours. Allocate funding to implement upgrades and retrofits for dimming Install timers and and timing opportunities. Roll out upgrades over the course of dimmers on existing multiple years to achieve 100% coverage of all city public lighting street lights and street lighting installations. See Kirklees and Oslo case studies for further details. 84 Set up timing and dimming standards for new installations of public Standards for new illumination and street lighting that confirm to global best practice lighting for energy efficiency and IESNA illumination guidelines. Measure on an annual basis the energy savings achieved by this Monitor and publish program and encourage private sector owners to follow the model energy savings of the CA. MONITORING Monitoring the progression and effectiveness of recommendations, once implemented, is fundamental to an accurate understanding of their value over the longer term. Where the CA implements a recommendation a target (or set of targets) should be defined that indicates the level of expected progress over a given timescale. At the same time a monitoring plan should be designed. The monitoring plan does not need to be complicated or time consuming but should, as a minimum, cover the following aspects: identification of information sources, identification of performance indicators, a means of measurement and validating measuring equipment or processes, record keeping protocols, a schedule for measurement activity (daily, weekly, monthly etc.), assignment of responsibilities for each aspect of the process, a means of auditing and reviewing performance and finally, establishment of reporting and review cycles. Some suggested measures that relate specifically to this recommendation are as follows:  Hours per year street lights are illuminated at maximum output.  Hours per year street lights are illuminated at less than 50% of maximum output. CASE STUDIES Control system for public lighting, Kirklees, UK http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/environment/green/greencouncil/LightingStoryboard.pdf Instead of switching off street lights at certain times of the day, as has been done by other CAs, the Kirklees CA decided instead to dim lights to varying levels throughout the day. This was done partly because not switching public lighting off completely during times of low activity would provide increased safety in the community by preventing crime. Retrofit systems were installed on each existing lighting pole which used wireless technology to monitor and dim the street lights. The retrofitting of these systems simply required the addition of a small antenna to the lamp heads, which plugged into the electronic ballast with no need for additional wiring. Generally the lights are switched on 100% at 7pm, thereafter dimmed to 75% at 10pm, and then to 50% at midnight. If the lights are still on at 5am, they are increased again to 100% lighting. By dimming the lights gradually, eyes are able to adjust to lower lighting levels, and the dimming is barely 85 noticeable. The remote monitoring system also provides accurate inventory information and enables street lighting engineers to identify failed lamps quickly and easily. This reduces the need for lighting engineers to carry out night scouting and has also reduced other on-site maintenance costs. A dimming of lights as implemented in Kirklees can save up to 30% of the electricity used annually. By replacing 1,200 lights, Kirklees CA estimates savings of approx USD 3 million in energy costs per year. Intelligent outdoor city lighting system, Oslo, Norway http://www.echelon.com/solutions/unique/appstories/oslo.pdf An intelligent outdoor lighting system has replaced PCB and mercury containing fixtures with high-performance high-pressure sodium lights. These are monitored and controlled via an advanced data communication system which operates over the existing 230V power lines using specialist power line technology. An operations centre remotely monitors and logs the energy use of streetlights and their running time. It collects information from traffic and weather sensors, and uses an internal astronomical clock to calculate the availability of natural light from the sun and moon. This data is then used to automatically dim some or all of the streetlights. Controlling light levels in this way has not only saved significant amount of energy (estimated at 62%), but has also extended lamp life, thereby reducing replacement costs. The CA has been able to use the monitoring system to identify lamp failures, often fixing them before being notified by residents. By being able to provide predictive failure analyses based on a comparison of actual running hours versus expected lamp life, the efficiency of repair crews has been increased. 10,000 replacements have cost the CA approx. USD 12 million. Currently the program saves approx USD 450,000 in running costs per year. However, it is estimated that if the program is rolled out to the entire city, the increased economies of scale will yield a payback period of less than five years. Motorway intelligent lights retrofit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia http://www.lighting.philips.com.my/v2/knowledge/case_studies-detail.jsp?id=159544 The project implemented a lighting solution for highways leading to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The total length of the dual carriage highway covers 66 km. The main requirement for the project was that each individual lamp along the entire 66 km stretch of highway should be independently dimmable. This called for a network linking all 3,300 positions to a central control facility. There was also a need for greater maintenance efficiency while ensuring optimal visibility without compromising on visual comfort on the road. An intelligent lighting system that uses tele-management control was employed. Tele-management makes it possible to switch or control every individual light point in the system from a central PC. It also enables specific dimming profiles adjusted to suit conditions on the road for different lamps, instant reception of failure messages, and the creation of a database where all system data is stored. It allows a significant reduction in energy consumption in addition to the 45% savings as a result of the use of dimming circuits. Intelligent outdoor city lighting system, Oslo, Norway http://www.echelon.com/solutions/unique/appstories/oslo.pdf An intelligent outdoor lighting system has replaced PCB and mercury containing fixtures with high-performance high-pressure sodium 86 lights. These are monitored and controlled via an advanced data communication system which operates over the existing 230V power lines using specialist power line technology. An operations centre remotely monitors and logs the energy use of streetlights and their running time. It collects information from traffic and weather sensors, and uses an internal astronomical clock to calculate the availability of natural light from the sun and moon. This data is then used to automatically dim some or all of the streetlights. Controlling light levels in this way has not only saved significant amount of energy (estimated at 62%), but has also extended lamp life, thereby reducing replacement costs. The CA has been able to use the monitoring system to identify lamp failures, often fixing them before being notified by residents. By being able to provide predictive failure analyses based on a comparison of actual running hours versus expected lamp life, the efficiency of repair crews has been increased. 10,000 replacements have cost the CA approx. USD 12 million. Currently the program saves approx USD 450,000 in running costs per year. However, it is estimated that if the program is rolled out to the entire city, the increased economies of scale will yield a payback period of less than five years. TOOLS & GUIDANCE Tools & Guidance N/A 87 ANNEX 7: Active Water Leak Detection & Pressure Management DESCRIPTION ATTRIBUTES Develop a leak detection and pressure management program to minimize losses along the Energy Savings Potential following systems: 100,000-200,000 kWh/annum  Extraction works and pipelines First Cost  Long distance water transmission mains US$100,000-1,000,000  Distribution networks Speed of Implementation  Sewage pumping mains 1-2 years  District cooling networks Co-Benefits  Irrigation networks Reduced carbon emissions Efficient water use It is anticipated that most systems would already be subject to passive leak detection, i.e. Enhanced public health & safety Increased employment opportunities identifying leaks through visual observation, but that provides limited information and benefits. Financial savings This recommendation therefore focuses on a pro-active and more thorough leak detection Security of supply program to locate and repair leaks. The following techniques could be used:  Ground microphones  Digital leak noise correlator  Acoustic logger  Demand management valves, meters and zoning  Mobile leak detection programs  Basic acoustic sounding techniques In addition excess pressure can be reduced by installing:  Flow modulating valves on gravity networks  Pump controls and/or pressure sensors to modulate a pump's relative performance to suit the daily variation in flow demand, thus maintaining maximum efficiency and minimum energy use. A leakage detection program can facilitate the provision of minimal pressures and encourage, through less wastage, a more sustainable use of water resources. In sewerage systems, identification and elimination of leaks can also significantly reduce risk of ground contamination. Pressure management can cost-effectively reduce treatment and pumping costs by minimizing the required delivery pressure and leakage. It is particularly suited to pumped mains and may 88 require estimates of how demand changes over the day. Appropriately rated pressure reducing valves will in turn reduce the flow through leaks and the total flow that must be delivered by the pump upstream at the source/treatment works. This solution may be particularly appropriate in gravity flow networks. The key advantage of pressure management over leak detection is the immediate effectiveness. It is most appropriate where the network is expansive and features multiple small leaks that would be difficult and expensive to locate and repair. IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS Implementation Methodology Activity The City Authority can help to establish appropriate partnerships to undertake a feasibility study to assess leakage levels across the network(s). The CA should engage a team that includes network planners, water and utilities engineers and financial advisors to ensure the feasibility study captures all pertinent aspects. The feasibility study helps Feasibility Study to establish the technological and financial viability, as well as procurement and policy options. Options should be appraised against baseline city energy expenditure associated with water leakage; monitoring flows and demands to refine value and pump controls accordingly. Technical ability, incentives and taxes should also be given consideration. Where the potable or wastewater network is owned or run by the City Authority, the CA pays for upgrades to the utility infrastructure, directly out of the city budget or through separate funding mechanisms. The advantage of this strategy is that having the legislative authority to take Direct expenditures ownership of the intervention will facilitate compliance with local & procurement legislation, policies and obtaining planning permission. The main expenditure associated with pressure management will be mainly the acquisition and installation costs of the equipment (i.e. valve, control fittings). 89 If the City Authority lacks ability to access capital and technical expertise, a Build-Own- Operate-Transfer (BOOT) type contracting mechanism may be deemed most suitable to implement an initiative. The Request For Proposals (RFP) calls upon bidders to implement efficiency measures and provide funding for the project, with remuneration paid through the resulting savings. This 'shared savings approach' is common in the Build-Own- electricity industry. Operate-Transfer The contractor is required to provide a basket of services including (BOOT) financing of capital, design, implementation, commissioning, operation and maintenance over the contract period as well as training of municipal staff in operations prior to handover. This sort of arrangement can be complex to set up and it can also be difficult to find an organization willing to take on the risk associated with this form of partnership. Case Study: Emfuleni, South Africa. The City Authority regulates the Water Companies to meet leak reduction Efficiency targets and ensure their pipes meet required standards of operational Standards efficiency. The City Authority liaises with the local community to increase understanding of the benefits of leak detection initiatives. Simpler, less technical methods of leak detection and reporting provide a considerable opportunity for community involvement and participation. In so doing, Community led amenity will be maximized and leaks may be identified more quickly. In implementation turn, the baseline infrastructure may also be safeguarded against vandalism or poorly implemented operation and maintenance. This activity may be complemented by offering subsidies to those who take part or by passing on the associated monetary savings to the community through reduced water rates. The City Authority liaises with established organizations and/or coalitions Partnering (frequently non-profit such as Alliance to Save Energy) to gain access to Programs their experience and expertise in order to implement the most 90 appropriate changes to the pipe/pumping infrastructure. Such organizations often undertake research, educational programs, and policy advocacy, design and implementation of energy-efficiency projects, promotion of technology development and deployment, and/or help to build public-private partnerships. Difficulty can arise where the partnering organizations do not have access or influence over the funds required to implement the initiatives. Case Study: Galati & Iasi, Romania; Phonm Penh, Cambodia. MONITORING Monitoring the progression and effectiveness of recommendations, once implemented, is fundamental to an accurate understanding of their value over the longer term. Where the CA implements a recommendation a target (or set of targets) should be defined that indicates the level of expected progress over a given timescale. At the same time a monitoring plan should be designed. The monitoring plan does not need to be complicated or time consuming but should, as a minimum, cover the following aspects: identification of information sources, identification of performance indicators, a means of measurement and validating measuring equipment or processes, record keeping protocols, a schedule for measurement activity (daily, weekly, monthly etc.), assignment of responsibilities for each aspect of the process, a means of auditing and reviewing performance and finally, establishment of reporting and review cycles. Some suggested measures that relate specifically to this recommendation are as follows:  % Unaccounted for water (UFW): Measures the percentage of the water lost, due to leakages, wastage, theft, mechanical errors in meters at the source or human errors in correctly recording the meter reader, out of the total treated water produced.  % Volume of water leakage per kilometer of water main per day: Measures the average volume of water leakage per kilometer of water main per day during the reporting period.  Length of water mains inspected for leakages: Measures the total length of water mains inspected for water leakages during the reporting period.  Properties affected by low water pressure: Measures the total number of properties affected by low water pressure due to aged pipe network or repair works during the reporting period. 91 CASE STUDIES Pilot Leak Detection and Abatement Program, Iași, Romania http://www.resourcesaver.com/ewebeditpro/items/O50F1144.pdf With an EcoLinks Challenge Grant of $46,820, Regia Autonomă Județeană Apa-Canal Iași (RAJAC) partnered with a U.S. environmental technology provider, Cavanaugh & Associates, to develop a pilot leak detection and abatement program. The total project investment was $118,074. The program trained RAJAC personnel in leak detection, implemented a leak detection system and developed a water conservation program and public outreach campaign. This pilot leak detection and abatement study was a prerequisite for the implementation of an infrastructure program. Awareness of new technology was significantly increased through training and seminars. The company's public awareness-raising program encouraged and enhanced consumers' capacity to participate in water conservation efforts. Environmental and economic benefits were derived from the more efficient use of water and energy resources. In the short-term, it was estimated that three of the leaks identified in the pilot scheme were responsible for a water loss of 60,000 m3/year and a revenue loss of $24,000. Since the equipment used during the pilot project cost approximately $20,000 and no further significant investments were needed to eliminate the leaks, the payback period for the equipment was less than one year. This project contributes to a larger effort to improve water efficiency throughout Iasi County that will ultimately reduce water loss by 8 million m3 and provide a savings of $3 million per year, however, this level of savings, would require significant investment in the infrastructure. USAID funded Ecolinks Project, Galați, Romania http://www.munee.org/node/62 As part of a USAID funded Ecolinks Project, the Cadmus Group assessed the city's water supply system and discovered that a series of energy conservation measures could save roughly $250,000 per year in electricity costs. Low cost measures included trimming impellers to better match pumps and motors with required flows and pressures. Moderate cost measures included leak detection and reduction and limited pump replacement. Pressure Management, Emfuleni, South Africa Energy and Water Efficiency in Municipal Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment in Emfuleni, South Africa http://www.watergy.org/resources/publications/watergy.pdf The Sebokeng/Evaton pressure management project use a Build-Own- Operate-Transfer (BOOT) type contracting mechanism because the municipality had only limited access to capital and lacked the technical capacity to implement the project. The savings in water were so significant that both the municipality and contractor gained, with 80% of the savings accruing to the municipality and the remaining 20% used as remuneration to the contractor for services provided over a five year period. As the installed infrastructure is permanent in nature and has a design life of at least 20 years, the municipality will continue to achieve savings well beyond the initial five year period. The staff also benefit from access to additional expertise and training. This project reduced water losses by over 30%, saving about 8 mega-liters per year with an equivalent financial value of around $3.5 million. These water savings also translate into energy savings of around 14,250,000 92 kWh per annum due to the reduction in energy required to pump water. The project clearly demonstrated that the intervention of a suitable technology with a shared savings arrangement could succeed in low income communities; a private firm providing financing for technical innovation at no cost to the municipality received remuneration from sharing the resulting savings in water purchases. Good Practices in City Energy Efficiency. Emfuleni Municipality, South Africa: Water Leak Management Project (Case Study) http://www.esmap.org/esmap/node/663 The water supply project in South Africa’s Emfuleni Municipality resulted in lower costs for water--including lower energy costs associated with water supply--and also improvements in the municipality’s financial status through a new leakage management system for bulk water supply. Innovative pressure management technology was applied to the water supply system of two low-income residential areas, yielding significant savings in water and energy costs for pumping and treating water for distribution. The payback period was only 3 months and financial savings, from both reduced energy use and water losses, was estimated at US$3.8 million per year for a lifetime of 20 years. Under the performance contracting arrangement employed to finance and implement the project, the municipality retains 80% of the water and energy cost savings during the first five years and 100% of the savings thereafter. The project has been hailed as a great success for South Africa. It clearly demonstrates that the use of suitable technology under a shared savings arrangement can succeed in low- income communities. A private firm providing financing for technical innovation--at no cost to the municipality--received remuneration from sharing savings in water purchases. The contractor provided a basket of services, including financing of upfront investment capital, design, implementation, commissioning, operations and maintenance (O&M) over the contract period, as well as training municipal staff in operations prior to handover of the installation. The project resulted in substantial financial savings that led to a "win-win" situation, both for the municipality and contractor, through a successful public private partnership (PPP). Water Pressure Management Program, Sydney, Australia http://www.sydneywater.com.au/OurSystemsAndOperations/WaterPressureManagement/index.cfm Sydney Water has a water pressure management program to target those areas where pressure levels are well above average and there is a history of water main breaks. Excessive water pressure can lead to water main breaks and cause leaks in the city's water system. Water pressure management aims to adjust water pressure levels in the supply system to achieve more consistent pressure levels which will reduce the number of water main breaks, improve the reliability of the water supply system and conserve water. The Water Pressure Management program is an important part of Sydney Water's leak prevention program and the New South Wales Government's Metropolitan Water Plan. Water Supply and Drainage Project, Phnom Penh, Cambodia http://www.adb.org/water/actions/CAM/PPWSA.asp http://www.adb.org/water/actions/CAM/Internal-Reforms-Fuel-Performance.asp Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Phnom Penh Water Supply and Drainage Project provided the opportunity for PPWSA, the government- owned water supply utility, to partner with ADB and demonstrate its capacity for catalyzing water sector reforms. To phase out non- 93 revenue water, i.e. consumers gaining access to water supplies for free, PPWSA started metering all water connections. It gradually equipped each network with a pressure and flow rate data transmitters that provide online data for analyzing big leaks in the system. They also set up a training centre to respond to in-house training needs. PPWSA renewed old pipes using state-of-the-art materials and labor from PPWSA staff. PPWSA also institutionalized performance monitoring, coming up with progress reports and performance indicators on a regular basis and annually subjecting its accounts and procedures to an independent audit. The project advocated the transfer of more managerial autonomy to PPWSA to enable it to use its own funds on maintenance and rehabilitation programs. The result of the project was that PPWSA became financially and operationally autonomous, achieved full cost recovery, and transformed into an outstanding public utility in the region. 94 ANNEX 8: List of abbreviations for cities in the TRACE database City Country City Abbreviation City Country City Abbreviation 1 Addis Ababa Ethiopia ADD 38 Karachi Pakistan KAR 2 Amman Jordan AMM 39 Kathmandu Nepal KAT 3 Baku Azerbaijan BAK 40 Kiev Ukraine KIE 4 Bangkok Thailand BAN 41 Kuala Malaysia KUA Lumpur 5 Belgrade Serbia BE1 42 Lima Peru LIM 6 Belo Brazil BEL 43 Ljubljana Slovenia LJU Horizonte 7 Bengaluru India BEN 44 Mexico Mexico MEX City 8 Bhopal India BHO 45 Mumbai India MUM 9 Bratislava Slovakia BRA 46 Mysore India MYS 10 Brasov Romania BR1/BRA 47 New York USA NEW 11 Bucharest Romania BUC 48 Odessa Ukraine ODE 12 Budapest Hungary BUD 49 Paris France PAR 13 Cairo Egypt CAI 50 Patna India PAT 14 Cape Town South CAP 51 Phnom Cambodia PHN Africa Penh 15 Casablanca Morocco CAS 52 Ploiesti Romania PLO 16 Cebu Philippines CEB 53 Pokhara Nepal POK 17 Cluj-Napoca Romania CLU 54 Porto Portugal POR 18 Colombo Sri Lanka COL 55 Pune India PUN 19 Constanta Romania CON 56 Quezon Philippines QUE City 20 Craiova Romania CRA 57 Rio de Brazil RIO Janeiro 21 Dakar Senegal DAK 58 Sangli India SAN 22 Danang Vietnam DAN 59 Sarajevo Bosnia and SAR Herzegovina 23 Dhaka Bangladesh DHA 60 Seoul South Korea SEO 24 Gaziantep Turkey GAZ 61 Shanghai China SHA 25 Guangzhou China GUA 62 Singapore Singapore SIN 95 26 Guntur India GUN 63 Sofia Bulgaria SOF 27 Hanoi Vietnam HAN 64 Surabaya Indonesia SUR 28 Helsinki Finland HEL 65 Sydney Australia SYD 29 Ho Chi Minh Vietnam HO 66 Tallinn Estonia TAL 30 Hong Kong China HON 67 Tbilisi Georgia TBI 31 Iasi Romania IAS 68 Tehran Iran TEH 32 Indore India IND 69 Timisoara Romania TIM 33 Jabalpur India JAB 70 Tokyo Japan TOK 34 Jakarta Indonesia JAK 71 Toronto Canada TOR 35 Jeddah Saudi JED 72 Urumqi China URU Arabia 36 Johannesburg South JOH 73 Vijaywada India VIJ Africa 37 Kanpur India KAN 74 Yerevan Armenia YER 96