Our new Innovation Norway supported project aims at tackling some of the biggest challenges Romania faces in its green transition: we aim to improve energy efficiency, support sustainable renovations in public sector, at EU standards, promoting a more green and clean economy and public administration by bringing the best expertise on waste management and circular initiatives and making better use of the country’s green resources: such as geothermal.
The program engages with important components of the green transition by:
- building on the knowledge already developed in our previous projects in energy efficiency and renovation works for public building and public interest (the highest energy consumers), including measures, investments, policies or educational resources to efficiently address consumers behaviors, reducing consumption, reducing the use of primary resources: energy, water, gas and thereby lowering emissions
- addressing common deficits Romanian local public administrations encounter in management of municipal waste management circular economy in at least 10 urban extended areas of Romania while bringing Nordic models to Romanian stakeholders’ attention.
- understanding and finding solutions to extend the use of alternative, clean energy resources such as geothermal energy or water where Romania has a consistent, under-used potential
Our project brings together Romanian and Norwegian experts to share knowledge and exchange best practices, the goal being to help local communities turn these challenges into opportunities for ecological/sustainable growth.
What we aim to achieve:
- Connecting expertise and experiences in successful green transition: Bring together stakeholders—policymakers, entrepreneurs, energy solution providers, and more —for Eco Camps and study visit to Norway, where they will exchange knowledge and experience
- Greener public buildings: Support 10 local administrations and 500 building users in adopting sustainable practices and benefiting from energy-efficient renovations.
- Unlocking geothermal potential: Work to expand the use of Romania’s geothermal energy, the third highest in Europe, by identifying challenges and creating solutions.
- Providing evidence-based policy and on-the-ground input for policy makers at local, national and EU level: our team and experts will provide practical recommendations to 41 municipalities and 4 central authorities, helping shape Romania’s green policies.
What we’re doing
- Workshops and Green Energy Eco-Camps: Hands-on sessions and networking events will bring stakeholders together to learn from each other and from Norwegian experts.
- Practical guides: Design for public building users but also for the public administration investment departments practical and ready-to-use guides will ensure both i) that renovated spaces are used effectively and sustainably ii) that the renovated buildings are effective investments – a checklist for public administrators will be provided.
- Policy recommendations and outcomes from the projects on the ground: Provide insights on which people can act, to help policymakers address key barriers to the green transition.
The project is implemented by Freedom House Romania in partnership with the Romanian Center for European Policies and Norsk Energi. The event is part of the series of initiatives under the project „Empowering Communities for the Green Transition: Romania-Norway Knowledge Exchange for Clean Energy & Building Renovation,” supported by grants provided by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the financial mechanism „Fund for Bilateral Relations – EEA and NORWAY GRANTS in Romania.”
This is our second project on energy efficiency, complementing the results and key activities achieved in the previous one. More about our previous project jointly implemented with Energy Policy Group are available here.
Keep checking out our page for updates and progress from this project!
Photography source: European Parliament