CONCERTO is a European Commission initiative within the European Research Framework Programme (FP6 and FP7). It aims to demonstrate that the optimisation of the building sector of communities as a whole is more cost-effective than optimising each building individually.
The EU initiative of DG Energy started in 2005 and has co-funded 58 cities and communities in 22 projects in 23 countries. The total amount of the EU funding for the CONCERTO initiative is €175.486.501.
CONCERTO demonstrates implemented examples of:
• innovative technologies that are ready to be applied
• the use of renewable energies sources for cities
• energy efficiency measures
• sustainable building and district development
• economic assessments
• affordable energy
• energy transparency for citizens
The CONCERTO initiative proves that if given the right planning, cities and communities can be transformed into pioneers in the world of energy efficiency and sustainability.
The results so far have been very encouraging: CONCERTO cities and communities have shown that existing buildings can cut thier CO2 emmission, at acceptable costs, by up to 50%. CONCERTO does this by implementing renewable energy sources, innovative technologies and an integrated approach.
The 58 CONCERTO cities and communities integrate innovative energy efficiency measures with a substantial contribution from decentralised renewable energy sources (RES), smart grids, renewables-based cogeneration, district heating/cooling systems and energy management systems in larger building settelments. This set of innovative technologies and measures are optimised locally in order to take all specifications of the local site, climate and cultural differences or local political aspects into account.
CONCERTO cities and communities demonstrate new realistic models to get close to being zero energy communities. The results will pave the way for a future European legislation in the form of energy policy recommendations for the 2020 energy and climate change targets and the 2050 Energy Roadmap. CONCERTO demonstrates good examples of sustainable district development as well as of refurbishment in buildings.
CONCERTO is the intermediate step from the individual building via the community to the whole city approach, as planned in the “Smart Cities & Communities initiative”.
CONCERTO is an initiative addressing the challenges of creating a sustainable future for Europe’s energy needs.
CONCERTO is co-financed by the