RENAISSANCE - City of Zaragoza

Zaragoza is, with Lyon and Bracknell, one of the 3 main cities involved in the RENAISSANCE project. The project involves El Picarral, an existing community in need of building refurbishment and urban re-generation, and Valdespartera, a new community. Both are linked by the integrated political commitment of all actors and a common set of performance criteria.

Valdespartera is implementing a legally approved plan that demands that all building developments include energy performance superior to national standards. The energy savings relative to national standards are about 70% and relative to the Valdespartera plan standards are in the range 20-30%.

Renewable Energy Sources (RES)

RES in the Zaragoza RENAISSANCE community supplies over 40% of the total energy demand. Poly-generation involves a small scale 50kW bio-mass system providing power, heating and cooling integrated with a solar thermal based cooling system included in the Valdespartera interpretation centre.

Energy Efficiency (EE)

In Zaragoza the demonstration area aim is to show how energy savings can best be achieved with a limited budget in social housing. Intervention is expected in wall and roof insulation and glazing replacement. 

Integration of EE and RES measures allow for bioclimatic design criteria in Valdespartera and new knowledge regarding use perception and factors determining acceptance of new EE and RES in el Picarral. The expected result is very high energy performance: around 70% reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Monitoring and Research

In Valdespartera, the comprehensive monitoring systems installed with a substantial investment by the largest electricity company in Spain (ENDESA), produce innovation. In combination with the already existing monitoring projects, this investment produces new data to fuel technical research. The results provide empowering design tools for architects, criteria for planners and confidence for energy companies interested in developing generation and distribution networks.

In el Picarral (and elsewhere in Zaragoza to provide a control for the study), socio-economic research is to be done by ECODES regarding perception and acceptance of new technology and habits, this information forms the basis for developing policy for more sustainable improvements quality of life.

ZARAGOZA FACTS AND FIGURES:

Contact Mr. Javier CELMA, contact person in Zaragoza, Spain at unidadambiente@ayto-zaragoza.es