Description
Municipalities receive comprehensive support in evaluating energy consumption and CO2 emissions from public buildings and services, private buildings and tertiary sector. This includes energy audits, benchmarking performance, and identifying energy-saving opportunities. Mitigation strategies include retrofitting buildings with energy-efficient materials, upgrading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and integrating renewable energy sources such as solar panels. Moreover, the emissions from municipal vehicle fleets are assessed, covering public service vehicles, waste collection trucks, and other transportation assets. Suggestions focus on optimizing fleet operations, adopting electric or hybrid vehicles, and enhancing fuel efficiency through better route planning and fleet management. CO2 emissions from public lighting infrastructure, including street lights and municipal facilities, are also evaluated. Efforts concern the transition to energy-efficient LED lighting, implementing smart lighting systems to adjust brightness levels based on traffic patterns and integrating solar-powered lighting systems to reduce electricity consumption and emissions. Another sector is the municipal public transport systems, such as buses and private cars, are calculated. Strategies including shifting to low-carbon or electric vehicles, optimizing transport routes for fuel efficiency, promoting public transit over private car use, and implementing sustainable transportation systems like bike-sharing or electric bus fleets are also provided. Moreover, local governments are supported in assessing emissions from agricultural activities, including livestock, crop production, and machinery use. Mitigation suggestions include promoting sustainable farming practices, implementing precision agriculture techniques, encouraging agroforestry, and adopting renewable energy solutions like biogas production on farms. Finally, the carbon emissions from municipal water treatment plants and sewerage systems are assessed. Options including upgrading facility efficiency, using energy-efficient pumps, integrating renewable energy like solar and adopting technologies to recover energy from wastewater treatment processes, are also covered. Therefore, for each sector, tailored mitigation strategies are provided to help municipalities reduce their carbon footprint, enhance sustainability, and contribute to broader environmental goals. By adopting these services, municipalities – local governments can develop comprehensive climate action plans that address all critical sources of CO2 emissions, while promoting long-term sustainability and resilience across their operations and communities.
