Iași: the first city in Romania to receive the European Energy Award

Increasing energy efficiency in local transportation, centralised heating and local household services

Iași became Romania's first municipality to be awarded the European Energy Award. On Monday, 12 April, the certificate of ′′Sustainable Community in the field of energy efficiency" was presented by His Excellency Arthur Mattli, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation in Romania, to Mayor Mihai Chirica.

This is in the footsteps of two projects established by the Romanian Green Building Council, which made it possible to obtain the Energy Efficiency Certificate. The project "Institutionalisation of the European Energy Award in Romania", funded by the Switzerland-Romania Cooperation Programme, aims to reduce economic and social inequalities within the European Union.

The other project harmonises the European Energy Award with other community assessment frameworks funded by the European CoME EASY programme. The CoME EASY project elaborates and provides municipalities with all-inclusive, comprehensive, user-friendly and effective supporting tools for developing, monitoring and achieving their energy and climate goals.

Reducing energy consumption by 25%

“I congratulate the Municipality of Iași for being able to complete all the steps to become a sustainable city. I also congratulate you for signing the mayor’s convention at European level, which means a commitment to reducing energy consumption by 25 %," said His Excellency Arthur Mattli.

′′It's an honour for all the Iasians that, starting today, we have joined the energy-sustainable cities. It's a long work, hard work, related to the desire to leave those who will come after us a clean city, in every way. All of our investment programs have a must and sustainable part of each project. It is the moral duty we have to those to whom we will bequeath this city," commented mayor Mihai Chirica on the occasion.

Receiving this award confirms the local community's efforts to incorporate the steps in the Energy Efficiency Action Plan and serves as the foundation for an integrated concept of project packages aimed at increasing energy efficiency in spheres, such as public lighting, local transportation, centralised heating system, and local household services.