The Municipality of Heraklion participates as a Partner in the European Project IMPULSE (Integrated Management Support for Energy efficiency in Mediterranean PUblic buiLdings) which is implemented under the Mediterranean Area Program Interreg MED 2014-2020 and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Project introduces a supportive management system for the integrated planning of energy efficiency interventions in public buildings. The main challenge to be addressed is the need for public authorities to design and then implement reliable and affordable Energy Efficiency Plans for their existing building stock, which at the local level leads to integrated Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAP).

The main problem is the lack of available energy consumption data of the building stock as well as the absence of easy-to-use decision-making systems for the design and implementation of realistic, efficient and economically viable Action Plans. The IMPULSE Project recognizes the need to develop such systems and implements an integrated transnational management approach to the energy design of public buildings, taking into account the diversity of conditions in the Mediterranean region in terms of buildings, energy efficiency solutions available, climate, regulations, etc., in the context of the wide range of peculiarities of the region.

The Project provides extensive actions in the Municipality of Heraklion, as well as in other cities in 5 Mediterranean Countries (Elche – Spain, Cannes – France, Ravenna – Italy, Osijek – Croatia, Mostar – Bosnia & Herzegovina), in which they will apply the existing science-based technical methods for the identification of representative typologies of municipal buildings, for the formulation of economic and technical optimal “packages” of energy upgrade measures for each typology and following sustainable plans for gradual renovation of the representative building typologies of the Municipality of Heraklion, in accordance with the relevant European Energy Efficiency Guidelines (2010/31).

The results will be organized in a transnational information system, which will map the energy profile of a significant sample of municipal buildings, therefore it will be a decision-making tool for the design and implementation of energy upgrade action plans for buildings. For the updating and capitalization of the system, the implementation and monitoring of a pilot project of small-scale energy upgrade in a municipal building is foreseen. At the same time, it is foreseen the promotion of the results of the Project to the directly interested target groups, with the ultimate aim of its wider use by other local authorities, e.g. in the context of business / development planning of Mediterranean Municipalities.

Funding Program: Interreg MED 2014-2020

Specific objective of the Program: 2.1 / Improving the capacities for the better management of Energy in public buildings, at transnational level.

Project Type: Pilot Project (M2)

ERDF co-financing rate: 85%, Public Investment Program15%

Partners: Center for Renewable Sources and Energy Saving (Project Coordinator) – Greece, Municipality of Heraklion – Greece, Valencia Institute of Building – Spain, Elche City Council – Spain, EnvirobatBDM – France, Equipment and development Regional Agency from Provence Alpes Cote d’ Azur -France, Municipality of Ravenna – Italy, Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar – Croatia, City of Osijek – Croatia, City of Mostar – Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Associated partners: Regional Development Fund of Crete (ΠΤΑΚ) -Greece, Provincial Energy Agency of Alicante, Valencian Community Foundation-Spain, Comunidad Valenciana Region-Spain, City of Cannes-France, Society for Sustainable Development Design-Croatia, Regional Development Agency of Slavonia and Baranja-Croatia.

Total Project Budget: € 2,222,863.00

Budget of the Municipality of Heraklion: 158,684.00 €

Project Duration: 1 November 2016 – 30 April 2019 (30 months)

Project Website: https://impulse.interreg-med.eu/