Website: www.energymodel.eu

Energy Cities is coordinating the MODEL project which is one of the major outcomes of the BISE process launched in 2004 in order to help local authorities from 17 countries (New EU Member States, Western Balkans, Ukraine) to reduce the energy gap with their fellow municipalities of the EU-15.

MODEL stands for "Management of Domains Related to Energy in Local Authorities". It encourages municipalities to become models for their citizens and local stakeholders in the field of rational use of energy.

Decision makers of 42 pilot cities from 10 New Member States and Croatia decided to join the project and change their city's image.

They will take concrete steps to improve the quality of life of their citizens through energy savings in particular by:

• appointing municipal energy managers,
• organising an energy unit within their administration,
• developing a local energy action plan and energy information systems,
• looking for financing for concrete investments,
• improving the communication of energy issues towards citizens.

Communication with the citizens is crucial for them and among other activities pilot cities will organise once a year Municipal Intelligent Energy Days to show the citizens how they can save energy by a practical everyday action. Action that can start now!

Municipalities will create favourable conditions for the citizens to help them in their effort to save energy and will lead by example, by starting with their own properties.

MODEL is a project supported by the Intelligent Energy - Europe programme and by ADEME, the French Agency for the Environment and Energy Management