Conferência Final do Projecto IEE no BARREIROSusana Camacho, Director of S.energia
Conference in Barreiro shows Energy Agencies work on energy sustainability

S.energia - Regional Energy Agency for Barreiro, Moita, Montijo and Alcochete municipalities is a private nonprofit organization that has as main objective to contribute to energy efficiency, promoting renewable energy use and management related with the environmental interface with energy issues, promoting local sustainable development.
The Energy Agency was established in 2007 with the support of the European Programme "Intelligent Energy Europe" by EACI - "Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation", in consortium with three other agencies in Italy, Romania and Malta (SEA, ALEEM and MIEMA), the S.energia the coordinating agency.

Sharing knowledge and experiences among the European partners

Susana Camacho, Director of S.energia underlines that "during these three years there has been a very close sharing of knowledge and experience between European partners involved in this project. This continuous connection has been led by S.energia and implemented primarily through meetings of the Transnational Consortium in different countries for the discussion of technical subjects and also with the existence of a Virtual Project Office, which allows monitoring the work undertaken by each agency and contributes for sharing know-how, ideas and perspectives on Energy and the Environment issues."

There is an increasing awareness among elected administrators on energy and environmental issues

Susana Camacho, states that - "there is a greater awareness of energy issues to elected representatives closely related to environmental issues, there is however a continuing need for consultation between the leaders of these two topics at political level, at management stage and especially at implementation phase with concrete actions on the territory. The initiative launched by the European Commission in February 2009, called "Covenant of Mayors" is such an example, combining the most pioneering local authorities in Europe, the commitment to achieve the objectives of EU policy in terms of reducing CO2 emissions through the improvement of energy efficiency and the production and use of cleaner energy resources, renewable and alternative."

Conference in Barreiro prospect the four energy agencies future

The Director of S.energia, Susana Camacho, states that - "This Energy Agency is in the final period of funding by the European Commission, is preparing as coordinator of the consortium and jointly with the Municipality of Barreiro the Final Conference of the IEE Project (2007-2010), on October 21st and 22nd in the Municipal Auditorium Augusto Cabrita (in Barreiro), where different topics will be discussed, including the challenges and future prospects of these energy agencies."
On the other hand, states that - "S.energia currently seeking their economic sustainability, while continuing to support the needs of municipalities in the energy and environmental issues, and future in an attempting to achieve itself a position as a reference entity at the regional level in the energy and the environment fields."
The Final Conference theme "Local Energy Sustainability" is an excellent opportunity for these four Energy Agencies work demonstration on energy sustainability, through case studies that show the effort that has been developed in this area, giving relevance to the strategy "think globally and act locally." stresses Susana Camacho, Director of S.energia.

Show-room on "Good Practices on Energy and Environment fields"

A note just to inform that the final conference program will include three thematic panels (I - Contribution of Energy Agencies in the European Climate Change Programme II - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, III - Sustainable Mobility and Transport). During the two day conference will also be present in the Auditorium Gallery, a show-room on "Good Practices on Energy and Environment fields."
The audience for this event is: the Energy Sector Professionals, Environmental Professionals, Managers and Technicians of the Central Public Administration, Regional and Local Agencies Energy Technicians, teachers, researchers, students and general public with interest in these themes.
"This moment will surely be an ideal time for sharing knowledge and experiences, to find partners for new projects, and also to discuss ideas and perspectives on future European and National Energy Policy." - Referred Susana Camacho.

We are drawing up the Action Plan for Energy

Susana Camacho, states that - "S.energia has organized its operations into three main parts. Firstly it was necessary to perform a quantitative analysis of energy consumption in the four counties of the intervention agency, consolidated in the "Energy Matrix" (available at www.senergia.pt).
This allowed the identification of priority sectors for implementing measures to boost energy efficiency, energy savings and energy conservation, as well as increased use of renewable energies. We are now drafting the Action Plan for Energy which will indicate concrete measures of performance for the different sectors identified in the Matrix."

Improving the energy efficiency of public lighting

On the other hand, stresses Susana Camacho - "we also act on sustainable energy, and among our key actions I will highlight the pilot projects with LED technology, that look forward to improve the energy efficiency on public lighting, the technical support for integration of solar thermal and solar photovoltaic, advice on the renewal of municipal fleets as well as coordination of studies for the Energy Certification of municipal buildings and technical support under the National Energy Certification of Buildings and Indoor Air Quality (SCE)."

Promoting education and awareness
The Director of S.energia, states that - "when it comes to promoting education and awareness on energy and environmental aspects, we promote the celebration of thematic days, we have worked with the school community and we are at Pedagogical Fairs & Popular Festivities of these municipalities with the aim of spreading the support that the Agency may provide to citizens on energy and environmental issues."