By Anita Āboliņa, Vidzeme Planning Region
By attracting the financial resources of the European Union, in the CEESEU energy planning training organised by the Vidzeme Planning Region, specialists of Vidzeme municipalities have been learning theory and performing various practical tasks since April. Municipalities have delegated energy managers, development and project department specialists, accountants, public relations and communication specialists, representatives of capital companies, building managers, etc., to participate in the workshops. A wide range of specialists is invited to participate in the training to create awareness of the importance of forming an interdisciplinary working group for developing the SECAP plan in the future. The training content, created by the international CEESEU consortium, strengthens the energy planning capacity of specialists in municipalities. The selected training topics improve their understanding of important aspects in the SECAP plan development process.
It should be noted that according to the Latvian Energy Efficiency Law requirements, national cities must implement a certified energy management system, and regional municipalities must implement an energy management system by August 31, 2023. Therefore the knowledge gained in the CEESEU seminars is fundamental. Specialists can start developing plans parallel to the training, consulting with seminar lecturers and exchanging experience with specialists from other municipalities.
The representative of the Latvian State Construction Control Bureau praised the active and purposeful work of the Vidzeme Planning Region and municipalities in energy efficiency so far, claiming that the organisation has been following the active work of the Vidzeme Planning Region with energy efficiency issues already for some time.
During the first training with experts, participants discussed the organisation of the planning process and the necessity of creating a working group. They also discussed the importance of cooperation and involvement of various stakeholders already at the initial planning stage.
The participants agreed that before developing any planning document, which also applies to the development of the SECAP plan, it is essential to understand the document’s importance and its further application in the daily work of the organisation or institution. In addition, awareness should be fostered among participants in the working group, colleagues, local policymakers, and other stakeholders. The involvement of these participants should be foreseen not only in the planning and development stage of the document but also in implementation and monitoring while being aware that planning documents mean long-term commitments. One of the critical findings that affected the state administration’s and local authorities’ operation is that municipalities and their employees can be the main barrier breakers and testers of new ideas, setting an example and encouraging others to new, innovative activities. “Goals must be realistic but also ambitious at the same time”, – said an energy efficiency expert in the Vidzeme Planning Region, Edgars Augustiņš.
The seminars also pay much attention to data and its impact on the ability of specialists to make energy-efficient decisions in their daily work. Following the statement that data-based decisions are qualitative and comparable, the seminar looked at the possibilities of collecting and accounting for energy consumption data.
The seminars so far also pay much attention to data and its impact on the ability of specialists to make energy-efficient decisions in their daily work. Following the statement that data-based decisions are qualitative and comparable, the seminar looked at the possibilities of collecting and accounting for energy consumption data.
The invited experts repeatedly emphasised that accurate data analysis can help to understand priority actions and that missing or incorrect data and its processing can lead to ineffective decisions.
Participants are encouraged to participate in discussions and share their experiences in energy consumption data accounting, building management, measures taken to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, and solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. In addition, the workshops will also focus on adaptation to climate change and planning and implementing measures for mitigating climate change, which is vital for preparing the SECAP plan.
