The EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is the occasion to reward the best projects in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources that are  implemented in Europe today.

The role of municipalities, private companies, industry associations, NGOs and other civil society organisations is of  key importance to reach the EU 2020 energy and climate objectives. With both the Sustainable Energy Europe (SEE) and the ManagEnergy Local Energy Action Award, the European Commission aims at recognising the efforts and achievements of the best players in the field.

Six winners were announced at a ceremony hosted by Günther H. Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Energy last 24 June in Brussels. The six outstanding projects, chosen from 224 entries from across Europe, offer ambitious and innovative examples in the area of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and clean transport. Five projects took home a coveted prize in one of the five SEE categories. The sixth awarded project is the joyful winner of the ManagEnergy Local Energy Action award, which received a record of 82 submissions.  The following are the 2013 winning projects:

Communicating: „Let’s Live Warmer” (Dzīvo siltāk), Latvia.  Tackling energy-efficiency starts in the home.Nationwide campaign in Latvia inspires citizens to take action to improve insulation in residential buildings. Read the project story here.

Consuming: Westmill Solar Co-operative, United Kingdom. Tapping into solar power.UK’s first community-owned solar farm is believed to be the largest community-owned solar project in the world. Read the project story here.

Learning: 50/50 European Network of Education Centres (EURONET 50/50), Spain.Tapping into the energy-saving potential of schools: EURONET 50/50 project empowers educational community to improve sustainability. Read the project story here.

Living: Sustainable Ålidhem, Sweden. Building sustainable communities:Residential neighbourhood on track to halve its energy consumption within five years. Read the project story here.

Travelling: Car-Sharing Bremen, Germany. Freeing up street space for cyclists and pedestrians.German city aims to remove 6,000 cars from its streets through an award-winning car-sharing scheme. Read the project story here.

ManagEnergy Local Energy Action Award: The Bold New Face of Koprivnica, Croatia.Setting new standards in sustainability: changing attitudes to green construction in Croatia.Read the project story here.

Henry BORZI