The energy efficiency of buildings, public lighting and intelligent traffic and electromobility are key factors in the development of Piatra Neamț, said Andrei Carabelea, Mayor of Piatra Neamt, at the local conference Digitalization and Energy Efficiency, organized by Energynomics.

“In recent years, the Romanian administration is making an effort to put itself at the service of the people. In European-funded programs, it stimulates us to put technology at the service of people and to overcome challenges using technology, to cover simultaneously, along with basic needs, and those of a sustainable impact, through investments as sustainable as possible,” he said.

Energy efficiency is one of the three main pillars of the city’s development.
“In Piatra Neamț, about 15 years ago, an attempt was made to build a central heating system, a project that failed. What is certain is that today, in general, the heating of homes is done with people’s own thermal power plants. The current concern is to increase the energy efficiency of buildings and blocks of flats. We have initiated, through discussions with the Ministry of Development, a program for the rehabilitation of collective housing, through which the local administration should support and finance it with 20% contribution from the local budget, 20% contribution – from the owners and 60% from the state budget. There are some challenges, because people need to understand these benefits as well. On the one hand, the thermal comfort in the house increases, the bills decrease, with the decrease of energy consumption and the value of the apartment also increases,” he said, explaining that the City Hall is considering the rehabilitation of 40 blocks of flats.

At the same time, within the energy efficiency program of the City Hall, an energy audit of schools is included. “From my point of view, it must be prioritized, then we will move to other public buildings and we will access everything possible to increase the efficiency of public buildings that are owned or administered by the municipality,” added Andrei Carabelea.

Green energy is another pillar in the strategy of Piatra Neamț City Hall. “When we talk about green energy, I believe a lot in the impact and generation of symbolic projects. We want to turn a symbol of environmentally harmful activity, the city’s former landfill, into a photovoltaic park. We are starting this project by the end of this year, and the perspective is to access funding through PNRR. Through this photovoltaic park we could become independent in terms of public lighting”, said the mayor of Piatra Neamț, explaining that the lighting costs the city of Neamț 3.5 million lei annually.
Currently, the City Hall has a project to replace the halogen lamps with some on LED technology, in public lighting, “including with a remote management system, sensors that will adjust the light intensity according to the traffic in the area. Thus, savings of almost 40% will be generated compared to the current energy consumption.”

At the same time, in Piatra Neamț are implemented 7 projects with European non-reimbursable financing through POR (Regional operational program) that stimulate eco-mobility. “We are modernizing the main corridors of the city, the street image, the green spaces and the urban furniture, the lanes dedicated to public transport, with an intelligent traffic system, which will have a dynamic adaptation system. We will have 41 ultramodern electric buses (via POR), 80 intelligent public transport stations, among the smartest in the country. We are working hard to take all the cables underground,” Carabelea added.