The Best Environmental Practise in the Baltic Cities Award

The Best Environmental Practise in the Baltic Cities Award is - for the second time, in 2001 - given as an honorary award to one of the UBC member Cities. The intention with this award is to encourage member cities to develop their administration and services in innovative ways for the good of the whole municipality and its citizens.

Number of applications

The UBC Commission on Environment received before the deadline applications approved for evaluation from 16 cities representing 9 countries.

The applicants were: Bützow (D), Cēsis (LA), Gdańsk (P), Helsinki (F), Keila (E), Kolding (DK), Lahti (F), Norrköping (S), Panevėžys (LT), Pori (F), Rostock (D), St. Petersburg (R), Sundsvall (S), Tallin (E), Vasa (F) and Visby (S).

Key guidelines for the evaluation

The five key guidelines for the evaluation have been

• The overall relevancy: The environmental practice to be awarded should tackle problems, that are both relevant to for the applying city as well as relevant from the Baltic Sea Regional point of view.
• The fulfillment of environmental goals: The environmental practice to be awarded shouldhave reached environmental goals, and these goals should be realistic, well defined and relevant for the city and also have a perspective relevant for other cities.
• The fulfillment of social goals: The environmental practice to be awarded should simultaniously with the environmental goals fulfill social goals that are realistic, well defined and relevant for the city and also include public participation in the process and the follow-up scheme.
• Innovativeness: The practice to be awarded should demonstrate innovation in the combination of environmental and social goals and/or other innovative elements in the overall procss as well as in the technical implementation.
• General quality of the practice: Aspects like cost-effectiveness, planning and management, and technical implementation has also been evaluated on the basis of the applications.

Members of the Award Committee

Ms. Ille Allsaar, Association of Estonian Cities, Tallinn (E)

Mr. Mikko Jokinen, Head of the Environmental Office, Turku (F)

Mr. Carl Nielsen, Director of the Technical Department, Aarhus (DK) (Chairman)

Mr. Guldbrand Skjönberg, Manager of the Board, Nacka (S)

Mr. Paweł Żaboklicki, Secretary-General of the UBC, Gdańsk (P)

and the secretary of the Committee:

Ms. Tea Nommann, UBC Environmental Project Officer, Turku (F)

Evaluation of the Applications - Comments of the Award Committee

General comments

The 15 applications cover a wide range of different projects concerning environmental and social practise as well as methodology:

• from specific projects like the "Environmental Protection Project" in Keila to participatory processes like the "Agenda 21" process in Bützow or "Residents taking common steps toward a Sustainable Future" in Norrköping,
• from smaller projects with only local environmental impact like the "Cool Know-how - A new central Library" in Visby to broad-scaled projects with both local and regional environmental perspectives like the "Ecological Sobieszewska Island" in Gdańsk,
• projects dealing with environmental issues in a context with either specific social problems as unemployment like  the "PATINA Sustainable Consumption Center" in Lahti or more broad-scaled approaches dealing with general social problems in housing areas like the neighbourhood-project "Sydvest Kvarteret" in Kolding,
• projects dealing with creating environmental awareness and thus changing habits by educating young people like "Complex research-training" in St. Petersburg or by "Competition for saving enery" like in Rostock.

The difference of practice and methodology reflected by the projects implies, that the evaluation of the applications in relation to the key guidelines has been based on subjective considerations of the award committee. These considerations are in short:

The overall relevancy

Projects with a broad target group, that is projects that are of relevance for and involves many citizens and/or will have a major impact on the area involved and affect the city as such - like Agenda 21 public participation processes, environmental/social neigbourhood projects, educational programmes directed at the whole community - are considered (at least) as beneficial to the (whole) community as specific environmental improvements - like energy savings, air quality improvements, etc. The number of people or groups affected by the process of the project is considered as well as the environmental/social perspective of the initiatives and results.

The fulfillment of environmental goals

Projects with broader but specified environmental goals - like neigbourhood improovement, Agenda 21 processes - are considered (at least) as relevant in terms of environmental realism and relevancy as projects with very specific and measurable goals but with a more narrow environmental scope. Importance has been put to both the degree in which environmental goals have been taken into considerations and been a driving force in the project as to the more general relevancy of the goals.

The fulfillment of social goals

As social goals are considered both projects directed at solving problems for specific target groups and projects using the (local) society as a driving force at making (social and/or environmental changes). Importance has been put to both the degree in which social goals have been taking into consideration and been a driving force in the project as to the more general relevancy of the goals.

Innovativeness

Both new ways of social activities and interaction, technological solutions and participation processes are considered innovative if they include new ways of dealing with environmental and social challenges. Special interest has been devoted to the democratic dimension and the "bottom-up" perspective.

General quality of the practice

This evaluation criteria has first and foremost been used  to take into consideration aspects like efectiveness in managing the project, perstisance over the years in implementing the project and perspective together with continuity in action plans for the years to come.

Specific comments

• Many cities have in their application described interesting projects showing new and different ways to implement Agenda 21 in local societies/municipalities depending on local circumstances (Bützow, Cēsis, Kolding, Lahti and Norrköping).
• A large group of applications deal with projects showing specific environmental improvements differing in scale and complexitydepending to a large degree on local problems (Bützow, Gdańsk, Helsinki, Keila, Pori, Rostock, Sundsvall, Tallinn, Vasa and Visby).
• Some of the projects and processes described have as an important element methods for a systematic approach to deal with local environmental and social challenges (Bützow, Gdańsk, Kolding, Lahti, Norrköping and Sundsvall).
• In many projects the social dimension is considered and used as the key to create changes in the short run but also by affecting habits in the long run (Gdańsk, Kolding, Lahti, Panevėžys, Rostock and St. Petersburg). 
• The "bottom-up" approach is used in many projects/processes as a systematic way of ensuring local participation and influence on defining and implementing environmental and social initiatives (Bützow, Cēsis, Kolding, Gdańsk, Lahti, Norrköping and Sundsvall).

Conclusion of the Award Committee

The Award committee has unanimously agreed, that the application from

the City of Gdańsk, Poland concerning the project "EcoloagicalSobieszewska Island" shall be awarded with the Best Environmental Practise in Baltic Cities Award 2001

The reasons why the Award Committee has chosen Gdańsk are:

• The goals, activities and present results of the project "Ecological Sobieszewska Island" in Gdańsk have both an environmental and social scope that is of major importance both for the Island and for the City and Region as a whole. It shows how social and environmental goals can be achieved at the same time by a thorough and persistent planning and implementation process.
• All relevant parts of the municipality, the local community and also many other stakeholders have participated. And the project has been given an international perspective by co-operation with the British city Sefton.
• The project is a good illustration of the fact, that there is no simple answer or easy way to environmental and social changes in society. It is basically very much about changing habits - and the project enlightens these dfficulties with successes as well as (temporary?) disappointments.
• The inter-sectoral process with a broad local participation that has been implemented during the work is important. There are a lot of experiences that can be used in the ongoing work and inspire other cities. The political, organisational and civic platform has been developed for bringing about a environmentally and socially sustainable future.

Besides the winning project the Award Committee wants to comment favourably on the following projects (in alphabetical order):

Bützow

for its very systematic and innovative way of organising the Local Agenda 21 activities, which are excellent examples of implementing bottom-up approaches.

Kolding

for a broad targeted and creative approach to improve the environmental and social conditions in a neighbourhood, which is an excellent example of how to initiate changes in habits through local bottom-up processes and cross-sectoral work.

Lahti 

for aquite innovative way of successfully dealing with unemployment through environmental initiatives.

Rostock, 12. October 2001
On behalf of the Award Commission
Mikko Jokinen Carl Nielsen

GDANSK: ECOLOGICAL SOBIESZEWSKA ISLAND

Project activities and summary

The project is still implemented. The activities done so far improved the image of the Island.

• economy development on the Island has improved - increased interest of investors and private people
• life conditions of Sobieszewska inhabitants have become much better- local society feel more responsible for the Island and is very active
• improvement of environment - construction of sewage system- modernization of the heating system - improvement of transportation - opening of beaches - people can continue their season activity

Due to the project the Island has become more known and interesting for tourists.

Contact persons: Jadwiga Kopeć - Director of Environmental Protection Department, Gdansk

 Dagmara Nagórka-Kmiecik - Officer in the Department

BÜTZOW: PARTICIPATION LOCAL AGENDA 21

Main results

The main results of the Agenda 21 project are the discussion process for a sustainable development, the participation of citizens, especially children and youth in the town planning and in daily decision processes and the work with the schools of Bützow in the field of education for sustainability.

We think, the most important step, to reach a sustainable development is to provide education and experiences to get changes in the thinking and mind of the people.

The way to put the main focus on participation processes and to start projects with concrete forms of participation with ecological, economical and social aspects is proved effective to Bützow and will be continued in the future.

Summary

Participation and LA 21, which is our application for »The best environmental practise in baltic cities award«, started in in September 1997 with a decision of the city council.

The main aim is to better the location-conditions by a sustainable development of the city as a part of the Warnow-region. The central question is

»How young people may participate in the future planning of a sustainable city of Bützow?«

To reach this aim we pointed out the vision "Family Friendly town" in a discursive process.

The project is especially directed to fullfill this vision with live , that is why participation and education for a sustainable development are central topics of our projekt.The project is divided in the three subject areas

• participation of inhabitants in decision- planning- and realisation- processes
• sustainable economical and social development of Bützow as a part of the Warnow-region
• creation of a positive image of the city and supra-regional work

and the two basic projectse

• education and sustainability and
• evaluation of development in questions of sustainability - the indicator system.

In these subject areas and basic project, a variety of sub-project exist. Such projects are e.g.

• children getting expieriences in communal processes
• comparison of central and de-central structures
• pupils and traffic.

The structure for the Agenda 21 work mainly consists of the Agenda 21 workgroup with two subgroups, the Youth council and the project office in the municipality. So it is possible, to integrate the questions of sustainability in daily work.

The main results of the Agenda 21 project are the discussion process for a sustainable development, the participation of youth in the town planning and in daily decision processes and the work with the schools of Bützow in the field of education for sustainability.

For our town Bützow, the way to set the main focus in LA 21 on the questions of participation is a good one and will be continued in the future.

Contact persons: Lothar Stroppe, mayor of the City of Bützow, Am Markt 1, 18246 Bützow
phone: +49 38461 50-111, e-mail: info@buetzow.deand

 Dr. Mathias Alsleben, Gartenstraße 42, 18246 Bützow
phone: +49 38461 52272, e-mail: ubc-buero@buetzow.de  

CESIS: World Environmental Days in Cēsis 2002

Aims of the project

• The main aims of this project are to inform the public about local environmental issues and to involve them in the solution of these issues
• to promote and change of environmental awareness with  the public, the schools, the authorities, and private companies
• collaboration among municipality, managers and society
• to promote development of city environment with involving  several social groups and to promote initiative of society

Short description of the project (summary)

Cēsis is small town in centre of Vidzeme region, Latvia. Amount of inhabitant is 19 thousand. This is a period of creation the development plan of city and more attention will be paid to sustainable development 

Sustainable development has been recognised as one of the main aims of planning and development all over the Baltic Sea Region.

Good and equal living conditions are one of indicators for sustainable development.

Good and equal living conditions means equal access to work, housing and education in healthy and secure environment.

"World Environment Day" project will be a part of events of the "Local Agenda-21", what take part in Cēsis since 1999. The aim of project is to interest society in implementation of the "Agenda-21". "World Environmental Day" will be arranged already third year. In attachment you can see summary of events in this year, 2001.

The main aim of "World Environmental Day" project is to involve society in arising of environmental problems in Cēsis city, as well in the more global aspect trough the different activities. Project result will not only introduce and involve society in the environmental problems, but also improve living conditions of Cēsis inhabitants.

Initiative to arrange "World Environmental Day" started from Cēsis department of Latvian Nature and Monument protection Society.

In year 2002 we plan to involve more social groups in "World Environmental Day".. Active people, schoolchildren, retired people can see needful themselves in development of Cēsis city.

We plan that next year also NGO sector will take part in activities, especially who work with environmental and social issues: Latvian Biological Agriculture Union, Union of retired people, Latvian Red Cross, also all schools in Cēsis.

Involving of several NGOs, companies and schools in events will help to organise other common activities in city.

"World Environmental Day" is an example of small activities initiated by NGOs and held in co-operation with the local administration and business companies.

"World Environmental Days" activities will be paid from Cesis city Council budget but some of action will be sponsored from local enterprises. Total costs of this one week events are 1027 USD.

Contact person: Inta Adamsone, co-ordinator of Local Agenda -21, Cēsis, Birzes Street 2 a,

 Tel.: +371 41 23687, Fax: +371 41 22130, E- mail: varis@apollo.lv

SUNDSVALL: The housing estate as an arena for social development, health and environmental work.

Summary

A political decision ten years ago started a process of change in the Nacksta housing estate.

At that time the area, despite good intentions when it was built, suffered from social problems, vandalism and high resident turnover. Methods and measures employed during the process of change have varied during different phases but the common features have always been resident participation and cross-sectoral work.

The experience gained from this work demonstrates that it is possible to effect change but the process takes a long time. It has been possible to involve the residents and progress has been made in cross-sectoral undertakings. Furthermore, during the past two years an extensive improvement of the physical environment has been carried out. Sustainable development in the building process has been the guiding light in this transformation.

Results (shortened)

Resident involvement

One of the first efforts the residents became involved with was to save an outdoor pool that was threatened with closure. ....... It is now well-run and can be regarded as a symbol of the Nacksta residents' commitment to their neighbourhood. Immigrants are well-integrated in the area. ......One result of the residents' involvement is the revitalisation of voluntary associations. ..... The residents are in the process of taking greater responsibility .....

Cross-sectoral work

Since the work of change started there has been an important hub for activities in the area: Public Health Nacksta (Folkhälsa Nacksta) with one salaried co-ordinator. .... Much of the co-operation between the residents, municipal departments, the housing corporation, organisations etc has developed around this hub.......

Changes in the physical environment

.... Efforts have been made to make the exterior of the buildings more attractive and some alterations have been made to the interiors.The estate has become noticeably greener .......... There are carefully planned procedures for waste handling on the estate....... considerable effort has been expended to create a sense of security and prevent crime. .... Motor vehicle traffic is not permitted adjacent to the building and it is not possible to drive around the buildings...... for environmental and safety reasons.

Conclusions

Changing an area with a variety of social problems requires the efforts of many, foremost that of the residents but also from everyone who has political or official responsibility for the area's development. The co-ordinator on the housing estate, with knowledge of the local cultures, informal contacts etc, has been of exceptional importance to the success of the work.

Many new social contacts and networks have been created through the joint undertaking on the estate.

The housing estate is an arena where there are obvious relationships between social circumstances, health and the environment. When the work in Nacksta started there was a clear social perspective. The social perspective remains although the more important undertakings in recent years have concerned the extensive work to address the estate's physical environment.

The work is unique in its endurance and broad range of co-operation. Many seek to find quick solutions to problems but a process that is founded on the participation and collaboration of the residents requires time. Patience and an understanding of the long-range perspective on the part of decision-makers are essential.

Beginning with the commitment on behalf of the residents themselves has been significant. There were many civil servants who recognised the needs of the area but it was not always so that their priorities were in tune with the priorities of the residents at the given time.

The political goal, to transform Nacksta, set ten years ago has been achieved. Certainly, problems remain to be solved but the image of Nacksta is continuously changing in a positive direction.

The work has attracted considerable attention. There have been many study visits and an exchange of information concerning positive experiences, as well as problems, with other municipalities is ongoing.

Contact person: Mr Peter Gavelin, Chief Executive Officer, City of Sundsvall, tel.:  +46 60 191000

KEILA: ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION PROJECT

Keila environment protection project is remarkable in many ways. Not only is it a great achievement for a small town like Keila, it is also unique in the context of Estonia. The wide range of financiers, including generous help from foreign countries; many subprojects, the scope and relevance of the project make it one of the greatest environmental investments in Estonia. The project meets the social and environmental needs of the town and by connecting them innovatively sets an example to others. It is hard to overstate the importance of the project and the results it gave.

SUMMARY OF KEILA ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION PROJECT

There was an urgent social and environmental need for this project in Keila. In the area south of the railway 650 houses (about 2100 people) used shallow private wells to get water, because the water supply network was developed only in limited extent. The central sewage collection system did not exist at all wastewater was collected in cesspools in lots. But 70% of the cesspools were leaking, there was pollution from the flourmill TERKO and from the former soviet tank regiments area.

As a result the upper groundwater layer was heavily polluted. Other problems were that the water, that was directed into the river and reached finally the Gulf of Finland, did not meet the HELCOM demands for Baltic Sea, the water pipelines were absorbed and the waste water treatment plant out of date.

The feasibility study, done in 1996, showed all these problems and after that a project was started. It consisted of 4 parts:

1. Expansion of water & sewage network. 30km of new pipelines were built to connect the new consumers
2. Construction of the waste water treatment plant. It replaces totally the old one and is more powerful (capacity is 5000 m3/d).
3. Construction of waste water pumping stations
4. Construction of waste water sewerage

The works started in 1997 and were finished with the official opening ceremony of the new waste water treatment plant on 23 Aug.2001.

The total cost of the project was 89 million Estonian crones and the money came from many different sources-Keila municipality (7%), NEFCO (loan) (12%), Norway (3%), Finland (3%), Denmark (23%), Phare Cross Border Program (17%), Phare National Program (16%), Estonian Government (17%) and private investor (2%).

The project was carried through in co-operation between Keila municipality, Keila Water Company, Estonian Water Company, different Estonian ministries, projecting- and building companies.

As a result of the project, 650 housings were connected with the central water and sewage system, living standard rose, pollution of soil, river and groundwater was reduced, the efficiency of the waste water treatment plant and water system as a whole increased significantly, the threat of epidemics diminished, etc. 

Because of the many different financial sources and subprojects, range and relevance, Keila Environment Protection Project can be seen as one of the most difficult but also most special and innovative environmental investments in Estonia.

ST. PETERSBURG: COMPLEX RESEARCH-TRAINING

RESUME of the PROJECT COMPLEX RESEARCH-TRAINING  - ECOLOGICAL EXPEDITION of the SCHOOLCHILDREN of ST.-PETERSBURG "ECO - XXI ".

The project "Complex research-training ecological expedition of St.-Petersburg's pupils "ECO-ХХI" " presents an innovative combination of social (organisation of summer rest for pupils, training of environmental and civil responsibility among young) and environmental matters (scientific monitoring in the preserves and national parks, social work with local population, participation in environmental protection activities).

It assumes that young people (age 12-16) carry out socially and environmentally important scientific researches with rather professional results (landscape maps of the territory studied, creating of sociological and ethnic profile, making opinion-polls etc.).

While working they study a lot of ecological techniques and ecological approaches to the environment. The project assumes formation of environmental outlook of the children and development of their creativity. The main aim of it is to bring up environmentally conscious generation of Petersburgers who would shape the future of the City. 

PRESENTATION of a PROBLEM

St. Petersburg appears to be a big cultural and scientific centre and there is a need to provide stable continuity in its cultural life. Here a special role is assigned on young generation capable to estimate advantages of cultural heritage and landscapes. The young generation should be able to apply scientific - practical methods to analyse the state of nature, be able to predict its further development. Persons of such age (teenagers) are very sensitive and suitable for the forming of environmental world outlook, and this allows to appeal to the motivational sphere of the person, to arouse civil responsibility of the person for the cultural and natural property.

The urgency of organization of continuous ecological education of the schoolboys of St.-Petersburg is obvious. The main task here is to choose an appropriate structure, that would allow to include practical and research elements into the educational process without breaking its integrity. These elements would help to form environmental outlook of pupils, to form appropriate behaviour habits (environmentally oriented) of youth, to train schoolboys to be members of real civil society (i.e. have responsibility for the environment of the City). 

Today in St.Petersburg there is a lot of different organizations and people engaged in ecological education and training of the pupils. Most of them make a serious input into the forming of ecological outlook of young Petersburgers. But we have created a structure that not only brings up environmentally conscious members of society but also develops their creativity and analytical approach towards the problems of environment. 

BASIC PURPOSE of the PROJECT and TARGET AUDITORY of the PROJECT

To create a constant - working structure of ecological education based on socially important scientific researches made by the pupils of different ages.

The pupils of St.-Petersburg's schools, age - 12 years old and senior students. Total amount of the participants in various stages of the project is up to 100 persons.

Contact person: Chief expert Elena Ivanova, Committee for External Affairs, Saint-Petersburg Administration, phone: +007 812 276 1504 fax: +007 812 276 1244, e-mail: scdic@mail.cl.spb.ru

HELSINKI: The Tuorinniemi beach

Summary (extract)

The City of Helsinki is turning its waterfronts from industrial areas to residential areas. As a part of this development, The City Council decided in December 1986, that the Herttoniemi Oil Port shall be developed to be a residential area for approx. 9500 people. At that time the metro traffic from the city centre had already started and the metro station near the old Herttoniemi suburban area (from the late 1940's and 1950's) had been built.

The City Council stated, that the Herttoniemi Oil Port itself is surrounded by traffic, its nature is poor and the industrial production there causes environmental harm to people living in areas nearby. But, since the area opens to the sea and is located only a walking distance from the metro station, the City Council saw the possibilities for developing the oil port and its industrial area to a new residential area. 

The planning and designing of Herttoniemi Waterfront was started at the City Planning Department, the Herttoniemi Project was formed at the City Development Unit and in 1990 the City Council approved the general master plan of the so called Herttoniemi Port waterfront.

In 1991 and 1992 several design competitions were held in order to get new ideas and visions of housing and the environment of the old oil port area. The aim of the design has been to create a high quality, city-like area of multi-storey buildings in such a way that the surrounding attractions ........ can be utilised in the best possible way. The building of the first dwellings began in 1993, and the residents moved in year 1994. ...............

The new Herttoniemi Waterfront residential area is located about 7 km to the east of the city centre. The area is owned by the city. Close to the residential area is the Herttoniemi industrial area, which in also under developing process. ..................... The most important commercial services are located near the metro station and its surroundings are being developed as the local centre. .......................

Most of the residential buildings are multi-storey. Upon completion, the area will have 321 400 m² of dwellings, ........ ..... The structure of the housing is according to the City Council's decision: 55% of the dwellings are owner-occupied, right of occupancy and privately financed rented and 45% are long-term rented dwellings funded or subsidised by the state.

The commercial services of Herttoniemi Waterfront are located close to the metro station on both sides of the Itäväylä highway, which leads from the city centre to the east. The area around the metro station will be developed to be a local service centre with a potential for approx. 120 000 m² of office and commercial space.....

One guiding line in designing ......... has been creating simple, clear architecture and an unbroken cityscape. .......... The aim of the design has been to build the area to look city-like............... The green and open appearance of Herttoniemi Waterfront is emphasised by the fact that a park adjoins many of the houses.

The Herttoniemi Waterfront ........ has an own swimming beach. This beach was artificially made during the removing of the polluted soil and replacing it with clean one. ............ This idea of using excavated sea sand for land filling and thus building beaches has also been used in other areas of Helsinki. The famous Hietaniemi Swimming Beach close to the city centre was built this way in 1910's and 1920's, ..................

The land filling works were implemented in 1993-1995. Due to the fact that the polluted soil had to be changed with clean one, the beach is considered to be made with no extra costs - it was formed on its place "for free".

The quality of the water is excellent according to the EU standards and the beach is safe.............

VASA: Environment and Competitive Sports

Introduction to the project

The overall aim of the project Environment and Competitive Sports was to improve the safety and environmental aspects of Vaasa Ice Stadium in favour of everyone - the users of the stadium, the people working in it, and the society around it. Sports, especially ice hockey, involves large numbers of young people. Thus, through sports it is possible to give environmental education to masses effectively and gain positive image to sports as well as for environmental concerns.

The project was aimed to develop an integrated operational management system for the ice stadium in Vaasa. The system was developed based on the ISO 14001 environmental management system standard. In addition to environmental aspects, also safety and occupational health aspects were included in the system. Systematisation of work clarified the responsibilities and mandates of the personnel, helped to eliminate overlapping tasks. The personnel was able to formulate aims that could be accepted by all.

The construction of the operational system was carried out based on the participatory principles. The aim was to provide the persons working in the ice stadium with the opportunity to plan their own work and thus genuinely shape their work contents.

Results obtained in the project

Vaasa Ice Stadium

The integrated environmental management system for the Vaasa Ice Stadium was finalised in November 2000. That time was carried out the preliminary auditing of the system. The system fulfill the requirements set in the SFS-EN ISO 14001 standard for environmental management system. The system was after that officially audited, and on the 5^th of April, 2001, Vaasa Ice Stadium became the first ice stadium or sports hall in the world to receive the ISO 14001 certificate..

In practice, the benefits from the integrated management system can be seen both internally in the organisation, as well as externally. ............... ............In the long run, an important factor will be the long-term maintenance plan for the Ice Stadium. The integrated management system will make an effective use of the maintenance plan and ensure its follow-up on a regular basis. This improves durability of the installations thus ensuring their safe use and bringing both economical and environmental benefits.

Vaasan Sport

One of the goals of the project was to build for the ice hockey team Vaasan Sport a programme for environmental, safety and occupational health aspects. The programme was built based on the ISO 14001 standard. The main needs for development were charted. The most urgent needs were found on the following fields: vigilance, first aid and rescue, cleaning services and waste management. These aspects are related with the activities during matches and traning in the Ice Stadium. .....................

Contact person: Ms. Riitta Niemelä, Vaasa Polytechnic, Wolffintie 30, FIN-65200 Vaasa, FINLAND

 Tel. +358-6-326 3264, Fax. +358-6-326 3112, E-mail: riitta.niemela@puv.fi

PORI: Maintenance of the Built Heritage for Improvement of the Quality of Life

BACKGROUND

Finnish cities were built of wood until the Second World War unlike cities in nearly all of the rest of Europe. After the war, migration to cities began on a massive scale resulting in rapid renewal of cities and stone buildings replaced low-rise blocks of wooden houses. The phenomenon has continued until recent years. In mid-size Finnish cities whole sectors of wooden houses have become rare. The remaining areas, which used to be pleasant and safe to live in, have turned into scattered backyards of city centres due to the tearing down of old buildings, reckless new construction, neglected maintenance and renovation methods unrescpectful of local tradition.

Satakunta Museum is the regional authority responsible for the built heritage and cultural environment in the Satakunta region. Yet, it is an organ of the City of Pori domiciled in Pori. Maintenance of the built heritage has been entrusted to museums quite recently and provided resources are meagre. The work should, however, be launched immediately and immense financial resources are needed - the last timber-built town quarters are disappearing. Satakunta Museum has strived to find totally new channels, partners - and thereby also new resources - for the maintenance of the built heritage. It has also worked to expand its official role in the direction of the general public.

ABSTRACT

Renovation Centre Toivo is a centre for renovation that operates in an old wooden house at the centre of the city of Pori and is maintained by the Satakunta Museum. Toivo was founded in the autumn of 1995 and opened to the public in the subsequent year. The main activities of Toivo are:

• A renovation exhibition that tells about building and interior decoration during 1850-1950;
• Consulting for traditional and ecologically sustainable renovation and building materials service;
• Maintaining a network of builders specialized in traditional building methods;
• Instruction and experience workshops for children;
• Recycling of used building parts;

The Maintenance Project of the Built Heritage in Satakunta implemented by the Satakunta Museum in 1998-2000 was one of the biggest cultural projects financed by the EU in Finland. Its total funding amounted to FIM 14,8 million. The most visible part of the project was the financing and supervision of about 100 projects for the renovation of buildings valuable in terms of cultural history, and of the man-made environment.

Both projects sought new ways to take care of our built heritage and aimed at chronologically stratified and multifaceted living environments. The most important means to achieve this objective is disseminating information on renovation aimed at maintaining the special characteristics of buildings to the general public, not only to experts. The following features are typical of renovation projects aimed at maintaining the special characteristics of old buildings and environments:

• Economy - avoiding unnecessary repairs, over-repairing, repairing instead of modernizing;
• Ecological sustainability - using mainly natural low value-added materials, recycling building components through a "spare parts bank";
• Employment aspects - renovation is very labour-intensive. The consumption of purchased industrial materials is very low while the required input of human labour is high. Renovation involves a lot of handiwork;
• The end result is a healthy social environment - chronologically stratified built environment offers a nuanced and secure environment for children to grow up, and prevents the emergence of social problems;
• Prevention of dropping out - labour intensive renovation offers suitable employment opportunities for young people with modest social skills.

Contact person: Liisa Nummelin, Leader of the The Maintenance Project of the Built Heritage in Satakunta

PANEVEZYS: ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOOL AND EARLY PREVENTION OF CRIME

Introduction

The issues concerning the protection of environment, the engagement of the society, education, training as well as social, economical and emotional issues in the city of Panevėžys mostly are solved having created a positive and active model-Environmental School- Young Environmentalists 'Centre in Panevėžys.

The Department of Environment of the municipality has been one of the most active founders that contributed to the foundation and development of the school sharing their enthusiasm, ideas, knowledge, daily work and finances. The Environmental School has become one of the units of the administration of the municipality. The daily continuous cooperation is going on between the Environmental School and the Department of Environment. The specialists on environmental protection and social care together with the specialists and children from the Environmental School are implementing a lot of environmental, social-educational and practical projects, both local and international. Children in their turn often teach and educate their parents.

Two years ago the Department of Environment of the Municipality of Panevėžys City created the model of sustainable development of the city which was approved by the City Council. After that the Environmental School was entrusted to carry out the activities connected with the ECOLOGICAL PEDAGOGICAL CENTRE of the local AGENDA-21.

Children of pre-school and school age as well as youth are educated at this institution. But recently engineers from local enterprises, medical specialists, retired people, parents and politics have also found a niche for the realization of their activities. They demonstrate their creative potential taking part in different programmes, e.g. alternative kinds of energy, economizing of energy, training, programmes concerning the protection of environment and developing personal interests.

It is particularly important that the activities of the school get feedback. It is appreciated by the society of the city. All the layers of the society feel its necessity, it is liked and loved. A lot of enthusiasts work at this school and they demonstrate their love for their work which is their daily bread. It is especially important while implanting in young people a sound attitude to the surrounding world. The best teaching and educating is when a person participating in the process realize its importance and feels joy, when he or she can see the results and learns to take care of weaker and smaller ones, when he or she learns to love.

A young person engaged in the lessons of beauty and kindness, surrounded by nature, always witnessing good examples, feeling safe and loved he or she is educated to strive for kindness, to avoid destructive actions and crime.

The Environmental School in Panevėžys or Sustainable Commune ( it has been given this name by the participants of local Agenda 21) is a very useful, necessary and attractive activity that demonstrates sustainability not only in environmental but also in social, economical and emotional field.

The Achieved Results of the Practice (excl. results that can not be measured)

Results that can be measured

• In the activities of early prevention of juvenile delinquency 6 institutions of Panevėžys city took part combining environmental and social goals.Preventive programmes where several institutions participate are more effective than the efforts of one community alone.
• 1115 children belonging to the different risk groups were given pedagogical, psychological and economical assistance.Psychologists state that a child having been in an appropriate communication environment at least for 1 year acquires the basis for the positive mutual relationship.
• Positive changes have been observed in children who have taken part in the projects. They have acquired practical skills of looking after animals and plants , economizing water, heat, electric power. They have also acquired the experience of environmental research activities.
• While the reliable crime prevention system is missing we have tried to engage all the intellect and economical resources existing in the institutions who have been engaged in the projects and to carry out the crime prevention activities without big additional investments.

Contact person: Mrs. Regina Kliminskiene, Director of Young Naturalist School of Panevėžys, Smelynes - 171., LT - 5300 Panevėžys, Lithuania Tel.: + 370 5 461521;, Fax: + 370 5 461521., e-mail:kliminskas@takas.lt

LAHTI: Patina - Sustainable Consumption  Centre to Lahti

The idea of creating Patina - Sustainable Consumption Centre to Lahti

The Lahti region, located in the lake district of Finland is appreciated for its fine scenery and waterways. ....................... The amount of inhabitants in Lahti is about 96.000. In Lahti 73% of inhabitants live in block of flats, 21% in one family houses and 6% in terrazed houses. In the year 1999 the industrial sector employed 30% and the service sector 66% of working force. All together 17% of the inhabitants were unemployed in July 2001. 37% of the the unemployed have been without work for over one year.

....... local emissions in Lahti have been kept under control. Also in the protection of the lake system and ground water Lahti has been a pioneer in Finland. The City of Lahti has also been a pioneer in improving the environmental awareness. ........ Lahti's first municipal recycling centre was established in the end of 80's, and Lahti Environmental Forum .........has worked since 1993.

The idea of creating Patina - the sustainable consumption centre - orginated when Lahti Region Educational Consortium, The Health and Environmental Protection Centre of the City of Lahti and Päijät-Häme Waste Disposal Ltd joined their forces to create a functional centre that serves common needs and goals.

The planning process of Patina required co-operation and participation of several sectors to increase environmental responsibility and to promote sustainable development and social and socioeconomic responsibility. These have been the central starting-points in the planning of Patina.

The results achieved in Patina (extract)

It is people who have the leading role in Patina........ During Patina´s existence about 70 000 visitors were registered. Patina has awoken both national and international interest..............

Lahti Region Educational consortium provides and develops polytechnic and vocational education, apprenticeship training as well as employment and rehabilitation of the disabled. An adult education program of eight months for unemployed: "sorting, reusing and recycling"was organized and carried out in Patina. During and after the program 12 students out of 15 were periodically employed in Patina. .........................

Patina has employed periodically 145 persons during the time 1.8.1999 - 30.6.2001. Most of the employed had been unemployed for over a year or were at the risk of getting unemployd. The amount of employed for the moment is 68 persons. The results of several employment periods, working practises for persons in Patina have led to the conclusion that their self control has improved..................

Patina is networking with several enterprises and organisations in regional, national and international level. These connections add value to Patina´s activities.

....................The demand of councelling services has increased remarkably during the implementation of Patina. Special attention is paid on individual customer service and to the products that are put on sale................

The awareness in environment aspects have been increased by a solid information booth in Patina and by organising different kinds of happenings and shows. .....................................

• Patina is a versatile and living example of applying the Rio process locally.
• Social and environmental dimension is combined in Patina in a quite new way.
• Patina is a topical and meaningful entity in Lahti and in whole Finland and it has drawn both national and international attention.
• A model that is cost-effective can be recommended to most municipalities.

Contact person: Ms. Irma Tolonen, planning officer, City of Lahti, Sustainable Consumption Centre

 Vesijärvenkatu 27, FIN 15140 LAHTI

 Tel.int. 358-3-814 3228, Telefax: 358-3-828 3731, e-mail:irma.tolonen@phnet.fi

VISBY:  The Almedalen library

Description of the Almedalen libraryproject (shortened)

The location of the library is between the well known park Almedalen, today a park but the medevila harbour of the hanseatic town Visby and the Gotland university College located in an a historacally interesting building, It's also next to the historic inner city of Visby and close to the beach. It's a real challenge to fit in a new building in those surroundings. 

The new Almedalen library in Visby is part of the EUBART ( European, Bio-climatic architechture with integrated renewables and real-time user feedback) project supported by the EU ......... together with a library in Gloucester, England and a library on Kefalonia, Greece.

The project is designed ............ to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas emisions by reducing energy demand in buildings through the use of cost-effeective, energy efficient space heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting systems and integration of renewables into buildings. The project also aims to ..... improve the acceptability of renewables...................

The project will demonstrate how ........ bio-climatic buildings with integrated renewables (RES) and building energy management systems with user feedback and control, can deliver significant cost and energy savings, with healthy indoor climate conditions and a high degree of owner/user satisfaction."

The construction involves

• Heat storage in the building construction and highly insulated external structures
• Glazing optimised with respect to the heat loss and cooling load
• Environmentally sound materials and renewable energy supply systems
• Sea water based cooling driven by photovoltaics and a sea water based propane heat pump
• A building energy management system featuring an "Energy Butler" feed back and control system
• Energy efficient lightning with occupancy detection and automatic control
• A low velocity ventilation system with building integrated channels and heat recovery
• "Export" of excess heat to older and less energy efficient neighbouring buildings. "

The overall energy target of the building is 100 kWh/m2&year and the final goal is an energy self sufficient building wherer the electricity needed for lighting and heat pump et cetera comes from the solar panels integrated on the buildings roof and from small scale local wind power. The indoor climate has high priority in the new Almedalen library. The indoor thermal climate shall be comfortable both for visitors and people working in the library. The environmental awareness has been high during the whole construction process. Not only concerning energy matters and air condition but also in the choice of building material.

An environmental programme is accepted for the construction work, the building and it's surroundings. The environmental programme is part of the quality programme for the whole building project.

General and overall environmental aimes are that

• The consumption of natural resources shall be minimised
• The use of non recyclable natural resources shall be minimal
• The solutions shall encourage environmental commitment among staff and students
• The buildings can be shown as good example of resource conserving and environmental friendly building and operation.
• The area shall be characterised by the assets and limitations in use of natural resources that are specific for Gotland.

Contact person: Mr Bertil Klintbom at the technical department, manager of the construction workers and coordinator of the EU project. 

ROSTOCK: Competition for saving ENERGY

Summary

The first competition for saving energy and water of the Hanseatic town of Rostock showed: costs of energy, water and district heating can be saved comparatively with low expenditure. Therefore, initiatives by one's  own and commitment of the schools are important. A change of behaviour is easily reached by pupils and teaching staff.

Schools belong to the target group because following generations acquire their knowledge about social values mostly in the school.

Schools and institutions should be motivated by an appropriate granting system saving natural resources and costs and also carrying out campaigns in order to protect the climate and to develop sustainable. The educational training within the project included the special advising in different workshops, individual consultations by the Building Department and the exchange of experience between schools by organising central meetings.

In summary the 25 participating schools and the department saved 1,338 mega watt hours in 2000, that means 0.75 per cent of the yearly consumption. In respect to the costs an amount of DM 96,000 was saved.

Many pupils called themselves „Environmental Mouse's", „Energy Foxes" or detectives have taken part in order to interpret saving methods respectively to realise improving suggestions.

The energy saving competition will continue in 2002 involving much more participants.

Background and general notes:

In 1995 the Civil Council of Rostock decided to found the Rostock Agenda 21. Since 1998 one of the main project of Local Agenda 21 - the Municipal Environmental Auditing (MEA) - has been carried out in charge of the Environmental Department of Rostock. At the same time the senator of finances and business has recommended the implementation of an Environmental Education Program at schools. Similar to MEA this program aimed at gathering information about economic and ecological saving possibilities.

Being aware of that, both the Building Department and the Environmental Department worked out a common scheme as a part of MEA, becoming the basis of a decision by the Civil Council on 8/24/99. The decision informed about the installation of a competition in order to find saving methods for drinking and waste water as well as for energy.

Conclusively in autumn of 1999 an appeal was started, encouraging both schools and departments respectively offices of the city administration to take part in that competition.

About the project:

• Content: Saving water and waste water, energy and costs by carrying out campaigns of one's own with concrete results
• members: optional participation of all schools, departments and offices of city administration (condition: an official declaration of willingness)
• duration of competition: 2000 (year of budget)
• implementation: checking the consumption, organising activities and measures by encouraging people's initiatives, changing attitudes and behaviour, organising common work projects between pupils and school staff, taking part in workshops
• evaluation: comparison of saving results of the participants, awarding grants using a special distribution system without debiting city accounts
• monitoring data:

consumption of the last 3 years with respect to weather conditions. The saving money will be handed out like this: 30 per cent will be directly given to the participants themselves, 40 per cent will be spent on a common pool of the participants for low-budget measures and 30 per cent flow to city accounts

Contact person: Dr. Dagmar Koziolek, Environmental Department of Rostock, Kopernikusstr. 17 a 18057 Rostock, phone: +49 381 - 4562 871, e-mail: R73UM029@rostock.de

KOLDING: Sydvest Kvarteret - Kolding - Denmark

Introduction

The area known as Sydvest Kvarteret in Kolding is a residential area with approximately 6000 residents. In relation to the rest of Kolding. The area is badly affected by social problems such as drug abuse and unemployment. The neighbourhood improvement project is a comprehensive scheme to improve the environmental, social and cultural aspects of the neighbourhood, as well as the local buildings and facilities. The project is based on cooperation between local residents, associations, businesses and institutions, a number of local government services and the State, whose common goal it is to improve the neighbourhood.

The scheme officially began in June 1997 as an experimental project, and the cooperative measures have since given rise to highly successful improvements. On 31 December 2001, the State will terminate its involvement in the neighbourhood improvement project, but the current process will continue by way of cooperation between the residents of Sydvest Kvarteret and the local authority.

The project has demonstrated sustainable environmental and social results achieved on the basis of innovative administrative methods - results of close cooperation between local residents and the authorities.

Soft results (shortened)

The neighbourhood's own values form the basis for the establishment of social and environmental sustainability. The results demonstrate the synergy achieved by gathering together the interested parties in the neighbourhood. The cooperative efforts have resulted in urban developments, but they have also strengthened the human resources of the residents who chose to become involved in the process. Below is a list of a small selection of the soft results that have been achieved to date:

Behaviour: ......... A "Green Guide", whose task it is to promote network-forming activities in the area of the environment, has been assigned to the neighbourhood. Using a "green" mobile site hut as his office, he raises awareness and encourages a dialogue with the residents..............

Networks: Gademix is a workshop for young people. Shared responsibility and participation in the decision-making process have stimulated the youngsters' own resources. ..............

Initiative: Environmental guilds have enabled residents to collaborate on less tangible environmental projects such as the sorting of waste, composting or the creation of playgrounds. The guilds are established in cooperation with the neighbourhood's Green Guide and offer the chance of financial aid....................

Identity: ......."Sydvesten" is the local neighbourhood newspaper run by a group of volunteers. The newspaper has helped to create a neighbourhood spirit, to establish an overall "green" identity and to position the many individual projects in relation to the general improvements in the neighbourhood..

Social responsability: The neighbourhood's addicts have been directly involved in a large number of individual projects. The residents have gained an insight into the social problems in the area, something which has increased their acceptance and tolerance.............................

Hard results (shortened)

The hard results of the project include building activities and construction work. The projects involve different methods designed to achieve environmental objectives. The physical results have lifted the neighbourhood in social and cultural terms by adding frameworks which form the basis for the establishment of local identity and networks. In other words the hard results are tools used to achieve the overall goal: sustainable development of the entire area using all-round cooperation and the strengthening of human resources in the local area.

Thehard results can be related to

• Urban renewal
• Meetingpoint
• Connections
• Thoroughfares
• Junction

Contact person: Peter Mogens Hee, Environmental and Planning Manager, Nytorv 11, 6000 Kolding
phone +45 75 50 15 00, direct ph. +45 79 30 16 00, e-mailpemh@kolding.dk

NORRKÖPING:  THE OXELBERG PROJECT

 - RESIDENTS TAKINMG COMMON STEPS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Contact person: Mrs. Eva Lindahl, Environmental Manager and Head of the Local Agenda 21 Office, Rådhuset, S-601 81, Norrköping, Sweden
Tel.:+46-1115 1985, Fax.:+46-1113 7756, E-mail: eva.lindahl@norrkoping.se