Sustainable development in the Paris region

Paris is taking a very progressive approach on sustainable development.  You can see from the “Neighbourhood” that there are good things going on in the EiD “quartier.”  This article from Agence France Presse presents a new roadmap that the regional council has recently published.

Sustainable Development: the Ile de France presents its roadmap

PARIS – Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, building renovation, heating methods, renewable energy: the Regional Council of Ile de France presented Friday its roadmap for sustainable development by 2020 or 2050 .

This regional climate air energy (SRCAE) strategy, mandated by the Grenelle laws, will be subject to consultation during the summer with communities before final adoption in the fall.

“If the Ile de France represents 20% of the population of less than 3% of the country, it is our goal to meet the challenges by dividing by four gas emissions greenhouse before 2050 and that its rate energy independence from 5% to 45% and, of course, without using oil shale from the basement, said Helene Gassin (EELV), Vice-President in charge of the environment.

“The SRCAE shows that it is entirely possible. These are fine goals established in co-development with the State, which was not a foregone conclusion,” she said.

This document gives both the overall objectives and recommendations tailored to each player and industry.

In construction, it decrees general mobilization on renovations at triple the pace, and to reach 125,000 units renovated per year (2.5% of the fleet per year). The tertiary sector (offices) should also accelerate renovations with 7 million m2 per year (3.3% of the park).

Heating methods are also an important factor: Ms Gassin stated that she wants to see the end of electric convection heating installed in new construction from 2013.

Heating oil, LPG and coal should also totally disappear by 2020, she argued, highlighting the need to develop district heating: 40% more dwellings must be connected in 2020 compared to 2005 or about 65,000 homes each year.

This increase in heat networks will lead to development of renewable energy such as geothermal, biomass or biogas production.

For solar thermal, the goal is to reach in 2020 the current level of Germany, noted Ms Gassin.

Finally, the application of an urban travel plan is a prerequisite for success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions: it provides for a 2% reduction in car traffic, the development of public transport (+20%), walking and cycling (+10%).