GUGLE Wien Penzing und Alsergrund
As a technical feasibility study for the districts of Penzing & Alsergrund, the GUGLE master plan aims for an integrated approach which covers all aspects of a Smart City and all forms of sustainable energy services. It serves as a template for future demonstration projects and constitutes the studied basis for innovative measures and joint efforts for implementing ambitious energy policy objectives for 2020/2050.
Initial situation
Cities such as Vienna are obligated to achieve energy policy objectives. The GUGLE master plan derives from the necessity for collective actions at regional, national and EU levels and takes into account demand-side requirements in the urban environment as well as innovative technology solutions and measures committed to sustainability.
Although the path to sustainable forms of living is generally recognized, it appears to be difficult to change the established system. Therefore GUGLE aspires to develop adequate plans and strategies and implement “bottom up” approaches in two districts of Vienna. The master plan serves as a template for initiating demonstration projects and constitutes the studied basis for innovative short-term (2015) and medium-term (2030) measures and joint efforts for implementing ambitious long-term energy scenarios in Vienna for 2020/2050.
Vision developed
Examined with respect to the overall “smart” concept for Vienna, GUGLE takes its bearings from the vision and objectives of the Vienna Smart City project. A roadmap for Vienna was developed in this project which identified potential means for achieving ambitious national and international energy and climate goals for 2020 and 2050.
The Vienna Smart City project team proposes various activities which explore the issues of urban expansion, mobility, new construction and building renovation, the use of various forms of energy and energy-specific consumer behavior. This is the basis on which the GUGLE master plan aims for an integrated approach for the Viennese districts of Penzing and Alsergrund, an approach which covers all aspects of modern district development and all forms of sustainable energy services.
Action plan developed
The efforts lie in the integration and implementation of the proposed measures, the potential for optimization in their coordination for multiple areas in both districts. This applies particularly for the significant increase of energy efficiency in all the areas studied (energy infrastructure, mobility, information and communication and existing buildings as well as the city and regional area). Measures for the use of renewable energy sources are in fact important, but will play a lesser role. Close collaboration with the Vienna Smart City initiative has been agreed with the Viennese administrative departments involved, Magistratsabteilung 18 and 20, as well as with GUGLE partner cities.
Outlook
The upgrading of urban areas in general and the Viennese districts Penzing and Alsergrund in particular by modernizing existing buildings, integrating renewable energy production and more sustainable approaches to mobility will contribute in the short term to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the city districts below the level of 1990 and in the medium term showcase projects can increase the pace of the desired market expansion based on empirical results. The future scenarios proposed in the GUGLE master plan and measures are not new. The value of this work (the master plan and the publishable final report) consists of the coordination with key stakeholders who are core members of the GUGLE team and in the specification and quantification for implementation on the widest possible scale in both districts.