Energy Democracy

Energy Democracy - We are building an energy democracy: every roof in a green city is turned into a micro-heat or power plant controlled by the local community.

Green parties throughout Europe promote the implementation of energy saving measures, greater energy efficiency and the development of renewable sources for energy production, for example biomass, wind, water and solar energy.

The Greens are in favour of decentralised energy production and consumption: instead of a few giant power stations monopolising the market, there should be hundreds and even thousands of smaller plants. Such plants, controlled most efficiently by local communities and joined in an intelligent network through which energy can be provided or sent depending on need, are the basis for energy democracy.

Thanks to the involvement of citizens and an active government, an increasing number of roofs in European cities are being turned into micro heat or power plants, depending on whether electricity producing solar panels or water heating solar collectors are installed. Similarly, many housing estates are opening combined heat and power micro-stations running on biomass. When combined with thermal renovation of buildings (inter alia wall insulation, replacing windows with energy efficient ones), they provide citizens with thermal comfort: low cost heating in the winter, lower bills for ventilation and cooling in the summer. At the same time they minimize environmental pollution throughout the year.

Green party believes that efficient energy use and the development of renewable energy sources is the most effective and the safest method of preventing an energy crisis and combating climate change.

Did You Know?

 * Green parties all over Europe are opposed to the development of nuclear energy and promote a gradual departure from the use of non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil and gas.
 * In Upper Austria, 30% of total energy use comes from renewable energy sources. Additionally, in 2004 the region adopted a plan to reduce energy use by 1% every year, thus improving the state of the environment, significantly reducing energy bills and improving energy safety by minimising the use of energy from outside the region.
 * Ten years ago, the Swedish town of Växjö decided to completely cut their dependence on fossil fuels. Today 50% of energy used in the town is from renewable sources!