Energy Transition in Europe | www.energy-cities.eu

Ghent is continuing to install solar panels on municipal buildings as part of broader environmental efforts.

City authorities headed by Mayor of Ghent Mathias De Clercq pointed out that municipal buildings will cover more than 40% of their energy needs with renewables by the end of the year.

The City of Ghent will be providing low-interest long-term loans to its citizens. The advantageous funding amounts to 13 million euros and is meant to facilitate the energy transition of households and the city as a whole. The new system is expected to start operating from next spring.
The residents of the Flemish city are in great need of energy loans as half of them lack the financial means to invest in climate renovations. This is what a study by Professor Johan Albrecht from the University of Ghent and the Agoria Industry Federation have concluded. Based on their findings and on the need to improve the quality of life of local residents, the city administration decided to launch a rolling fund with advantageous loans, open to everyone who needs them.

We asked locals in the Belgian city to tell us how things have changed since the introduction of its circulatieplan in 2017

The City of Ghent provides 13 million euros to expand the supply of energy loans for all residents of Ghent. A new system of cheap, long-term energy loans should make it possible to bundle and accelerate far-reaching energy performance. The new plan will start in the spring of 2021. The need for loans is high. Half of the …

The European Circular Cities Declaration is designed to help accelerate the transition from a linear to a circular economy in Europe, and thereby create a resource-efficient, low-carbon and socially responsible society.

In February, Ghent will be advancing on the path towards sustainable development. As the local authority announced last week, the members of the administration will no longer fly short distances to perform their duties. Instead, they will prefer travelling by train, which is considered more environmentally friendly.