Copenhagen, long a green energy pioneer, was awarded the Best Project award at this year’s Smart City Awards which took place in Barcelona at the end of November. The project, Copenhagen Connecting, a collaboration with the City of Copenhagen and Cisco Systems, uses data collected from municipal lighting, traffic signals, even garbage bins to reduce commute times and add economic value. When fully realized, the project will yield economic benefits upwards of $700,000.
CLEAN*, a merger of The Lean Energy Cluster and Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster, formed the delegation that traveled to Barcelona to accept the award. “The award has given us more exposure and acts as a point of departure for people living in cities,” explains Preben Birr-Pedersen, CEO of CLEAN.
“We talk about innovation but it’s equally important to create the demand for new green solutions. Getting people engaged so when they buy new products, they think green. When they renovate their house, they think ‘how can I make it more environmentally friendly, more energy efficient?’ Local contractors can join a program we offer where they can learn about new green solutions; automatic climate control, intelligent valves in radiators to centralize climate control, so they can inform homeowners that if they invest more in innovation it will reduce their energy costs. They learn how to work with, sell and how to finance new energy solutions in homes. We help homeowners finance renovations in a more energy efficient manner,” describes Birr-Pedersen.
CLEAN, a 180-member organization, also works to assist SMEs with new green businesses, adding economic value and bringing jobs to Denmark. “We have a lot of networking taking place, new ideas have a place where they can grow into new business possibilities for existing companies and new companies can appear. It is also easier for foreign investors to get access to the right places to invest,” Birr-Pedersen explains.
Source: http://cleantechnica.com/2014/12/03/copenhagen-wins-smart-city-award/
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