Project leader: Regional Planning Association Grosses Walsertal

Contact: Albert Rinderer, AT-6721 Thüringerberg, Tel +43 (0)5550/3570, albert.rinderer@aon.at 

Project period: since 2004

The “e5 programme for energy-efficient communities“ was started in 1998 by the Energieinstitut Vorarlberg on behalf of the Vorarlberg state government. Currently, 21 Vorarlberg communities as well as the Grosses Walsertal region are taking part in the e5 programme. Their joint goal is to achieve an exceptionally advanced environmental policy.
Every three years the e5 communities undergo an energy audit by an independent commission. Just as restaurants are awarded stars, successful e5 communities are awarded from one to five “e’s” depending on their “level of energy use”. In each participating community an e5 team is responsible for the implementation of the measures. The Energy Institute supports these community teams with expert help and organises training events and national conferences for exchange of experience.
The goals are:

• Promotion of the efficient use of energy and increase in the use of regional, renewable sources of energy

• Building and maintenance of structures and processes which secure future-proof work on energy policy for the long term
• These goals are to be reached through networking within and between the e5 communities, regional e5 teams, training and the awarding of one to five “e’s” to the communities.

4. "e" for the Biosphere Park Grosses Walsertal
At the awards ceremony on the 15th November 2008 in Dornbirn the Grosses Walsertal received the fourth of five possible “e’s” from Erich Schwärzler, member of the Vorarlberg state government. Projects which contributed to this success include:

• Model municipal buildings in Blons and Raggal
• Recognition as an "Energy Region of the Future"
• Joining the Climate Alliance by the whole region
• Certification of all 7 schools with the Ecolabel
• v Extension of the Alp and walkers’ bus routes and introduction of a young people’s night taxi
• Impressive extension of biomass exploitation and building of the biomass converter in Raggal
• Energy-saving championships and retro-fitting of 30 new solar installations
• Good public education work with energy tips, model examples and energy-related visits guide
• Biomass and microhydro action days
• Energy project day with the Grosses Walsertal Secondary School