Energy Days in Dzierżoniów

Dzierżoniów, a picturesque town in the south-west of Poland, hosted the 1^st Polish Energy Days organised within the framework of the Energy for Mayors project, together with the Association of Municipalities Polish Network “Energie Cités” (PNEC).

Held on 24 and 25 September 2011, the event was part of the XVII^th Dzierżoniów Business Presentations (XVII Dzierżoniowskie Prezentacje Gospodarcze), which aims at supporting local enterprises. Involving around 1500 participants, including representatives of local companies, NGOs, craftsmen and citizens, it helped to draw attention to the topic of sustainable energy, as well as through the excellent media coverage obtained.

Image: Exhibition stand for contact and presenting achievements of Polish Covenant signatories.

This provided a valuable opportunity to reach wide audience with a clear message – the necessity to save energy, thereby protecting the environment. Beautiful weather helped make it attractive, with families spending the whole day learning about energy savings and enjoying music from local bands in the evening. Organizers of Dzierżoniów Energy Days prepared numerous attractions for the participants, including:

• An exhibition stand where representatives of municipality and PNEC offered practical advice on energy savings (e.g. how to change daily behavior and advantages this could bring, how much electricity photovoltaic cells produce and how best to insulate a house), with a banner exhibition “Good energy” presenting achievements and good practices of Polish signatories of the Covenant of Mayors.
• Numerous publications concerning energy saving and use of sustainable energy projects.
• Examples of technologies, e.g. energy efficient lamps that could be compared with traditional bulbs, energy meters, and solar collectors.
• The collection of waste (electrical and electronic equipment), with contributors given a tree sapling as reward.
• An eco-driving simulator, where anyone could check how ecologically they drive and learn how to do it in more energy efficiently.

Representative of the Municipality of Dzierżoniów presents energy efficient lamps

Fun while learning – using the eco-driving simulator