Since the foundation of the Climate Office in November 2007 until now (August 2008), Sønderborg municipality and ProjectZero have been working on the following projects:
- Foundation of the local Climate Office
- Drawing up and passing a local climate policy
- Collection of regional data for a CO2 baseline
- Purchase and implementation of the energy managing system ’Omega’
- 3 days of special training for all local public service employees in leading positions
- ½ day of special training for 101 institution leaders
- Employing an energy consultant by August 2008 in order to help day care institutions to identify and carry out energy saving measures
- Establishing an energy trust as a public private partnership. At the moment, it contains app. 86 million DKK (11.6 million Euro)
- Passing the installation budget. The local government has applied for a special authorisation to exceed the budget in order to implement sustainable solutions. By now (August 2008), this matter has not yet been clarified with the central government
- Signing a contract with the Danish Energy Saving Trust, stating that the energy consumption is to be reduced by 5 percent every year in the years 2008-2011
- Joining the climate network of the Danish Association of Municipal Corporations
- Making Sønderborg one of the Danish Society for Nature Conservation’s climate communities
- Applying for exception from the duty to eco-label (EEO) all buildings in public ownership, because the energy-efficiency labelling system, which is being used in Sønderborg instead, is actually more efficient. The EEO-label which is required by law, would cost between 3.5 and 6 million DKK (app. 470.000 – 800.000 Euro).
- In summer 2007, there has been an exhibition for energy efficient housing at the Sønderborg city hall, giving builders the possibility to gain information on the subject
- The municipality is working to increase the level of competency in connection with energy efficient housing – especially in cooperation with EUC SYD college
- Increasing the level of competency for the Climate Office’s employees through regular training