The Vice President of the Government of La Rioja and Minister of Tourism, the Environment and Territorial Policy of the Government of La Rioja, the Hon. Ms. Aranzazu Vallejo, and Mr. Pedro-A. Fábregas, Director General of the Gas Natural Foundation, today inaugurated the seminar “Urban planning, buildings and energy efficiency”. The seminar examined how urban planning, construction and building use could reduce their environmental impact and improve energy efficiency.

This was the fifth seminar of its kind held by the Gas Natural Foundation in La Rioja. As well as analysing how the energy efficiency of urban planning, building and domestic consumption can be improved, it presented the study “Energy consumption and the environment in the home in Spain. (A life cycle analysis)” and the “Guide to energy efficiency for property administrators”, published by the Gas Natural Foundation.

Energy efficiency and consumption

After the opening session, the seminar began with a talk by the Director General of the  Metrópoli Foundation, Mr. Ignacio Alcalde, who described the keys to eco-urbanism. The Metrópoli Foundation is a centre of innovation for cities and regions that are considering “intelligent territories” when planning cities for a sustainable future.

Next, architect Mr. Gerardo Wadel analysed energy consumption in the home, the performance of different fuels and the emissions each creates. He also put forward some initiatives for improving the energy efficiency of buildings, some of which were already included in the Building Technical Code.

The subject of the life cycle of domestic energy consumption was then addressed by Mr. Julio Rodrigo, who talked about this study, the first of its kind in Spain, which analysed the “environmental baggage” of energy sources and domestic energy appliances and installations.

He was followed by Mr. José Martínez, the Head of Energy Management Development  and Renewables of the Gas Natural Group. He described the new formulae for energy management in different buildings and explained that, compared with the traditional concept, where the customer supervises the items that produce the energy, a system being proposed would entrust overall management of energy installations  to the supplier. This facility is already offered by Gas Natural Soluciones, the Group company that provides a range of energy solutions, including audits, energy efficiency studies and energy management systems.

The ceremony was closed by Mr. Florencio Nicolás, Director General for Industry and Trade of the Ministry of Industry, Innovation and Employment of the  Government of La Rioja, who described the energy efficiency initiatives of the Regional government, and Mr. Luis García del Valle, Director General of Territorial Policy of the Government of La Rioja, who outlined the project “Montecorvo Eco-city”, a government initiative that addressed energy efficiency in building and town planning

The Gas Natural Foundation

The holding of this seminar responds to the wish of the Gas Natural Foundation and the Government of La Rioja to work together in search of critera for sustainable development, and to raise awareness among La Rioja society of the environmental problems created by man’s activity, setting out possible solutions.