The City of Lodz

Understanding climate change and any environmental and socioeconomic consequences of such change is not only important worldwide, but also essential for the realisation of the local policy of balanced development in urbanised areas. Nowadays nobody doubts that the activity of the man has made an essential contribution to global warming, and that the issue of greenhouse gases and energy efficiency problems is an important aspect of balanced development management processes in every city.

Old stand of oaks – an element of natural Łódź heritage

Lodz, as the second largest city in Poland, where the industry and services sector has been developing rapidly, faces many challenges in the struggle against CO2 emissions. The activities undertaken by the city authorities, as a result, include the implementation and promotion of the discovery of renewable energy sources, revitalisation of old housing developments along with the liquidation of individual coal-fired furnaces and connection of new facilities to the municipal heat supply and distribution network, the promotion of environmentally friendly means of public transport and proper spatial development of the city, taking into account the need for the protection of environmentally precious natural areas and the creation of new public parks. Lodz faces many problems with the implementation of local ecological policy which result both from of Lodz’s past as a textile industry city as well as from the delay caused by central planning in the second half of the twentieth century.

Renewable energy sources

Lodz's activities in this arena include:

1) The construction of a geothermal power station on the premises of the Technical University of Lodz. The total cost of the investment project will be approx. 22 million euros, whereof 50% will be financed by the European Union.

2) The production of energy from renewable sources to supply a Group Sewage Treatment Plant. Within the framework of the European Union SWITCH programme on “Sustainable Water Management Improves Tomorrow’s Cities’ Health”, energy producing willow trees have been planted over the 70 hectares of a sewage treatment plant. A heat and power generating plant has been built where the biogas produced in the sediments fermentation process is used. The energy generated is sufficient to power the sewage treatment plant.

Reduction of CO2 in housing

The city is working on the following programmes:

1) The modernisation, over the last decade, of 15 municipal buildings, with the simultaneous liquidation of over 1000 individual coal-fired furnaces. In last three years, within the framework of the revitalisation programme of the central quarters a further eight buildings will be restored at a cost of approximately 37 million euros.

2) The greatest revitalisation programme in Poland of the historic family workmen's houses. The partnership of City authorities and private investors is organising the exchange of over 1100 flats. The investor will build modern flats for the inhabitants of the family houses and receive premises in industrial housing estates in exchange. The historic character of the workmen’s houses will be maintained and several thousands of coal-fired furnaces will be replaced with ecological heating systems.

3) Reduced energy consumption in municipal buildings: this includes 386 buildings, with energy audits already prepared for 40 downtown school buildings.

4) The New Centre of Lodz: The main objective is to create a functional city centre of 90 hectares, including green areas and considering the ecological aspect. The former heat and power generating plant EC1 will be replaced with the building “Energopolis”. This will house the world’s largest exhibition on rational energy management, using and promoting its alternative forms.

Historic Źródliska Park – the winner of the 1st place in “The Most Beautiful Polish Park” competition

The Lodz regional tram line

This is now almost completed. It is 16 km long and connects Lodz to its nearest towns. It will ensure better transport accessibility in the central Lodz, improve travel comfort and reduce noise and vibrations. Incentives to use the tram mean it will be an attractive alternative for passengers.

Parks and open green areas

For several years Lodz has been implementing the river renaturalisation programme; its aim is to restore the river’s natural character and it endeavours to better protect the river valleys as important ecological corridors, biological variety centres and city ventilation system. In the foreseeable future, new parks and squares are being planned to increase the areas of greenery grounds. A coherent city nature system is also to be established where the most precious natural areas will be preserved. These activities also aim at the enlargement of biologically active areas within the city, capable of absorbing carbon dioxide into biomass, the storage and reduction of other greenhouse-gases.

Lodz is implementing the rule behind balanced development, which is “Think globally, act locally”. Its experiences may be used as the portfolio of good practices helpful to other cities.

W: www.uml.lodz.pl