European Green Leaf 2015 Section...

European Green Leaf 2015 Section A

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City Introduction & Context

Give an overview of your city including its population, surface area, geographical location, some historical background, notable features and any other factors which have influenced or will influence the environment within the city and its surrounding area. What are the key environmental challenges the city faces (or has addressed in the recent past)? Make reference to the city’s infrastructure (transport, water and drainage, buildings, parks etc), if possible and mention any significant legal proceedings on environmental issues. (max. 600 words) Torres Vedras is a Portuguese municipality in the district of Lisbon, approximately 50 km north of the capital Lisbon, in the western part of the Centro region. The municipality covers an area of 407,20 km2, (0,4% of the national territory) has 79.465 inhabitants (0,8% of the country). In the past, during the Peninsular War, Torres Vedras played an important role, because of the Lines of Torres Vedras that are forts built in secrecy to defend Lisbon. Named after the nearby of Torres Vedras, they were ordered, by the English army, and constructed by them and his Portuguese workers between November 1809 and September 1810. Because of these defensive lines, in 1810, the French army offensive was stopped in Torres Vedras. Torres Vedras has 20 km of coastal area, more than 20 beaches and it is a Quality Coast destination. The mobility solutions implemented in the city are a Public bike sharing system with conventional bikes and e bikes, and an Electric Mobility System with a car charging network. And the territory has almost 50 km of cycle pathways. Due to energy production: there are 9 large wind parks for wind Energy production adding up to 112 MW installed and responsible for the production of 332 GWh, representing 100,5% of the total of electricity consumption in the region. For photovoltaic energy production, Torres Vedras has an average of 2479 hours/year of clear sky and 145 kcal/cm2.year of solar radiation. The PV plants count with a number of 328 installations adding up to 1.1 MW, responsible for an estimated production of 1760 MWh, which represent 0.11% of the total energy consumption. The Municipality of Torres Vedras set as a strategic purpose, enhancing the development in the area of energy efficiency, renewable energy, transport and mobility. The vision of the Municipality of Torres Vedras is to identify and implement the best urban sustainability practices, assuring its habitants and visitors, both the highest possible quality of live as well assuring the preservation of the territory natural resources. The mission of the Municipality of Torres Vedras is to walk towards a "Sustainable Land" creating, contemporaneously, more jobs from the new green sectors of the economy, originated from this strategy and its consequent policies. In order to assure the success of this policy, the strategy encompasses a strong pillar on gather support of the community for this economic framework. Consequently, the mission greatly lays on providing information and qualification in the EE and FE subjects, enabling the Civil Society the tools to adopt, on its own, the best practices and behaviours that actively contribute to the this sustainability and at the same time create the expected demand in terms of new services and products. The Municipality consider citizen engagement and public awareness a key factor for success in the demand of a more sustainability territory, so built and inaugurated in September 2013 the new environmental education center, which is forecasted to receive about 10.000 visitors per year, with 8.000 being participants of education and training programs in sustainability issues.

European Green Leaf 2015 Section B

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Category 1: Climate Change & Energy Performance

Section 1a - Plan , Policy & Programme

Please outline any plan, policy or programme to improve Climate Change & Energy Performance which has been implemented in your city, or will be before 2018. Please include:

• Background • Key Objectives & Targets (e.g. estimated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; measures

to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change) • If available, please include actual figures about current greenhouse gas emissions and any

greenhouse gas reduction targets for e.g. 2020 • What percentage is this of your total city budget?

(max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) After signing the Covenant of Mayors, the municipality approve in 2013 his Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) that will allow: Go forward on energy policy; Increase the efficient management of energy, renewable energy use and minimizing emissions CO2, Attract foreign investment and stimulate the local economy; Raise awareness on employees and citizens, for the adoption of good practice in this area. Following the analysis of the energy consumption profile of the territory were considered the following priority areas: transports, this sector represents 34% in total emissions of the county, and buildings (residential, services and public), due to the contribution of the household sector in total emissions of the county which is 22%.

Greenhouse gas emission per sector

With the implementation of this energy sustainability measures is estimate to obtain, based on the reference year (2009) until the year 2020, a total reduction of CO2 emissions of 117 730 tonnes (reduction of approximately 29%) and the expected reduction of 27 112 TEP (reduction of 21%) in consumption of electricity.


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CO2 emissions evolution scenario

It is also, estimated that implementation of the measures has a total cost of € 9.8M for the municipality, in the implementation period 2009 to 2020. The total municipality budget is in 2015 €58M. As for the expected gains, it is estimated to achieve annual savings of € 11M in 2020. The estimated savings for 2020 includes the private sector gains. Calculations were based on the current values for fuel and electricity in 2013, as it was impossible to estimate its variation. If some the initiatives are funded, the value of the investment may reduce significantly.

Section 1b - Implementation

Please outline the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned within the next 3 years to implement your city’s Climate Change & Energy Performance key objectives and targets as outlined in Section 1a. Please add relevant background information, performance statistics and key outcomes (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency etc). Highlight the need for the project/measure/initiative and any achieved or expected benefits from its implementation. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) To ensure the reduction commitments defined in the SEAP 61 initiatives were identified, this definition was made considering a cost benefit assessment and the complexity of the implementation of each initiative, and of course the expected results. The main areas of action are transports, buildings, street lightning, municipal infra structures and others. This plan was designed based on the European Strategies and Policies in this area, considering the main international trends and of course the National Strategies and Policies. At this time, the initiatives already implemented, represent 32% of the total value of the expected emissions reduction target that is 117 730 tonnes. One of the initiatives that can be highlighted is the replacement of 10 144 conventional discharge technology street lightning lamps (Mercury Steam and Steam Sodium) for LED technology maintaining adequate levels and brightness parameters. The investment will be € 2 638 377, and the expected results are a reduction of 70% of electricity consumption and a reduction of 1700 tons of associated CO2 emissions.


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Energy consumption evolution scenario – SEAP and BAU

The key factors for success are the strong political commitment, the setting of achievable and realistic initiatives and effective monitoring, which allows a continuous assessment of the implementation and adaptation of the initiatives if there is this need, over the period of execution. This year the municipality has planned to complete the “Climate Change Adaptation Plan” in order to identify what actions the Municipality needs to take to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. The plan is going to be developed in a participatory process with representatives from many sectors, and the support of a national group of expertise’s, and includes a vulnerability and risk assessment of expected climate change in Torres Vedras.

Section 1c - Citizen Engagement & Public Awareness Please mention any citizen engagement or public awareness campaigns undertaken in your city in the areas of Climate Change & Energy Performance. Examples may include events or activities such as:

(a) Citizen engagement: public consultation, awareness-raising campaigns and events (b) Stakeholder participation: implementation partnerships, stakeholder forums, joint ventures

with local businesses etc. Please mention the target audience and any achieved or expected benefits. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) During the preparation of the SEAP was streamlined a public session that allowed the participation of various stakeholders, whose input was considered in the definition of initiatives and whose involvement in the future will continue to be promoted. It should be noted that to ensure the success of this Plan will be very important the existing network of partnerships, that should be extended, and the strong involvement of the local business sector and the community. Due to awareness-raising campaigns, events, and stakeholder forums, the “Torres Vedras Environmental Education Center”, has promoted more than 60 sessions/study visits on energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate change, in the past 5 years. The target audience were mostly students and the benefits that the municipality expect are changing behaviours on energy demand and consumption.


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Raising awareness session in the Environmental Education Center

To promote the Torres Vedras strengths in the energy and tourism sector, the Municipality joint ventures with local businesses in energy and tourism and launch a Technological Trail – Energy and Tourism, which is a project that aims to be a shop window for services and sustainable energy goods and an example in best practices. The objective is to attract new clients, partners, and investors to the energy sector, combined with a tourist route.

Technological Trail Guide

Category 2: Mobility

Section 2a - Plan, Policy & Programme Please outline any plan, policy or programme for Mobility which has been implemented in your city, or will be before 2018. Please outline the plan, policy or programme by discussing:

• Background • Key Objectives & Targets (e.g. public transport improvements, car-free zones, etc) • When possible, please add actual figures, e.g. about the length of designated cycle lanes

(metres of lane/per capita) at the end of the planning period; estimate the percentage of the city population living within 300m of public transport – train station, bus-stop etc)

• What percentage is this of your total city budget? (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) The “Torres Vedras Mobility Strategy”, implemented in the past 3 years intended, first, to diagnose the main weaknesses of the current system of transport and on the other, define a set of measures to


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improve mobility and quality of life. This strategy considers: structural measures, based on current existing transport infrastructure in the county but that may change; and additional measures more targeted to the specific needs of the visitors. It was also given emphasis on mobility within the historic city center, in order to stimulate and attract more people to this part of town, including redefining the movement of road traffic and the existing parking in the area, as well as extending the network of pedestrian axes. There is also, the commitment in fostering / promoting the smooth transport. The emphasis is on inter modality, on the elimination of architectural barriers, in accessibility on public roads and in built space, promoting universal access of people and goods. During the past 3 years it was developed an “urban bike paths Plan” and a “leisure bike paths Plan” in order to encourage and facilitate the use of bicycles by citizens. Due to the electro mobility the municipality as developed and implemented a plan for 2010 – 2015.

electro mobility charging point

Since 2013 is available a new mobility solution also has a BikeSharing system called "AGOSTINHAS" with provision of electric and conventional bicycles.

BikeSharing system

In the first months of 2015 the Municipality started a project called “Walk to school” that aims to promote safely walking routes for students to school. For this year the municipality has planned to hold its “Sustainable Mobility Plan” that will replace the older strategy, and will define more ambitious measurers to guarantee a lowest impact of the transportation needs in the territory.

Section 2b – Implementation Please outline the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned within the next 3 years to


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implement your city’s Mobility objectives and targets, as outlined in Section 2a. Please mention all relevant background information, performance statistics and key outcomes (e.g. current proportion of population living within 300 metres of public transport, existing length of cycle lanes (metres/per capita), etc). Highlight why the project/measure/initiative is needed and any achieved or expected benefits from its implementation. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) The “Torres Vedras Mobility Strategy”, has defined among other measures, the actions within the Soft Modes of Transportation. This strategy promotes intermodal use, linking car parking outside the city center to urban transport and to public Bike Sharing system in order to reduce, traffic in the city center, and air and noise pollution. An Integrated Management Parking System is installed in Torres Vedras that allows disciplining and promoting the proper use of public space due to parking of motor vehicles, improving the mobility of residents and visitors and encouraging the use soft modes of transport, in particular, the pedestrian and cycling. It´s in operation the BikeSharing system called "AGOSTINHAS" with provision of electric and conventional bicycles, with 14 Bike Stations that includes bicycle parking and internet kiosk, 260 conventional bicycles and 30 electric bicycles and the management software. This whole project is based on a web platform, called “Bicicard” that allows bicycles and user interaction with the system through RFID proximity cards. A total 50 km of cycle line are available, for leisure and in urban areas. One of these paths is called “Schools Line” and was built to ensure and promote the use of bike in a safe away by the students.

Cycle “Schools Line”

Torres Vedras also, integrates the electro mobility network of 25 cities, in Portugal, and for now are installed 12 public charging points to electric vehicles.


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charging points to electric vehicles

For the future the Municipality intend to implement a "Smart Mobility" approach, based on the following principles: multimodal approach, sharing, park, promoting pedestrian and bicycle accessibility, and enhance the car rental instead of ownership. Supporting the transition to a transport fleet of cleaner vehicles, including electric vehicle batteries and fuel cells that can buy and sell electricity on an interactive "Smart Grid".

Section 2c - Citizen Engagement & Public Awareness Please mention any citizen engagement or public awareness campaigns undertaken in your city in the area of Mobility. Examples may include events or activities such as:

(a) Citizen engagement: public consultation, awareness campaigns and events (b) Stakeholder participation: implementation partnerships, stakeholder forums, joint ventures

with local businesses etc. Please mention the target audience and any achieved or expected benefits. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) For the Torres Vedras Mobility Strategy the local stakeholders involvement occur during the process, for the Regulation of Parking, Delivery & Servicing and Removal of Abandoned Vehicles of the municipality of Torres Vedras approval. This process was accompanied by a phase of public scrutiny, with provision the text of the regulation at the municipality website and an online application form for submitting proposals. All proposals were answered, discussed and some were approved and integrated in the final wording of the regulation. The selection of the name of the Public Bike "Agostinhas" was done in honor of the great world cyclist Joaquim Agostinho, born in Torres Vedras. This measure contributed to joint efforts in the implementation of the project and its acceptance by the city of Torres Vedras population. It also promotes the local identity, the relationship of belonging and identification with AGOSTINHAS. Several workshops “Learn to Cycling in the City”, were promoted to raise awareness in the population, this workshops have a practical content to ensure that everyone knows how to use bicycles safely. Some of them were promoted integrated in “Torres Vedras European Mobility Week”, that already is part of the Municipality annual calendar activities, since 2004. Last year's theme for the European Mobility Week (SEM), were "Clean Air - It's in your hands", to reflect the power that people hold, through their mobility choices to improve air quality. Due to awareness-raising campaigns, events, and stakeholder forums, the Torres Vedras, environmental education center, has promoted more than 10 sessions/study visits on mobility, electro mobility, in the past 5 years. The target audience were growth up people and students the benefits that the municipality expect are changing behaviours on mobility choices.


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Learn to Cycling in the City” – “Agostinhas” workshop

Category 3: Biodiversity and Land Use

Section 3a – Plan Policy & Programme

Please outline any plan, policy or programme for Biodiversity and Land Use which has been implemented in your city or will be within the next 3 years. Please outline the plan, policy or programme by discussing:

• Background • Key Objectives & Targets (e.g. increase of parkland, green areas, designation of sites of

special interest for biodiversity, new water areas etc). Where possible, please mention the percentage of the population living within 300 metres of a green area open to the public.

• What percentage is this of your total city budget? (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) The main objectives of Torres Vedras for this issue is the reduction of biodiversity loss, the decrease of unsustainable use of natural resources and guarantee the access to nature for the population. Torres Vedras have 36m2/inhabitant of green built areas, but there are much more natural ecosystems that can be shared and visit. In Torres Vedras territory one of the major challenge today, is to define the strategy for the development of tourism in the region and maintain this balance between, artificial and built areas to guarantee conditions for the stay of visitors, the sustainability of the activities that they develop and the preservation of the natural ecosystems and their biodiversity. Along the coast are also many natural systems with their preserved ecosystems, including geological formations, dunes, beaches, cliffs, with great biodiversity classified. The coastline is covered by two sites of Natura 2000, a network of areas designated to conserve habitats and wildlife species rare or vulnerable in Europe.


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Natura 2000 site

The municipality has promoted the construction of green areas open to the public, in several places and others are under construction, this aim to guarantee the access to nature even in urban areas with higher density, reintegrating biodiversity. The municipality has 25 ha, in a total of 8 Municipal Parks, where is encouraged the existing of native species, such as: Olea europaea, Pinus pinea, Quercus suber, Aesculus hipocastanum, Arbutus unedo, Pinus pinaster, Populus spp., Quercus faginea, Quercus róbur.

Varzea Park

Section 3b - Implementation Please outline the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned within the next 3 years to implement your city’s Biodiversity and Land Use objectives and targets as outlined in Section 3a. Please mention any relevant background information, performance statistics and known outcomes (e.g. percentage of green areas open to the public in the city). Highlight why the project/measure/initiative is needed and any achieved or expected benefits from its implementation. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) In the past years Torres Vedras has put in place a number of projects that allows to implement his objectives and targets in this area. In the last 3 year were planted 1000 trees. Trees planted by residents are crucial , so the municipality offers all years relevant a number of trees to the population, to promote the planting on private land.


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Tree plantation in a Municipal Park

The municipality has implemented the Atlantic Path – Western Natura NetWork (GR11-E9) that Is included in the trans-European pedestrian route which begins in S. Petersburg (Russia) and follows along the coast, , and ends in Tarifa (tip of Africa). Is a linear route that covers the coast line of the municipalities of Torres Vedras, Lourinhã and Peniche, over its 69,5 km of dazzling landscapes, unique species, and unforgettable historic and cultural curiosities. This hike invites the visitor to share with nature. The route crosses 2 of the 60 Sites of Community Interest (SCI) Natura 2000. Cliffs, long sandy, intertidal areas, rivers, volcanic vents, marine and limicolous avifauna, agricultural landscapes and historical and religious heritage are elements that can be sighted along the route of the Atlantic Path.

Atlantic Path – (GR11-E9)

The city also encourages a diversity of urban agriculture and garden, supporting gardens in schools and community gardens for the population. In schools the whole cycle is explored with plant propagation methods; care treatment of plants; pruning techniques; application culinary / medicinal of the aromatic species / vegetables that are produced, some of this projects are linked with culinary education and local food promotion, in schools. There are also available 255 km of hiking routes, which allows the pedestrian contact with nature observation of natural ecosystems, water lines, riparian corridors, coastal ecosystems, bird watching among others.

Section 3c - Citizen Engagement & Public Awareness e Please mention any citizen engagement or public awareness campaigns undertaken in your city in the areas of Biodiversity and Land Use.


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Examples may include events or activities such as: (a) Citizen engagement: public consultation, awareness campaigns, awareness events (b) Stakeholder participation: implementation partnerships, stakeholder forums, joint ventures

with local businesses etc. Please mention the target audience and any achieved or expected benefits. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) The municipality recently created the “Protected Landscape Area of Socorro and Archeira Mountains”, an area where the main objective is to promote the protection, management and planning of the landscape, based on participation and involvement of the local population. In the “Protected Landscape Area of Socorro and Archeira Mountains” was created an educational equipment, the “Interpretative Center” (in the old Primary School). This space is used for the discovery of the Protected Landscape Area, provides support to the activities of the “Protected Landscape Education Plan”, as well as supporting other initiatives to boost the protected Landscape Area. This equipment have an important supporting role for the area, as a backup for all the activities realized there, like hiking bird watching, awareness sessions on the natural values and landscape present on the spot, in the local is still available an exhibition on the area and their natural ecosystems. The target audience is growth up people and students the benefits that the municipality expect, with this contact to nature, are the understanding of the natural values presents in the spot, based on participation and involvement of the local population.

“Protected Landscape Area of Socorro and Archeira Mountains”

The Municipality as also implemented the “Rivers Project” that aims to guarantee a social participation in the conservation of river areas, in order to raise awareness of civil society to the problems, the need for protection and enhancement of riparian systems. With the practical implementation of this project is possible to learn how to appreciate the importance of water lines, implementing a local observation, monitoring or surveillance network, to promote the conservation and use of different sections of rivers.


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“ Rivers Project”

Category 4: Quality of Air & the Acoustic environme nt

Section 4a - Plan, Policy & Programme Please outline any plan, policy or programme for Air Quality & the Acoustic Environment which has been implemented in your city, or will be before 2018. Please outline the plan, policy or programme by discussing:

• Background • Key Objectives & Targets (e.g. city's contribution towards reducing NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5

emissions, noise reduction action plans, etc) • What percentage is this of your total city budget?

(max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) Air Quality and the Acoustic Environment aren’t a problem, for now, in Torres Vedras Territory. Nevertheless the Municipality promote every year a monitoring campaign of air quality. This monitoring campaign measure continuously: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), nitrogen monoxide (NO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3) and particulate (PM10), that are the parameters that could be closely linked through road traffic pollution. The ratings of the air quality index values indicated the existence of a good air quality, the PM10 is responsible for the worst marks obtained and ozone responsible for obtaining less good ratings. The remaining parameters used in the calculation of the index, obtained a “very good” rating. In the future the municipality expect to maintain this lower emission ratings, regardless all the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned in the mobility area. Due to Acoustic Environment the noise pollution, that has for long been recognised as a quality of life and well-being issue, and increasingly being recognised as a public health issue, as in all Europe, in Torres Vedras, road traffic is the greatest contributor to noise exposure. The municipality is preparing the noise maps for the most significant urban areas of Torres Vedras, but just like air quality there are no relevant problems in this area.


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air quality monitoring campaign

Section 4b - Implementation Please mention the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned within the next 3 years to implement your city’s Air Quality & the Acoustic Environment key objectives and targets as outlined in Section 4a. Please support information by providing relevant background information, including any performance statistics and key outcomes. Highlight why the project/measure/initiative is needed and any achieved or expected benefits from its implementation. Where possible, please also provide actual figures about the exceedances of EU air quality standards (e.g. days /per year). (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) For the next 3 year the Municipality will continue to promote every year a monitoring campaign of air quality and will conclude the noise maps for the most significant urban areas.

Section 4c - Citizen Engagement & Public Awareness Please mention any citizen engagement or public awareness campaigns undertaken in your city in the areas of Air Quality & the Acoustic Environment. Examples may include events or activities such as:


with local businesses etc. Please mention the target audience and any achieved or expected benefits. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) Due to awareness-raising campaigns, and events, the “Torres Vedras Environmental Education Center”, has promoted more than 13 sessions/study visits on, Acoustic Environment, in the past 5 years. The target audience were students and the aim of the sessions is to explain how to measure noise pollution and that Environmental noise is not only a source of annoyance, but it has been linked with the increased risk of some diseases.


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noise pollution measure in Torres Vedras

Category 5: Waste and Green Economy

Section 5a - Plan , Policy & Programme Please mention any plan, policy or programme for reducing Waste and promoting a Green Economy (including eco innovation & new jobs linked with the green economy) which has been implemented in your city, or will be before 2018. Please outline the plan, policy or programme by discussing:

• Background • Key Objectives & Targets (e.g. promotion of Green Public Procurement (GPP), existing and

planned waste sorting systems, etc) • Where possible, please also add actual figures showing the current proportion of household

and industrial waste send for recycling and to landfill,. • What percentage is this of your total city budget?

(max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) Torres Vedras Municipality, has in the past 3 years, implemented measures that reduced solid waste production, promote the income of recycling tax, and also the growth of household composting. By raising awareness in the population, increased the amount of recycle bins for selective collection in the public space, distributing equipment for home composting, offering a recycling drop off center, the solid waste send to landfill, in Torres Vedras, reduced 15% in the 4 past years. Actually 86% of the waste generate in send to landfill. Urban waste manage represents 3,5% of the total city budget, every year.

Solid waste send to landfill (ton.), in Torres Vedras

Due to Green Economy the Municipality want to go further, and assume that have a role to play in


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supporting the transition towards a green economy, persevering the environment and keep obtaining the benefits it provides us reducing the amount of materials we are extracting, and is preparing to publish in 2016/2017 the “Torres Vedras Action Plan to Green Economy”. For this the Municipality needs to show to the citizens, and to the enterprises that thy have to change the way they produce goods and services and consume material resources. This “Torres Vedras Action Plan to Green Economy”, will promote the adoption of a ‘collaborative consumption’ approach. Changing the way the consumers deal with the purchase, showing that there are other options that can meet their needs as leasing, product-service systems and sharing arrangements. The focus will be on empower entrepreneurs and companies for "Green Business", creating conditions for the realization of sustainable energy investments in the territory, promoted by local businesses, stimulating and fostering the growth of the local economy. Foster also, the creation of collaborative models at the local level in order to develop projects in this area.

Section 5b - Implementation Please mention the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned within the next 3 years to implement your city’s Waste and Green Economy (including eco innovation & green jobs) key objectives and targets as outlined in Section 5a. Please mention any relevant background information, including performance statistics and key outcomes (e.g. % of city's budget dedicated to eco-innovation). Highlight why the relevant project/measure/initiative is needed and the achieved or expected benefits from its implementation.. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) The Municipality will continue to promote the reduction of landfilled waste, encouraging recycling and composting, by creating more incentives to produce less waste, improving waste prevention and management requires action across the full product lifecycle, not merely the end-of-life phase, in a perspective of a new circular economy. For the next year the Municipality will increase the number of recycle bins for selective collection of urban waste.

recycle bins

Also planned is the test of a pay-as-you-throw program where residents are charged for the collection of urban waste, based on the amount they throw away. This will creates a direct economic incentive to recycle more and to generate less waste. Other intended action is the increase the number of recycling drop off centers for voluntary deposition of urban waste.


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recycling drop off center

In the last 3 years the Municipality has made an effort to promote Green Public Procurement and support providers in adopting environmental and social concerns in the development of their products / services, approving a Sustainable Procurement Strategy and a Suppliers Commitment (conduct code) in 2013. This was the result of SPP Capacity Building Project (LIFE funded) that Torres Vedras integrated as a partner. The Municipality has also, received a “Sustainable Procurement Award” sponsored by LNEG (National Laboratory of Energy and Geology), due to public procurement process with environmental criteria for the construction of the Environmental Education Center Building.

Section 5c - Citizen Engagement & Public Awareness Please mention any citizen engagement or public awareness-raising campaigns undertaken in your city, in the areas of Waste and Green Economy (including eco innovation and creation of new jobs linked with the green economy). Examples may include events or activities such as:


with local businesses etc. Please mention the target audience and any achieved or expected benefits. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) Due to awareness-raising campaigns, events, and stakeholder forums, the “Torres Vedras Environmental Education Center”, has promoted, in the past 3 years, more than 50 sessions on waste prevention, reuse, recycling and composting. Were also promote visits to landfill, incinerator and recycling factories. The target audience were growth populations and students, the benefits that the municipality expect are changing behaviours on waste management, especially in reduce waste production, and the way people consume. The municipality also support local businesses, whit an municipal advisory office that shows the best practice and how to manage specific waste streams and treatment options. Ensuring the best forward of the waste in the territory.

Category 6: Water Management (including Wastewater Treatment)

Section 6a - Plan, Policy & Programme Please mention any plan, policy or programme for improved Water Management (including waste-water treatment) which has been implemented in your city, or will be before 2018. Please outline the plan, policy or programme by discussing:

• Background • Key Objectives & Targets


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• Where possible, please add actual figures about the current and planned proportion (%) of urban drinking water supply subject to water metering, as well as the actual and planned proportion (%) of waste-water per capita subject to up-to-date waste-water treatment.

• What percentage is this of your total city budget? (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) In Torres Vedras the population receive treated drinking water from municipal supply systems, compliant with the quality standards set by the Drinking Water Directive (EU, 1998) and 100% safe. One of the municipality key objectives is reduce per capita water consumption. The public water management can be improved through measures such as more efficient production processes, water-saving measures in buildings, and better urban planning and give population the perception that water conservation is one important issue. 99.7% of Torres Vedras population receive treated drinking water from municipal supply systems. Due to public drainage system Torres Vedras has 95% of population served. The municipality's initiatives in Water Management includes: Reducing the volume of water losses in public supply systems, whit remote management systems Changing behaviours in irrigation by changing intensity of water or irrigation periods. Project sustainable green spaces, design with the aim of a lower consumption of water resources. Using rainwater for irrigation of green spaces. Chose irrigation systems according to the needs of the crop plant species and the type of existing soil, as underground watering system, which reduces the water requirements. Study and develop systems to reuse waste water after treatment to irrigate green spaces. Raising awareness in the population to adopt water conservation measures. The Municipality also, have a Plan to reduce their own water consumptions with flow reducers placement, regulating the flow of water taps and identification and repair malfunctions.

Section 6b – Implementation Please mention the projects, measures and initiatives put in place or planned within the next 3 years to implement your city’s Water Management (including waste-water treatment) key objectives and targets as outlined in Section 6a. Please provide any relevant background information, including performance statistics and outcomes. Highlight why the project/measure/initiative is needed and any achieved or expected benefits from its implementation. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) Some of the initiatives that can be highlighted on Water Management are the follow: The Environmental Education Centre building, opened in September 2013, has a recovery and reuse system of gray water and rainwater. The routing of rainwater is made for two 10000L deposits, buried outside the building , ensuring that rainwater is protected from light and without great temperature variations, factors relevant to prevent the formation of algae and developing certain microorganisms. The water is treated by a filtering process control and / injection chlorine, from which is then pressurized for the feeding of alternative network cisterns.


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Buried 10000L deposits

The gardens and the green roof of this building also, have a buried drop by drop system. The gardens watering correspond to an area of 1,653 m2 and include green roofs and courtyards of the building. With this method, alternative to the traditional spraying, is achieved a water saving of around 25%, since the evaporation is much smaller, almost summarized perspiration, and nullifies the effect of the wind, particularly in coverage area, greatly reduces the efficiency of the sprinklers.

Green roofs buried drop by drop system

Section 6c - Citizen Engagement & Public Awareness Please mention any citizen engagement or public awareness-raising campaigns undertaken in your city in the areas of Water Management (including waste-water treatment). Examples may include events or activities such as:


with local businesses etc. Please mention the target audience and any achieved or expected benefits. (max. 300 words & 2 graphics or images) Due to awareness-raising campaigns, events, and stakeholder forums, the “Torres Vedras Environmental Education Center”, has promoted, in the past 3 years, more than 60 sessions on water pollution, water demand, water scarcity and drought, surface, ground and marine waters and best practices. Were also promoted visits to waste-water treatment systems. The target audience


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were growth populations and students the benefits that the municipality expect are changing behaviours on water management, especially in reduce consumption and pollution.

Raising awareness session on Water

European Green Leaf 2015 Section C

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Good Practices Please summarise up to three good practices, in any three categories, that demonstrate how your city is improving its environment record and is committed to generating new jobs linked with producing a better environment. Please identify which the category to which your good practice is relevant. Good practices may be taken from information already provided within the application form. Each good practice should be supported by a maximum of 3 graphics or images. (max 150 words per good practice) Good Practice 1 (max. 150 words) Category: Climate Change & Energy Performance The new Environmental Education Center (EEC) open since September 2013, with 661 m2 of enclosed area, and 432 m2 of open area, is located in the Varzea Green Park, which is a sort of green lung of the city.

Varzea Green Park

This project intends to establish connections with the natural environment surroundings through diverse paths and routes, connecting the city and the sights of the park. The building meets the dual objective of educating and raising public awareness in sustainable and bioclimatic construction. The EEC is a sustainable pilot building which aims to integrate a large number of sustainable energy and bioclimatic systems in order to save energy. Solar and photovoltaic panels are installed, a micro wind turbine, an energy-saving water system and natural lighting resources. Some inner walls were constructed using recycled materials. The EEC is forecasted to receive about 10.000 visitors/year and 8.000 being participants of education and training programs.

Environmental Education Center


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Good Practice 2 (max. 150 words) Category: Biodiversity and Land Use In Torres Vedras there are about 125 ha of dunes fields, this dunes are active and instable systems due to the constant drifting of sand particles by the strong west winds and the action of the sea. Dunes play an important role in the coast protection and they are rich ecosystems that shelter diverse fauna and flora. The preservation and recovery of these systems is crucial to ensure the environmental services of these ecosystems. In the past 3 years the Municipality has promote, whit success, 2 of this areas recovery.

Foz do Sizandro Dune field

Good Practice 3 (max. 150 words) Category: Mobility Implemented in 2013 the public Bike Sharing system called "Agostinhas", for universal use, with provision of electric and conventional bicycles, is available in a circulation area of 8 km2. This system is included in a Mobility Solution, the Integrated Torres Vedras Management Parking System for the city, that allows disciplining and promoting the proper use of public space due to parking of motor vehicles, improving the mobility of residents and visitors and encouraging the use soft modes of transport, in particular, the pedestrian and cycling. The innovative character is reflected in the integrated parking management, which coordinates the provision of resident parking cards, oversees the proper occupation of the parking space and additionally provides and manages the system of public bicycles. In the first year the total number of registered users in the public Bike Sharing system was more than 14.000, with an estimate 93 690 km travelled.


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Bike Sharing system called "Agostinhas"

Cycling in the city

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