Teaching People to Be Smart and Economical

Yesterday, the Green and Smart Technology Cluster in Liepāja opened an Energy Efficiency Centre, where the public will be educated about obtaining and using energy wisely, as well as promoting products manufactured in Liepāja and the Kurzeme region.

The opening of the centre was attended by cooperation partners of the Green and Smart Technology Cluster, representatives of Liepāja Municipality, the Special Economic Zone, the city’s educational institutions, and others.

Salvis Roga, head of the cluster, explained that the centre, established at 24 Vecā ostmala, has two main areas of activity: "One is educational seminars, at which experts will share their knowledge and experience. The other important component is product demonstration stands operated by companies."

Several years ago, while visiting the AS "Latvenergo" Energy Efficiency Centre in Jūrmala, S. Roga mentioned, "half-jokingly and half-seriously," that Kurzeme also needed such an educational platform. "It took four years for this finally to happen," he said. Liepāja was chosen as the centre’s location because it is the largest city in Kurzeme.

Mārtiņš Tīdens, Deputy Executive Director of Liepāja Municipality responsible for property matters, expressed appreciation that such a centre had finally been established in Liepāja, noting that the municipality had also become actively involved in energy-efficiency efforts. Since 2012, it has participated in the Covenant of Mayors movement, expressing its commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. "Compared with 2006, the amount of CO2 emissions in Liepāja has decreased by 48 per cent. This is mainly thanks to the modernisation of Liepājas enerģija. Firstly, the company has become highly efficient; secondly, wood chips account for more than 60 per cent of the fuel. All of this makes a major contribution to improving our environment and achieving results. But, of course, there is still very, very much to do. Therefore, young people must be involved, and there must be a desire to train as engineers, develop various things, and invent something new. There is still a broad field of opportunity, and Liepāja is already showing that there are entrepreneurs working in it," said the deputy executive director of Liepāja City Council.

In cooperation with the "Elektrum" brand of "Latvenergo," the Energy Efficiency Centre will organise a series of free educational seminars. Ten different seminars are planned for the first half of this year, including "An Energy-Efficient Heating System," "E-Transport," "The Latest Trends in the Electricity Sector and Solar Energy," "Energy-Efficient and Innovative Solutions for a Healthy Indoor Climate," and others.

The first lecture took place yesterday; this time, its topic was "Lighting."