Energy saving training in Vitoria-Gasteiz
In Vitoria-Gasteiz, a city in which most non-pedestrian journeys are made by car, traffic is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and one of the urban living aspects that has the greatest environmental and social impact. Thus, Vitoria-Gasteiz wants their citizens to have a cleaner and more energy efficient driving style. During Modern project duration, 1.000 citizens will learn to drive their vehicles in an energy efficient way that will enable them to save up to 15% of the fuel consumed before. Besides, traffic noise, accident risk and vehicles maintenance cost reductions are also expected.
Previous to Modern project, Vitoria-Gasteiz organised energy-saving driving courses to 300 people. Now, a strong campaign of communication has been launched to announce the celebration of the new courses to the major possible number of citizens. The former, combined with an efficient and flexible enrolment process managed by a Technical Secretariat, will lead to a high attendance of the courses.As stated above, 1.000 citizens will learn to drive their vehicles in an energy efficient way enabling them to save 15% of the fuel compared to inefficient driving, which roughly means 270 tones of CO2 reduced per year. Besides, this measure expects these educated citizens to spread the new learned energy-saving driving techniques among their relatives and friends.The duration of the courses is 4 hours, and the first ones were organized in June 2009, when 240 people took part in them. Groups of 15 drivers will take basic notions about efficient driving during the next 4 years.More information, in the project website (in Spanish and Basque): www.conduceficientevitoria.com.
Author: Juan Carlos Escudero Achiaga
