Fossil-free districts & buildings

Ensuring our energy system’s stability through diversified local renewable energy sources, strong energy public services & improved energy efficiency & sufficiency.

what are the hubs ?

We, at Energy Cities, are driven by a desire to strengthen the role and skills of local governments. The hubs are the community spaces that help us achieving our target impacts and goals by:

  • activating local leaders to deliver living spaces that are accessible to everyone
  • empowering local communities to decide on their own future
  • inspiring a learning community of cities engaged in future proofing their economies

join the hubs !

Our members are diverse cities and local organisations.
Hubs membership is totally free!

There are no conditions to join other than the ambition and the commitment to share experiences.

Register here

Hub coordinator

Nicolas Raimondi
Nicolas Raimondi
EU Policy and Project Management

About the hub

Are you willing to reduce your municipality’s energy needs? Are you looking for ways to develop heat planning and use local heating and cooling sources efficiently while involving citizens and stakeholders? Are you developing support mechanisms to foster deep renovations and positive energy districts? Then the Fossil free districts and buildings Hub is for you!

Together, we will coordinate efforts to improve financial, technical, and human capacities for cities. We will explore local and national legislation as well as public actions to trigger the energy system’s decarbonisation, while putting in debate the questions of governance, energy public services and ownerships. Through this, we will support cities in choosing the best local energy mix and decarbonising their built environment.

Discover our learning offer!

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Advocacy
Back to Brussels: what EU policies we’re looking out for until the end of the year

Back to Brussels: what EU policies we’re looking out for until the end of the year

After a busy first half of the year and a summer strained by heat, here’s what we’ll be keeping an eye on as Brussels gets back to work.

Local governance
Fossil-free cities
Community energy
Food systems
Fair economies

02/09/2026

From renewable energy policy to EU governance and a new adaptation framework, here are the key EU files we are looking at in the upcoming months to ensure the EU is empowering empower local communities to strengthen Europe’s energy independence and build resilience.
Advocacy
A Renewable Energy Framework that empowers local stakeholders

A Renewable Energy Framework that empowers local stakeholders

What we want to see in the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive

Fossil-free cities
Community energy

02/09/2026

We want the future renewable Energy Framework to provide local authorities, citizens, energy communities and SMEs with means to contribute to the development of and have access to affordable renewable energy.
Interviews
It’s not just about installing underground pipes: better neighbourhoods through district heating and cooling

It’s not just about installing underground pipes: better neighbourhoods through district heating and cooling

Frederik Ceulemans, Deputy Mayor, City of Brussels

Heating & Cooling
Fossil-free cities

27/08/2026

The City of Brussels has a clear strategy and vision for phasing out gas. And they are already actively involved in various projects. They did not take the easy way: Frederik, his team and many public and private partners are experimenting district heating and cooling in two projects.
Interviews
How to turn a city into a “cool” place: Grenoble’s fight against urban heat islands

How to turn a city into a “cool” place: Grenoble’s fight against urban heat islands

Interview with Mariam Emelien, Urban Planning Service at Grenoble Alpes Metropole

Participative governance
Climate adaptation
Fossil-free cities
Fair economies

23/07/2026

Heat peaks have become the new normal in many of our cities. On hot days, residents have to find places to stay cool – if there are any. In Grenoble, France, a team of urban planners and other experts have been working on interventions, some small-scale, some much bigger.
News
Heating Besançon beyond gas

Heating Besançon beyond gas

Anthony Nappez on Besançon’s transition away from fossil fuels towards cleaner heating

Energy efficiency & Buildings
Heating & Cooling
Renewables
Fossil-free cities

21/07/2026

Across Europe, cities are rethinking the way they heat homes and buildings to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, strengthen energy resilience, and provide more […]

Projects All projects

MUSE DHC

MUSE DHC

coMmUnity-led actionS for Efficient District Heating & Cooling
MUSE DHC

The MUSE DHC project (coMmUnity-led actionS for Efficient District Heating & Cooling), funded by the LIFE programme, aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of Europe’s heating […]

Support Service for Citizen-led Renovation (CLR)

Support Service for Citizen-led Renovation (CLR)

Empowering Citizen-led renovation!
Support Service for Citizen-led Renovation (CLR)

Residential buildings remain among the most energy-intensive sectors, with space heating alone accounting for over 60% of household energy consumption in the European Union. Despite […]

EUREKA

EUREKA

European URban Exchanging Knowldge on climAte neutrality
EUREKA

Project context Cities take up 4% of the EU’s land area, but are home to 75% of the EU population and consume up to 80% […]

SPARKLE

SPARKLE

Sustainable Planning And Resilience Knowledge Learning Environment
SPARKLE

SPARKLE – Sustainable Planning and Resilience Knowledge Learning Environment is a pioneering programme that develops the capacities of over 600 Local and Regional Authorities (LRA), […]