Cooperation in Times of Change
Communal Lighting and Energy Efficiency Network (CLEEN), Romania
Good Practice UN-Habitat 2000

Lead Idea

It takes exceptional negotiating qualities to establish solid cooperation in times of dramatic political and economic changes. The community of Odorheiu Secuiesc in Romania is still walking on instable ground in trying to bring street lighting from the dark ages of dictatorship to the light of privatisation and restructuring.

The issue at stake

During Ceausescu's times, the nights in Odorheiu Secuiesc, Romania, were treacherously dark. For many years, communities were instructed by the government to install nothing but the most inefficient lighting. The situation did not change much with the new government, as there was simply no money available. When communities took stock in 1996, they found only 42% of the light masts were in good working order.

Possible solutions, resources

That was when the European Commission decided to make an offer to the communities: cooperation CLEEN (Communal Lighting and Energy Efficiency Network) was established with the help of the Energy Cities Project. A pilot project was introduced to assess the feasibility of acquiring energy saving lamps from abroad which had a much longer lifetime than domestic products. The next step was to get the consent of the government-owned electricity company to implement far-reaching changes in the lighting network. This was difficult to begin with, as the company, for obvious reasons, was not interested in reducing energy consumption.

Process, effects

The energy company was put in charge of acquiring high pressure sodium vapour lamps for the city lights and made a good profit. A lot of money was saved which was then invested to improve the lighting network. In the late 90ies, the lights finally went on for the city hall and for streets outside the centre.

Experiences, transferability

Meanwhile, 75% of street lights in Odorheiu Secuiesc have reached European standard. New perspectives will be opened up once the Rumanian electricity company is privatised. Production, transport and trade have already been divided into different sectors.

Chronology:
1996: project presented to the European Commission, contacts with Energy Cities
1997: partners meet in Odorheiu Secuiesc, conference in Sibiu
Nov. 1997: first lights equipped with energy saving lamps
1998: further contacts with the Rumanian electricity company RENEL
1998/99: 250 street lights replaced, city hall lit

Communal Lighting and Energy Efficiency Network (CLEEN) in the UN HABITAT database