Karacsony: Budapest speeding up energy-saving investments

The capital held its first Energy Summit in City Hall, he noted on social media.

Given the precarious situation on the energy markets, energy-saving and renewable energy investments must be accelerated, the mayor said.

Proposals include upgrading public lighting and the floodlighting of buildings, and shortening the latter by two hours in the summer.

Buildings operated by the city will be cooled to no less than 25 C. in the summer and heated to no more than 20 C. in the winter, he said. Further investments will be made in transport, with certain vehicles replaced and other changes made to reduce energy and fuel consumption, he added.

“We’re declaring the metropolitan council energy-independent,” he said. “Ambitious maybe, but eminently feasible…” All this, he said, required European Union funds and partnership with the government.