RESPONSE team in Dijon was honored to host a site visit, showcasing the project supported by European funding. The meeting was a great opportunity to highlight both the actions of Dijon métropole and to show the involvement of citizens in the project.

Valérie Drezet-Humez spent 2 days in the Côte d’Or on 7 and 8 April, firstly at the invitation of the EUROTOQUES organisation and then in the company of e Dijon Internationa and the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region.

The Head of the European Commission Representation in France visites the RESPONSE project, that alongside the Finnish city of Turku, Dijon was selected as part of the European RESPONSE programme – an offshoot of the larger €80 billion European programme “H2020, Intelligent Cities and Communities” – before it was replicated in 6 other European cities.

Funded to the tune of €23 million – including €7.4 million in Dijon alone – by the EU, the RESPONSE programme brings together 53 partners (public and private) from 13 European countries. The aim is to develop positive energy islands that not only meet their own energy needs but also export what they produce.

In this respect, the school’s panels should produce around 30% of the electricity needs of the 14 public buildings in the working-class district.

With the 2nd part of the project, which involves reducing the energy consumption of 487 homes in the district nicknamed the “French Dallas” by the former mayor of Dijon, Félix Kir, the project aims to produce 20% more energy than they consume. And all the while reducing their carbon emissions by 75% .