ICLEI will be moderating a session during the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) entitled "The contribution of energy smart solutions to social cohesion in cities".

Lighthouse cities are leading the transition to a sustainable future with innovative solutions, in great part related to energy. These (potentially disruptive) changes have very direct effects on citizens: on their living conditions, the price of energy, the planning of neighbourhoods, the creation of new skilled jobs.

The session will look at the impact of smart energy solutions on social cohesion through the experience and best practices of European projects. From the planning to the implementation of smart energy solutions, the session will propose ideas to think and integrate the impact of these measures on citizens.

This session will address questions such as: What social benefits do energy-related solutions have in smart districts? How can people afford these new technologies ? What solutions can digitalisation and data collection offer ? How does it affect the quality of life of citizens, both at home and at work? How can people participate in /take ownership of these new smart solutions ?

Experiences of Lighthouse cities projects (such as RUGGEDISED, GrowSmarter, REMOURBAN, REPLICATE) will give perspectives on the implementation of smart districts in cities such as Glasgow, Cologne or Florence. The Architects' Council of Europe (ACE) will provide an insight into the opportunities and risks raised by digitalisation, data collection and the use of smart technologies in the building sector. Urban Innovation Vienna will talk about their experience of integrative energy planning in the URBAN LEARNING project.