Idea 3W presents: The 3W Commune educational program

Idea 3W is thriving on the development of communication between local governments, business and the scientific community. Its goal is to help build a modern and sustainable future using technologies from the areas of water, hydrogen and elemental carbon. One of the projects to make this happen is the Municipality 3W program. It includes an online training series that will begin as early as February 29 this year. Who can participate in the Program and what benefits will it bring to local communities?

What is the 3W Commune program?

Commune 3W is an educational project aimed at representatives of local governments and municipal companies. Why? Because these are the people who have a real impact on local investment, development planning and implementation of innovations in their regions. Experts from the Municipality 3W program will give them tips on how to get financing, implement ESG solutions, innovate legally and cooperate with universities.

The project will be a valuable source of expertise for them, but not only. It aims to create a space to discuss important topics, such as the shape and direction of regional development, ways to effectively manage urban and rural development, and create increasingly better living conditions for residents. Exchanging experiences in this area will certainly accelerate positive changes in our small homelands.

What awaits the participants

Participation in the program will be facilitated by its formula. The 3W Commune is 8 online meetings, so anyone can join them from their own office or home office. They include more than a dozen thematic modules filled with knowledge and practice. Upon their completion, scheduled for November 2024, each participant will receive a 3W Leader’s Certificate to confirm participation in the training series.

The entire program consists of 40 hours of training under the guidance of more than a dozen experts, as well as study visits, scheduled for June 2024. To make the program even more fulfilling, there will also be time for networking. It is worth taking advantage of the opportunity to make contact with people from all over the country. The meetings will be an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience. Also, activities interspersed with the training modules will promote conversation and the sharing of thoughts.

February’s inaugural meeting will begin with a presentation of the 3W concept and technology solutions to participants in the 3W Municipality program. In March, participants in the Municipality 3W Program will learn why and how to implement ESG in a municipality, and learn about legal requirements in water and wastewater management, taking into account the new reporting obligations of local governments. In April, experts will talk about how to implement green and blue infrastructure projects in local governments.

May will be marked by the energy transition of local governments. Using examples, experts will explain how to most effectively implement hydrogen technologies as part of this transition, what challenges local governments face, and where to look not only for solutions, but also for financing to invest in local government green technologies. In June, BGK experts will conduct a workshop titled Water and sewerage company as an entity effectively implementing local government investments, from which participants will learn how to obtain financing for their projects and effectively implement development investments.

After a summer break, the program will return in September with the issue of using Design Thinking methodology for participatory design for local communities and the topic of a new model of development cooperation with researchers and students. In October, program participants will learn how to calculate their water footprint and carbon footprint. And the final workshop in November will bring information about the local government of the future, or smart city solutions.

Municipality 3W program seeks ambassadors

A pilot ambassador program called Gmina 3W was created based on the above principles. All local governments and municipal companies that are close to the activities related to the protection of water resources and the development of modern technologies, among others, are invited to join. low-carbon transportation. Representatives of sustainable development municipalities will be welcomed as the first ambassadors of the 3W Municipality Program.

Members of the 3W Initiative have developed a one-year ambassador program in cooperation with experts from Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and partners: SBB Energy, CMS law firm, Polish Wastewater, Arcadis, RDLS – a spin-off company of the University of Warsaw, and experts from the Agreement of Academic Technology Transfer Centers, It will last from February to November 2024.

Benefits of participating in the Program

Participants in the 3W Municipality Program will have the opportunity to benefit from workshops with recognized experts and practitioners in the field of creating modern solutions for local governments. Lecturers will present up-to-date knowledge on water, hydrogen and elemental carbon. These include key issues related to legal requirements for local governments in water and wastewater management or investment planning. But they won’t stop at conveying dry facts. Each module will also feature a presentation of implemented solutions and their analysis, as well as space for discussion or questions from experts. As a result, the classes will also be practical.

Examples of practical use of cooperation

How might the activities promoted by the 3W Commune Program look in practice? Take as an example An ecological sports and educational complex with a multifunctional roof in Marki. The roof in question consists of two components: a marshmallow roof and an extensive roof with photovoltaic panels. It is the first public school built with zero-energy technology. This means that instead of just using electricity and water, it produces its own energy and obtains rainwater. And, in addition, it is able to optimize energy consumption in specific areas of the building on an ongoing basis.

A bog roof purifies the air, dampens noise, stores rainwater and regulates the temperature inside the building. A photovoltaic installation, on the other hand, increases the self-sufficiency of the facility and helps reduce electricity bills. The excess energy is returned to the power grid and used as needed.

Lublin, on the other hand, has invested in Polish-made hydrogen buses. They are quiet and emit only water vapor and therefore do not emit harmful fumes into the atmosphere . Although such vehicles are more expensive to produce than traditional ones, the cost of operating them is lower, and the environmental qualities are priceless!

Can your local government join the Municipality 3W program?

Local government, in order to gain the trust of its residents or attract investors, should show concern for the well-being of community members and develop, taking into account the needs of the region and using the endogenous potential of the region . This manifests itself, among other things. in making such decisions and implementing such investments that have a direct impact on the quality and life of residents, promote the well-being of society and support the elimination of development barriers.

However, such activities can prove challenging, as noted by experts of the 3W idea. The answer to these challenges is the preparation of an educational program called Gmina 3WThrough the implementation of the program, local community leaders, responsible for designing its development, investments, managing development challenges, will receive support on issues related to the implementation of 3W (water, hydrogen, elemental carbon) technologies. If you think your local government could benefit from this program for the good of the local community, report your participation.

Photo. main: Idea 3W