BetterLIFE
Boosting Energy Transition and Transformation in Empowering Cities and Regions for Clean Heating and Cooling
Client
EU LIFE Programme / European Commission
Duration
October 2026 – September 2029
Project Management
Catrice Christ
Background
Heating and cooling account for a substantial share of Europe’s energy consumption and therefore play a key role in achieving European climate and energy targets. At the same time, the transition towards climate-neutral heating and cooling systems is still progressing slowly in many regions.
The EU LIFE project BetterLIFE – Boosting Energy Transition and Transformation in Empowering Cities and Regions for Clean Heating and Cooling supports local and regional authorities in developing actionable Local Heating and Cooling Plans (LHCPs). The project focuses on three key dimensions: ensuring that plans are financially sound, developing them jointly with relevant stakeholders, and integrating pathways for the gradual phase-out of fossil gas infrastructure.
BetterLIFE tests its approach in five European pilot regions representing different climatic, socio-economic and infrastructural conditions: Dublin, Gabrovo, Maribor, Athens and Almada. Their focus areas range from district heating expansion and renewable heating to district cooling, gas network decommissioning and energy poverty.
Goals and Results
BetterLIFE aims to further develop Local Heating and Cooling Plans so that they go beyond strategic planning and provide concrete, realistic pathways towards implementation. The project therefore combines technical planning with economic and financial assessment, stakeholder participation and governance.
Key expected results include:
– five co-created and implementation-oriented Local Heating and Cooling Plans,
– the BetterLIFE Financial Assessment Tool to support the economic and financial assessment of measures,
– approaches for integrating gas network decommissioning plans into local heating and cooling planning,
– local Task Forces bringing together key actors from public authorities, utilities, businesses and civil society,
– methods and tools for stakeholder engagement and co-creation,
– capacity-building and peer-learning activities for local and regional authorities, and
– transferable approaches that can be replicated by further cities and regions beyond the lifetime of the project.
