The main metropolis of the French Alps with 530,000 inhabitants, at the junction of three Alpine valleys, is a city in a dense populated area surrounded by nature. Grenoble suffers from being a sink for pollution.  The short term target is to reduce CO2 emissions by 14% until 2014 (compared to 2005), to reduce energy consumption per inhabitant by 2014 and to increase the share of renewable energy to attain a level of 14% of all energy consumed. Between 2004 and 2007, the emissions were reduced by 7%.

Växjö, a city with 64,200 inhabitants in the south of Sweden wants to free itself from fossil fuels by the year 2030. It has already taken big steps in the right direction, reducing its CO2 emissions from fossil fuels by 34 % from 1993-2009. Another objective is to reduce the energy use per capita by 15% between 2008 and 2015.

Mórahalom is a small community in Hungary known for its thermal baths. The balneological use of geothermal wells has a long tradition. A study from 2007 states that ‘87 % of the municipality’s energy use is based on natural gas which translates into 59 % of all annual municipal costs’. Based on these findings with innovation potential, the integration of renewable energy sources, and in particular geothermal heating and electricity generation, took centre stage in the town’s strategy and vision.

Montieri is situated in central Italy, about 2 hours’ drive from Florence. The well-preserved historical town stretches over 108 km² and has a population of 1216 people. It features a number of very old buildings with distinctive characteristics, such as stone masonry walls (filaretto natural stonework) and unusual arches and openings. These buildings are listed by the local authority as important cultural and historical symbols of Montieri.