A Beacon Guiding the Way to More Sustainable European Cities


credit:

Think "smart" and "smart" in the same sentence and you're more likely to think of Paris than Utrecht, the Netherlands.

That's because the European Union's Smart Cities and Communities project has turned the Dutch city into "a beacon guiding the way to more sustainable European cities with stable, secure, and affordable energy and mobility services for citizens with broad-reaching and tangible impact on our planet's well-being and that of its inhabitants," per a press release.

In fact, Utrecht is the first city in the world to implement "bi bidirectional vehicle-to-grid" charging, allowing electric vehicles to both charge from the grid and deliver energy back to it, supporting renewable energy integration and helping to balance the grid, per the release.

The project also led to the world's first retrofitted positive-energy high-rise residential building.

In Nice, a demonstrator "smart" building includes smart lighting, ventilation, and EV charging systems, as well as opaque glass that prevents direct sunlight from heating it.

In Gothenburg, the co-operative housing company Riksbyggen proved the success of their decision not to include private parking spaces in their innovative housing concept, Viva.

"By using the EC2B app for Mobility-as-

Read the Entire Article


Selected Grant News Headlines

A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.

Social Entrepreneur: Western Charities Must Empower African Business

Haril Kazindra and wife Andrea are the co-founders of Musana, a community development NGO that runs 19 social enterprises across Uganda.Musana has offices in Denver and London and employs 700 staff,...more

Kosciusko County Goes 'All in' With New Countywide Initiative For Economic and Community Growth
Foundation: Lilly Endowment

All In Kosciusko exists to promote and accelerate the economic and community development already happening across the county.Concerns about economic diversification, talent retention and quality of...more

Bill Gatton Foundation

The Bill Gatton Foundation supports K-12 and higher education, health, and community development in Kentucky, Upper East Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia.Large education grants include $13.5 million...more

Local Organizations Win $9 Million For New Affordable Housing, Social Services

Local organizations win $9 million for new affordable housing, social services.Connecticut's Community Investment Fund grants come amid a deluge of cuts to federal funding.The fund was established in...more

Kindness and Philanthropy Feeding People in Tahoe
Foundation: Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation

Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation has proudly supported Bread & Broth for the past 10 years.In 2024, the Community Foundation was able to introduce the mission of Bread and Broth to a donor who is...more

Latino Community Foundation Awards $3.88M in Grants Across California and Nevada
Foundation: Latino Community Foundation

Latino Community Foundation Awards $3.88M in Grants Across California and Nevada.NewsBreak: Latino Community Foundation awards $3,000,000 in grants across California andNevada.Newsbreak: $1.5 million...more

Beyond Philanthropy: Alejandro Betancourt Lopez's Vision of Impact-Driven Business Development

Alejandro Betancourt Lopez rejects traditional corporate social responsibility models that separate business operations from community impact.Rather than limiting community engagement to corporate...more

Thoughtful Philanthropy For A Happier Community

Thoughtful giving isn't just about making a donation, it's about creating meaningful impact.Community foundations exist to connect generosity with need, ensuring that charitable giving is both...more

Nonprofit Finance Fund Hires Kareem Thomas As Chief Credit Officer

Kareem Thomas most recently served as Chief Credit and Lending Administration Officer at Reinvestment Fund.Bhavani Daryanani has more than 20 years of experience in the sector, bringing deep...more

Secu Foundation Honored With Ccuf Hero Award For Partner in Philanthropy

SECU Foundation has been named a recipient of the 2024 Carolinas Credit Union Foundation Hero Award for Partner in Philanthropy.The SECU Foundation promotes local community development in North...more


In the world of social enterprises, failure is a cringe-worthy moment nobody wants to talk about. But, social entrepreneurs can benefit from their failures.



Federal Government Grant and Assistance Programs


Endangered Species Conservation - Recovery Implementation Funds | Promotion of the Humanities_Professional Development | Delta Local Development District Assistance | EUR/ACE National Endowment for Democracy Small Grants | Research, Monitoring and Outcomes Definitions for Vaccine Safety | Mortgage Insurance for the Purchase or Refinancing of Existing Multifamily Housing Projects | Striving Readers | Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Special Professional and Cultural Programs | | Site Style by YAML | Grants.gov | Grants | Grants News | Sitemap | Privacy Policy

Edited by: Michael Saunders

© 2008-2025 Copyright Michael Saunders