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IMAGE: P_JAYET / Isere Attractivité
Grenoble: The Green Capital of the Alps
January 10, 2023
Lying to the south-east of Lyon, Grenoble is often called the 'Capital of the Alps', and it's a well-deserved title. It offers visitors snow in winter and, thanks to its surrounding mountains, warm summers. It also has not just one, but two, rivers: the Drac and the Isère, which meet to the north-west.
It's a recognised 'City of Art and History' too—a title given by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication—with an array of galleries, museums, historical landmarks and notable street art. There's also a range of cultural and physical activities to keep you entertained wherever your interests lie, along with more than 40 parks and a lively café culture. In the evening, there are plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs in which to while away the evening.
Yet this city is more than a tourist idyll and skiing hotspot. It's also a hub of research, innovation, technology, and business, with a reputation as one of Europe's greenest cities.
It's a city that combines grassroots community organising with policy-level activity, and it's a city that never forgets its greatest assets are the people who live and reside there.
This had led to Grenoble gaining yet another well-deserved title: European Green Capital 2022.
IMAGE: Mathieu Nigay
The European Green Capital Title
The European Commission launched the European Green Capital Award in 2008 as the result of an initiative founded by 15 European cities and the Association of Estonian cities. The Award was seen as both a stimulus and reward for efforts to make city living more environmentally and socially responsible.
Since 2010, the Award has been given annually to a city of over 100,000 residents that:
Another title, 'Green Leaf', is awarded every year to cities with between 20,000 and 100,000 inhabitants showing the same proactive attitude to sustainability. Both awards, by their nature, tie in closely with the goals and actions of the European Green Deal, the New European Bauhaus and the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
IMAGE: Auriane Poillet
Grenoble's Award-Winning Green Approach
Grenoble beat fellow finalists Turin, Tallinn and Dijon to claim the title, becoming the second French European Green capital (after Nantes in 2013). With the title came a grant of €350,000, but Grenoble elected to enter into a three-year agreement with Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, the departmental council of Isère and the State. This has raised the budget to 7.5 million euros and expanded the Green Capital initiatives into a regional project, so that ecological transformation was as rapid and widespread as possible.
Grenoble and its partners have numerous sustainable initiatives in place and many more planned. However, the European Commission's summary of Grenoble's qualifications for the win particularly highlighted:
Let's look more closely at Grenoble's ongoing green initiatives and plans.
IMAGE: Auriane Poillet
Grenoble's Success Stories and Ambitions
Tree-Planting
Grenoble has planted more than 5,500 trees since 2014. 1,200 trees have already been planted in 2022, and the goal is to plant another 15,000 before 2030. Through the 'Vegetalize your city/Adopt a tree' scheme, trees are now offered to condominiums, homeowners, businesses and institutions for planting on their own land. 600 trees were made available this year, helping Grenoble become an even greener, healthier city.
The Grenoble-Alpes Métropole Canopy Plan, launched this year, aims to increase the city's shaded surface area to combat heat islands. 35% of the Grenoble area will be covered by urban canopy in 2030, and 40% by 2050. 10 new natural spaces will be created, including 4 new parks.
IMAGE: Mathieu Nigay
Eco-Districts
France's first eco-district, the award-winning Caserne de Bonne, was founded in 2009 on Grenoble's former Bonne barracks site. It's now been joined by the eco-districts of Villeneuve, Daudet, Flaubert, Blanche-Monnier and Bouchayer-Viallet, and the EGC jury was very impressed by Grenoble's ability to turn brownfield sites into flourishing, sustainable, exemplar districts.
Flaubert is a 90-ha district that's been developed with a strong focus on greening and reuse, energy sufficiency, local bio-sourced materials (such as wood, straw and earth), user quality and health. 6 ha of the area is public parkland, and walkways and cycle paths are prioritised in the layout of the district. Citizens have been involved in the planning of the area right through the process. It's now home to:
Reducing energy use also reduces costs for homeowners, so it has a social and inclusive aspect as well as an environmental benefit. This was a key consideration in the founding of the ABC (Autonomous Building Citizens) housing programme.
The ABC (Autonomous Building Citizen) housing programme is in the 265 ha Presqu’île district, which is the flagship of Grenoble's ecocity. The ABC project aimed to reduce energy consumption by 70%, water consumption by 40% and waste production by 40% in its two buildings, which have 1,100 m2 of solar panels on their roofs. The buildings provide 62 rental units, including 20 low-income flats.
Looking Ahead
The Villeneuve district will soon be the first working-class eco-district in France. Built in 1972, the district is undergoing renovation, with prefabricated wooden facades added to existing structures. The aim is for the renovations to achieve the energy performance of new construction as part of the European Zen N project.
The Grandalpe project will be a large, 400-ha 'park city' eco-district, with 30,000 homes. The reintegration of nature, zero fossil fuel energy and soft transport will be core to the development.
IMAGE: Lucas Frangella
A Cycle-Friendly City, with France's Largest Low-Emission Zone
Grenoble is the best French city for cycling: it's official. This year, for the third time, Grenoble was rated no.1 for cycling by the Federation of Users of the Bicycle, in the category for cities with over 100,000 inhabitants. It's also France's top city for bicycle commuting. So why is cycling so popular here, and what makes the city such a great place to cycle?
Grenoble does have an advantage: it's the flattest city in France, making cycling easier on the legs! However, its impressive cycling rates have been achieved through incentives, reimbursements, pedestrianisation, and a well-developed network of cycle paths and highways. The city boasts 205 km of cycle paths and over 25 km of 'Chronovélo' highways; these four highways run north to south and east to west, with clear road markings, rest stops and service areas.
There's a robust bike rental system and bike-friendly culture, too. There are over 12,000 bike parking spaces and 13 secure bike parks, and hire of the bright yellow bikes from Mvélo+, the Vity's bike rental company, starts from just €3 a day. A range of bikes, including cargo carriers, electric bikes and folding bikes, are on offer.
Both standard and electric bikes are increasingly used by businesses and delivery services. Associated services and businesses, such as training programmes for city cycling, repair workshops, electric engine retrofitting and cycling accessories, are booming. September saw the first Vélostival, an event organised by Mvélo+ to celebrate all things cycle-related and get citizens on—or back on—their bike!
Another reason Grenoble is cycling-friendly is its LEZ (low-emission zone). After introducing 30 km/h speed limit zones in 2016 as part of its 'Calm City' programme, Grenoble went on to create France's largest Low-Emission Zone in 2019, limiting entry of the most polluting heavy goods vehicles and light commercial vehicles. Restrictions were tightened in 2020 and again in July this year. The city also implemented the 'Coeurs de ville - Coeurs de Métropole' project to reduce road traffic, extend the pedestrian precinct and increase public transport.
Looking Ahead
In 2023, cars classified as Crit'Air 5 will be included in the LEZ ban (diesel from before 2001, petrol from before 1997). In 2024, this will be extended to Crit'Air 4 vehicles (diesel before 2006), with Crit'Air 3 vehicles (diesel before 2011 and petrol before 2006) following in 2025.
By 2030, it's expected that Crit'Air 2 vehicles (diesel from 2011, petrol before 2011) will be banned in anticipation of the probable 2035 European ban on the sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles.
IMAGE: Lucas Frangella
Public Transport and Service Vehicles
Grenoble's public transport network was one of the first in the world to offer fully accessible vehicles for people with reduced mobility, and 90% of its bus stops are also fully accessible. Today, the city boasts 5 tram lines, nearly 50 bus routes and 21 park-and-ride facilities.
Since 2019, Grenoble has been bringing buses, trams, car-sharing, electric scooters and bicycles together under a single transport brand, SMMAG (Syndicat mixte des mobilités de l’aire grenobloise). It's hoped this will facilitate the mixing of modes to make total journeys easier and more sustainable, with all public transport to be low carbon by next year. Its ambitious goals have been recognised with the European Union's Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning Award.
Car-sharing is heavily encouraged here. In 2020, the wider area—the south of Isère—became the first region to offer a dedicated car-share motorway lane and a complete car-share service, with guaranteed journeys.
Buses running on CNG (compressed natural gas, which produces less greenhouse gas emissions than petrol or diesel) currently make up 70% of public transport in Grenoble (and around half of the waste collection fleet too).
Looking Ahead
A new urban cable car will be commissioned in 2023 to provide an innovative service to the Presqu’île eco-district. Three tramways will also be connected. There are plans, too, for a new railway line to follow the road, providing services every 15 minutes. By 2025, all waste collection trucks will be running on natural gas.
IMAGE: Julie Arsenne
Eco-Friendly Heating, Energy and Fuel
Heating
The metropolitan heat network, the second largest in France after Paris, turned 62 this year. It has constantly evolved to become greener, originally replacing coal stoves and incorporating heat recovery from waste incineration as early as 1972. By 2009, 50% of the heat came from renewable and recovered energy—and that figure now stands at 80%. This is thanks to the Bio Max cogeneration plant, commissioned in 2020 and fuelled solely by wood. There are also small autonomous wood-fired heating networks throughout the city.
Energy and Fuel
Starting this year, Grenoble's local public energy company (GEG) is now able to produce the equivalent of household demand with 100% renewable energy and 0% nuclear power. The city has already been awarded the Cit'Ergie Gold label in 2020, which recognises local authorities that implement an ambitious climate-air-energy policy.
Grenoble is also producing bio-NGV from the methanisation of sludge. A methanisation unit has been in operation at Aquapole, its wastewater treatment plant, since 2016, producing fuel equivalent to the annual gas consumption of 2,500 homes and reducing the sludge that needs to be treated by 52%. Aquapole manages 230,000 m3 of wastewater every day and is now carbon neutral.
Looking Ahead
By 2030, the Metropolitan Heat Network should be using 100% renewable energy and energy recovery. Its connection to Grenoble Chemical Park should also make it possible to recover the heat produced by the installations there.
Grenoble's Metropolitan Local Climate Air and Energy Plan 2019 aims to have reduced energy use by 40% in 2030 and by 50% in 2050.
IMAGE: Jean-Sébastien Faure
Organic and Local Food
Over the past ten years, the city introduced 50% and then 60% organic or local food, plus one vegetarian meal every week, in all municipal canteens. And after experimenting with one vegetarian meal a week, it is now the norm every day, while meat is served as an option.
This strategy aims to encourage families to adopt healthier, more sustainable eating habits through the example of their children's school meals. It earned the city the 2018 Rebel Canteens award for great food initiatives created by a collective authority or organisation.
The City of Grenoble's Horticultural Centre, which produces 3.5 metric tons of vegetables for the municipal canteens, is open to the public. Visitors can attend organic gardening courses and walk the educational trail on the banks of the Isère River. The Centre also holds workshops and conferences.
Grenoble also uses the local food trademark of the Department of Isère: ISHERE. Launched in 2018, the trademark approves agricultural and agri-food products from the Isère region.
It's the first trademark to guarantee both the geographical origin of the product and its ingredients alongside fair remuneration of producers.
Looking Ahead
Grenoble has heeded the IPCC's recommendation of implementing plant-based diets as a major climate change solution. The city's school canteens currently source at least 60% of their produce locally or from organic farms (95% for daycare). The city's target
is for school catering to use 100% organic and local produce.
IMAGE: Lucas Frangella
Building Renovation Grants
In 2009, the Grenoble Alpes Metropolis launched the MurMur campaign to provide financial subsidies for thermal insulation. While it initially targeted condominiums built before the introduction of thermal standards, it was extended to cover all dwellings, businesses and public buildings in 2015.
This year, the Hôtel du Département, the central headquarters of the Isère County Council in the heart of Grenoble, is being renovated, with the goal of reducing its energy consumption by 50%.
Looking Ahead
By 2023, 10,000 homes should have been renovated in this scheme. By 2030, the city aims for 25,000 private flats, 7,000 social housing units, and 9,000 individual houses to have undergone thermal renovation.
Greener Businesses: IntenCity
IntenCity: Schneider Electric's Flagship Building
IntenCity is part of a vast project to reorganise Schneider Electric's real estate footprint in the Grenoble area. The project will see 5,000 employees, previously working at 13 different sites, brought together on four sites to reduce energy consumption and strengthen collaboration.
Completed last year, the IntenCity building has a surface area of 26,000 m² and houses 1,500 employees. This sustainable benchmark building, designed by Groupe-6 Architects, is energy-autonomous. Its energy consumption is just 37 kWh/m²/year (around a tenth of that of comparable buildings), and it can also offset its consumption with local production (4,000 m² of photovoltaic panels on the roof and two wind turbines). Through a unique microgrid partnership, this energy is shared with neighbouring buildings and the city of Grenoble. IntenCity can also monitor and report on energy and carbon KPIs digitally, using connected devices, edge control, and advanced analytics. Its Building Management System uses 60,000 separate data points to balance efficiency, resiliency and comfort.
Social Sustainability: Participatory Democracy
Grenoble values the opinions and input of its citizens, and since 2014, the city has been encouraging more participatory democracy. It's given local bodies increased independence and more opportunities to pass on the questions and opinions of residents to City authorities.
Innovative schemes, known as COP projects, have been developed and bring together residents, charities and agents to discuss the development of public spaces. A Participatory Budget has already funded 45 projects since 2015, including public space mobility, heritage, culture and urban biodiversity schemes. 20-30 projects are put to the vote every year, and the worksites are open to the public.
Looking Ahead
Grenoble-Alpes Métropole has established a Citizens' Climate Convention this year. 150 citizens were chosen to take part by drawing lots, and their proposals were presented to the Metropolitan assembly in October.
IMAGE: Lucas Frangella
Grenoble as European Green Capital 2022
1 Motto, 3 Pillars, 12 Themes, 54 Challenges!
Grenoble's inspiring motto for its European Green Capital Year has been, "I think, I dream, therefore I act." The city has focused its efforts around three pillars: science, culture and citizen participation. The Grenoble European Green Capital Agency also decided on 12 themes to help accelerate environmental and social transitions. From those themes, they created 54 challenges. Some were applicable to certain stakeholders—companies, non-profit organisations, public institutions, or citizens—while others could be attempted by everyone.
Grenoble has taken a serious grip of the climate bull by the horns and hasn't wasted this unique opportunity to make the necessary transitions required to maintain a liveable city.
Three Pillars
Science: the City and the Metropolis assembled a Scientific Council of 35 researchers to oversee its sustainable initiatives and ensure they were scientifically sound. Each month, the Scientific Council organises conferences and events related to the 12 themes to promote awareness and debate among citizens and stakeholders.
Culture: Numerous cultural events were organised during the year, including major players such as the national choreographic centre, the MC2 (one of the oldest cultural centres in France), and the Scène Nationale Arts et Science L'Hexagone.
Citizen participation: the city encouraged participation through a programme of inclusive events and themed challenges.
The Grenoble European Green Capital agency has been highlighting one of the twelve themes every month, while encouraging everyone to take up challenges based on any of them whenever they can.
Themes and Challenges
The twelve themes were: Air, Energy, Nature and Biodiversity, Inequalities, Producing and Consuming Differently, Water, Health, Mobility, Food and Agriculture, Waste, Living in the City of the Future.
The challenges that accompanied each theme aimed to increase awareness of the issue and encourage concrete actions to address it. They included:
IMAGE: Auriane Poillet
The Events and Projects Making Grenoble Even Greener This Year
Tour Perret (Perret Tower)
Between February and May of this year, the Tour Perret was transformed into an air quality beacon, displaying the Atmo air quality index for the next day. Using this landmark to display this information was designed to increase awareness of air quality and the link between pollution and health.
The 'Green Boost' and Green Capital Label
Companies, associations, schools and groups were invited to apply for a 'green boost' to help finance actions or events linked to the 'green capital' and any of the 12 themes. Both appeals had an overwhelming response. 114 projects received financial contributions totalling €590,000, and over 700 events were given the Green Capital label.
The Coup de Pouce Vert Éducation Fund
This special fund of €30,000 euros has been financing 66 projects in schools and colleges to raise young people's awareness of ecological issues and transition challenges. Pupils have made their own compost, contributed to the circular economy, and learned more about Grenoble's natural habitats, Isère's agricultural sector, and ways to combat food waste.
Bivouac at la Bastille
The Bastille is a 19th-century fortress sitting on an eponymous hill on the site of an earlier 14th-century fortress. It's reachable (for those who prefer not to hike or climb!) by France's first urban cable car, built in 1934. The site, at the foothills of the Chartreuse Regional Nature Park, offers visitors amazing history, spectacular 360° views encompassing Mont Blanc and the Southern Alps, and a host of outdoor sports and recreation opportunities.
Between May 2nd to October 2nd, the City, in partnership with the cable car operator Régie du Téléphérique, the Chartreuse Regional Natural Park and ENSAG, the Grenoble School of Architecture, organised Bivouac at la Bastille. 1,600 people, including groups from schools, leisure centres, and social centres, had the special opportunity to experience a night in the open air at this scenic spot while learning more about the environment.
IMAGE: Lucas Frangella
A Boost for Biodiversity
In April, the Scientific Council scheduled a 'Soils and Biodiversity Day' at the Grenoble Museum, highlighting the animal and plant species that live in the soil. The day was also used to launch the Grenoble Alpes Biodiversity Observatory, a participatory project that welcomes contributions from citizens of the Grenoble metropolitan area.
Air Quality Projects
To help citizens understand air quality and the challenges of pollution in a city, the Scientific Council launched:
The "Nature en Soi, Nature en Droit" exhibition
This exhibition, hosted at the Museum of the Resistance and Deportation of Isère, looks at a new legal approach inspired by the life and governance principles of the indigenous peoples. It proposes to grant exceptional ecosystems the legal right to exist, regenerate and defend themselves. The exhibition "offers an immersion in the beauty of European ecosystems where these approaches emerge," says the museum.
IMAGE: Sylvain Frappat
More Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality
The Grenoble European Green Capital Agency wanted to recognise and encourage the sustainability efforts of the city's accommodation providers, restaurants and shops. To apply for the 'Responsible Host', 'Green Restaurant' or 'Green Commerce' label, these establishments had to commit to a sustainable management action plan and three concrete actions. Businesses whose applications were approved by the Agency were given stickers and trademarks to display.
Grenoble Alpes Tourisme has joined in with the year's green push enthusiastically. Its teams are working towards the ISO 20121 certification for Social and Environmental Responsibility, and this year it's offered:
IMAGE: Lucas Frangella
Tips for Your Trip to Grenoble
Grenoble has a host of outdoor activities to offer, including winter sports, but there's more than enough to occupy you during the summer months too, with beautiful green spaces to explore and numerous historical and cultural attractions to visit. If we've whetted your appetite, here are our tips for your visit.
Getting there
If you're flying, the nearest airport is Grenoble Isère, 35 min from Grenoble—but note that it offers fewer flights in the summer. However, Lyon Saint-Exupéry, with its numerous connections, is only 55 min away, and shuttles run to Grenoble every hour.
For a more sustainable trip, take the train. Paris is only 3 hours away via the regular TGV trains, and there's a service to Lyon every 30 minutes.
Travelling around Grenoble
While the wider metropolitan area is quite large, the city centre is compact and walkable.
Cycle rental and efficient, extensive public transport make trips quick and easy if you don't want to walk. Invest in a Grenoble Alpes Pass—available in 24 hr, 48 hr or 3-day durations—to enjoy free public transport and admission to Grenoble's top attractions, plus discounts on shopping and activities.
Eco-Friendly Accommodation
Eco-friendly places to stay in Grenoble include:
The Hotel Le Néron, Le Fontanil-Cornillon
A 3-star, 40-room hotel with spectacular mountain views, working towards Green Key certification. Solar panels provide 90% of its energy needs.
Hotel PoMo, Echirolles
The 4-star PoMo Hotel is also working towards Green Key certification. It offers 67 rooms, cycle rental, and information on local animal and plant species.
Hotel Okko Grenoble Jardin Hoche, city centre
The Hotel Okko Grenoble Jardin Hoche has applied for Green Key certification. This 4-star contemporary hotel has equipped its 138 rooms with 100% natural bedding and mattresses.
The Hub by Privilodges
The Hüb by Privilodges offers apartments of all sizes and dormitories, just a 3-minute walk from the train station. It uses Smart Building Management to reduce energy consumption.
Campsite Le Buisson, Saint Martin d'Uriage
Le Buisson has been part of the Via Natura association of ecotourism campsites since 2014. The snack bar and breakfast service both offer homemade dishes made from local produce.
La Belle Roche Campsite, Trièves
Offering great mountain views, La Belle Roche offers homemade or locally-produced household products, produce, poultry and beers.
Eco-friendly Eateries
As well as looking out for organic and eco-friendly choices, consider social and cultural sustainability when dining out. Try local and alpine specialities like Raclette (a dish you make at your table with a grill, from cheese, potatoes, meat and vegetables), or fondue. Grenoble is famous for its walnuts; try them whole or as a cream in a pastry! You can also try Chartreuse, a herbal liqueur named after the nearby Grande Chartreuse monastery.
Sustainable eateries include:
Ankka Restaurants
Grenoble's two Ankka restaurants are based in Presqu'Île and Place Grenette. Their 'eco-loyalty' card encourages customers to bring their own cutlery, bag, and reusable container, incentivised by free drinks or desserts.
RadiSelle
RadiSelle also offers a deposit system, reusable dishes and bike deliveries. It has its own garden and organises workshops on home cooking and zero-waste cuisine.
Café Pourpre at the Mercure Grenoble Center Alpotel
This restaurant offers dishes that use predominantly local, seasonal products and many organic ingredients. Food waste is avoided through partnerships with food re-sale apps.
Sustainable Shopping
Looking for a sustainable treat or gift? You'll find plenty of shops to purchase from, including:
Au Temps des Fées
This herbalist store offers food supplements and natural cosmetics made with organic herbs, and organic medicinal plants in bulk.
Tourist Office Boutiques
Grenoble Alpes Tourisme has four gift shops: one at its main office, and others in the information centres at the Bastille, Sappey-en-Chartreuse and Vizille. They're great places to support local producers and crafters, offering local walnuts, Chartreuse liqueur, herbal teas with mountain herbs or Antésite syrup.
IMAGE: Sylvain Frappat
Five Eco-Friendly Things to Do Before You Go
Time to leave Grenoble? Don't go until you've:
Getting to Grenoble is easy. But this welcoming, inclusive Green Capital has so much to offer that you leaving might be decidedly more difficult!
To find out more about Grenoble European Green Capital 2022 please visit the official website:
https://en.greengrenoble2022.eu
Back to Grenoble Green Capital main page
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