Smart Heating Systems for Historic Buildings in Cieszyn
von Susanne Reiff, GIZ/EUKI
Much of the Polish city of Cieszyn’s centre is protected as architectural heritage. Around 2 per cent of the city’s area has a historic urban layout and many public buildings – especially cultural facilities – are listed as architectural monuments. Reducing energy consumption and emissions in its historic buildings poses a major challenge, as invasive renovation work, including installation of thermal insulation, is not always an easy option due to conservation restrictions. However, with relatively simple tools such as smart remote heating control systems, Cieszyn with the support of EUKI project Ready4NetZero is demonstrating that effective climate action is possible even in heritage buildings.
Many of the approximately 40 municipal buildings managed by the city date back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. Heating these building not only accounts for a significant share of maintenance costs, but is also unsustainable and, therefore, not in line with the ambitious climate targets set in Cieszyn’s Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP). The city plans to reduce CO₂ emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2030 compared to 1995 levels and by 80 per cent by 2050. To move closer to these goals, Cieszyn needs solutions that work within the local constraints.
Simple but Smart Solutions
As a pilot action within the EUKI-funded Ready4NetZero project and the broader Cieszyn – Self-Sufficient City initiative, the municipality launched a system for monitoring and managing energy and water consumption in public buildings.
The initiative builds on earlier experience: back in 2019–2020, the city tested remote heat management solutions in selected preschool facilities, installing remotely controlled thermostatic heads and window opening and temperature sensors. The pilot confirmed that heat consumption could be reduced to expected levels through improved control and monitoring.
Following this success, the system was expanded to ten municipal buildings with the highest heating costs. The city installed a smart remote heat monitoring and control system based on central control at the heat substation. This system enables real-time monitoring of heating parameters, supervision of heat substations and installations, automatic alerts via SMS, email and web interface, and continuous data collection and reporting. Importantly, the city introduced an innovative performance-based procurement model. Declared energy savings were used as one of the key criteria in the tender procedure, and the contractor’s remuneration depends directly on these savings being achieved.
Early Results: Less Energy, More Comfort
The system has been fully operational since May 2024 and its benefits were already visible during the first heating season. Continuous monitoring made it possible to quickly identify irregularities in heating system operation that would otherwise have gone unnoticed. User feedback was integrated into system adjustments, helping to fine-tune settings.
Crucially, this optimisation did not come at the expense of comfort. On the contrary, more stable indoor temperatures and faster responses to problems improved conditions for users. Although a full evaluation of energy savings will be completed only after the project’s finalisation in 2027, initial results clearly indicate a noticeable reduction in heating consumption.
Data as a Driver of Long-Term Change
Another important outcome of the pilot project is a database for municipal buildings. By collecting detailed, real-time information on heating performance, Cieszyn is building a solid foundation for evidence-based decision-making. Annual reports generated by the system allow the city to fine-tune its consumption of heating energy, further reduce costs, and plan future optimisations.
This step-by-step approach – learning from each heating season and continuously improving the system – fits neatly into Cieszyn’s broader climate strategy. This complements other municipal actions, particularly the increased use of renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaics, in public buildings and investment in sustainable transport, including electric buses.
A Model for Small Cities Across Europe
Cieszyn’s experience demonstrates that climate action does not always require large-scale construction projects or complex technologies. Rather than focusing exclusively on new investments, the city shows how smart management of existing heating systems can do much to support local climate goals and reduce operational costs at the same time.
By combining detailed energy data, centralised monitoring, performance-based procurement and step-by-step optimisation, Cieszyn can deliver meaningful results and create replicable models, especially for small and medium-sized cities facing similar constraints and challenges.