Guimarães, Portugal
Known as the birthplace of Portugal, Guimarães is an historical city in the North of the country, but it never got stuck in time – its old and well-preserved city centre contrasts with the dynamism of the city, who has already been the European Capital of Culture, the European City of Sports, and is now a finalist to the European Green Capital Award 2026 and a part of the 112 Mission of cities trying to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.
The impact of heating and cooling
Despite being in the South of Europe, Guimarães acknowledges the important role that heating plays when it comes to emissions. Moreover, already facing increasingly extreme temperature ranges, the city is aware of the importance that heating and cooling will continue to have in the future. It is Guimarães’s goal to address this key sector in order to save energy, become more resilient, and create an environment of comfort and well-being for its citizens.
A collective effort
Guimarães has assumed the bold objective of becoming climate-neutral in the next 6 years, and therefore it aims to have its heating and cooling systems fully decarbonised by then. To reach this goal, everyone must be on board, which is why the city is involving the private sector in its decarbonisation journey and investing in raising the awareness of its citizens about the importance of this mission.
Leading by example
The municipality is making efforts to motivate its citizens to take part in the transition by leading by example. Since 2013, all public building must be net-zero, and in 2017 a new public building, the Gymnastics Academy, was built to be self-sustainable.
Guimarães’s plan for a decarbonised heating sector
The city’s detox mix is based on electrified heat pumps, but there are also energy communities planned. They will be based on renewable energies and will support the decarbonisation of the electric system. Using renewables since 1912, Guimarães is no stranger to these technologies, and is already using hydroelectric producers, biomass from green waste of public green areas, and pholtovoltaic panels.
The next steps on the detox journey
One of the most important steps in the way to Guimarães’s heat detox is the increase of energy efficiency and thermal comfort in the city’s public buildings. The “Bairro C-Compromisso Carbono Zero” (or, Neighbourhood C, Zero Carbon Compromise) will be the pilot project for these interventions, and it encompasses the downtown area classified as UNESCO World Heritage.
Main challenges to detoxify heat:
- Getting financial support
- Raising awareness in the citizens
- Having adequate technology
Next steps:
- Increase energy efficiency and thermal comfort in the existing public buildings
- Promote the use of more sustainable technologies in the heating and cooling of the city’s building stock
- Integration of smart systems to better adapt to the extreme climate conditions
Where they are in the heat strategy
Guimarães’s Heat Detox
Key Heat Figures:
- Emissions related to heating: 35,497 tCO2/year
- Reduced 13,764 tCO2/year
Covenant Figures:
- Signatory to the Covenant of Mayors since: 2013
- Emission reduction ambitions:
- % GHG emissions reductions by 2030: 80%
City Awards:
- Mission city
- Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) - A List Adaptation and Mitigation (2024)
- Finalist for Green Capital 2025 and 2026
Financing your heat strategy
Budget: Own Municipal Budget and National and European Budget