Mórahalom- „The future-conscious city”

Mórahalom címereIntroduction

Mórahalom is a town located in the southern part of the Great Hungarian plain in Csongrád county. Building on the favorable geographical and economic characteristics of the region realized the application of the sustainable development with alternative energy sources. The economy of the region plays a major role for local farmers and food businesses. In addition, dynamic increase in tourism too. Mórahalom Integrated Urban Development Strategy is built around the sustainability. Mórahalom in order to achieve the future-conscious small-town vision doing everything consistently to achieve the principles of sustainability.

1. Industrial park- „Investor friendly town” engine of the local economic

The town was established in 1997 the local industrial park, with the aim to establish a favourable infrastructure base for the new companies. The establishment first received the industrial park title in Csongrád county. The idea of the establishment of the industrial park built around in the local production sales for the food industry. The city is constantly developing, expanding the area, numerous investments relaized. e.g. the supply of fixed infrastructure. The configured and well-developed discount scheme system in the industrial park is assist the successful operation of businesses. On the one part the enterprises can rent greenfield area for discounted prices, on the other hand the park ensure a kind of advisory activity for them. The city services include business incubators also. Here possible to rent office and hall on preferential terms. All of these are contribute to the creation of new jobs. Since inception in 1997, the number of enterprises, number of employees and the area of industrial park is rapidly increased year-on-year (2015: 89 pieces of enterprise, more than 540 employees). Mórahalom joined the family home-building program, as a part of these many of the businesses provides assistance to employers who participate in the program. The industrial park for the method of development and for the carrying out the development in the year of 2016 the city had the award in the category of „The Competitiveness of Industrial Parks Award-Leadership and Awareness” from Association of Hungarian Industrial Parks. Also in this year (2016), won the „Mórahalom the Investor-friendly Settlement” title.

The tourism has become dominant in the economy of Mórahalom, whose development shows that the town provide the fourth highest number of guest nights in the southern part of the Great Hungarian plain. Furthermore, the numbers in the private accommodation and those capacity also significantly increased. The effect of tourism to the improvement in the quality of life and economic recovery is indisputable in the region, the development generate new jobs too.

2. Growing local communities, environmental awareness raising

The city’s objectives include the development of individuals and the strengthening based on community cooperation local society. Mórahalom paid great attention to ensuring equal opportunities. Furthermore, the local civil organisations are significant and active role in the local social community-building. The Municipality continuously pay attention to the full accessibility. Because of its the city in 2016 awarded the a „Host Hungarian Settlement” title.

The main aim of promoting home composting pilot project was that the environmental awareness of people living in Mórahalom strengthening of selective waste collection habits. Furthermore that people get to know the usefulness of composting (500 composting box free distribution). As a result of these the selective waste collectors and the involved apartments rate were significantly increased. An important aim of the eco-lifestyle promotion and to improve the young people awareness. This include the Zöld Közösségi Ház (Green Community House) and Erdei Iskola (Forest School) activities maintenance and support. With the organization of SZÉP-KÖR Környezetvédelmi és Városszépészeti Egyesület every year more than 1.500 children receive any environmental education program. The public education institutions has a mayor role in reaching out to the young generations. The Mórahalmi Napköziotthonos Óvoda (day care home kindergarten ) two occasions (2010, 2014) was awarded the „Green kindergarten” title with many initiatives, which implemented for the sustainability (waste collection). Our school is also engaged in a similar activity. The Móra Ferenc Általános Iskola (primary school) in 2005 first received the „Green School” title and in 2012 was awarded the title of „Continual Green School”. Established the Mórahalmi Fenntartható Fejlődés Háza (House of Local Sustainable Development) in order to popularization the sustainable lifestyles. Considering its function the institution provide for the local producers to sale the produced and processed goods. Furthermore the offices provision are give helping to local businesses operation.

3. Environmental balance creation with the renewable energies utilization

The city has favorable conditions concerning the renewable energies utilization. The region has the highest number of sunshine hours, in this way currently utilizes geothermal and solar energy. Furthermore from the agriculture by-products becomes a large amount of usable of biomass and green waste. In the recent years several large-scale energy development realized: geothermal cascade system of Mórahalom, the Norwegian geothermal public utility system, Mórahalom St. Elizabeth’s spa buildings geothermal heating. As a result, all public institutions of the city and most of its buildings energy consumption increased from 0%-90%, the renewable energy proportion – resulting in annualy 14 441 GJ fossil energy source (natural gas) saving. During the operation of the system annualy 781 000 m3 amount, net 64,6 million HUF amount natural gas savings resulting, this mean that about 70% -80 %- harmful emission, annualy total 1800 ton greenhouse gas emissions decreased. Thanks to the project of „Geothermal Communities – demonstrating the cascading use of geothermal energy for district heating with small scale RES integration and retrofitting measures” the implemented system operation annually replace more than 640.520 m3 imported natural gas. In addition 1590.1 t reduction in CO2 emissions per year.

Other projects: built a 499.5 kW performance solar power plant, installed solar systems to Móra Ferenc ÁMK (primary school), to Club 55, to kindergarten. In the area of the town hall built a 49kW performance solar parking area, in the settlement placed light sources changed to energy-efficient LED new-generation electric bulbs (700 pieces) and realized the Mórahalom Városi Könyvtár (Public Library) complex building energy modernisation. Thanks for development of cycling infrastructure the town won „Bike-friendly Town” title each year from 2009. Through the complex environmental improvements Municipality of Mórahalom in 2011 won the „Climate Star” award. Int he year of 2014 reached the I. ranking in the Tournament of Renewable Energy within the category of 5000-50000 people settlement.

Summary

In total we can say that the use of renewable energy sources significantly reduced operating costs of local government’s institutions. In addition, the state of the environment significantly affects the social cohesion and population retention capacity in the settlement. The energy-efficient and environmentally responsible city further strengthening in the future is also a priority objective of the town (exploiting the potential from the geothermal energy and further promote the selective waste disposal). In the future to improve of city live, based on the latest information technology in the form of community and public services, intelligent applications could play an important role. As a tool for these the Smart City program, which Mórahalom would like to intends to play an active role in the future.