SMILE: Sintra Motion & Innovation for Low Emissions

The project aims to promote a low emission community by increasing energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption. It intends to give citizens and local institutions an active role in mitigating of climate change. Another objective is to promote sustainability in Bairro da Tabaqueira by using renewable energy sources, sustainable mobility and Circular Economy based solutions.The project comprises four areas: Circular Economy, Energy and Buildings, Sustainable Urban Mobility and Community and Culture. The circular economy focuses on reusing rainwater, waste management and an automated watering system, a community garden, composting competition in the school and repairing initiatives. For energy it focuses on building a renewable energy community and addressing energy poverty. On sustainable mobility, it includes a safe parking for bicycles, transport on demand with the support of cycling without age and an electric bicycle network. To involve the community, public assemblies are held. Urban art initiatives also took place, engaging citizens and raising awareness to all pillars of the project. SMILE was implemented by the Municipality of Sintra, Aga Khan Foundation, IrRADIARE, Innovation Point, FCUL - Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Card4B, DST Group, Watt is and ID-Norway, main stakeholders of the project. The main beneficiaries of the practice were the citizens of Bairro da Tabaqueira. The launch of the project took place in May 2021.