In view of the imminent energy shortage in the coming winter, the German Association of Towns has sent the municipalities a number of savings recommendations.
“We are all called to save more energy now. Cities want to be role models and pioneers”,
says Helmut Dedy, director general of the German Association of Cities. Every kilowatt hour saved now is a precaution for the cold months.
The German Association of Cities has provided the star with a list of examples which, according to the association, should protect German cities from energy shortages in advance. “Of course, which of these is right for the cities is discussed and decided on site,” continues Dedy.
In the context of this catalogue, City Day refers to twelve concrete measures. Most of them can be implemented “out of the box”. The water temperature in indoor pools may drop or the temperature control in outdoor pools may be disrupted. In “selected public buildings” the hot water can even be switched off completely to save up to ten percent energy.
In addition, the city council is proposing to restore ventilation systems “to their normal state before the pandemic”. This would also affect mobile systems in schools. This alone would reduce energy needs by a quarter. At the beginning of the heating period (usually from October), the ventilation systems can be switched off completely “where the windows can be ventilated”.
However, other proposals are likely to have literally visible effects. According to the association, the external lighting of “public representative buildings” could be switched off at any time, in other words: monuments such as the Cologne Cathedral, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg or the Berlin TV tower would no longer shine as brightly as possible. dark. Furthermore, the city council recommends a far-reaching conversion to LED lighting.
As soon as German cities were warmed up, further measures could be implemented. Gymnasiums could therefore only be heated to 15 degrees Celsius, while the temperature in schools and public facilities could be reduced to the minimum permitted value of 20 degrees. It should also be cooler in stairwells and corridors.
In addition to these recommendations for action, City Day presented seven accompanying proposals, consisting of information campaigns and awareness programmes. Among other things, electricity and gas consumption should be monitored more closely.
The association also proposes a “user awareness campaign on energy saving” and the training of caretakers. The ongoing construction measures should be monitored and “constantly ambitious energy standards” observed. While this may be “implemented in the short term”, it is not “effective in the short term”. Mobile heating devices could be banned completely.
The 53 million citizens included in the central association should also contribute to savings. City Day proposes the “theme of simple thermometers for individual self-monitoring of temperature in public buildings”.
“In our cities there is great creativity to find good solutions”,
says CEO Dedy.
