Kaarst flower district highlights energy renovation efforts - Kaarst champions energy-saving measures
The city of Kaarst, Germany, has embarked on an innovative journey towards sustainable urban development with the launch of the "Energy Saving Offensive". This initiative is part of the Integrated Energy Quarter Concept (IEQC) project, aimed at reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in existing buildings.
Mayor Ursula Baum emphasized the city's commitment to climate protection, stating that every modernized existing building improves the climate balance and local quality of life. The IEQC, spearheaded by the Innovation City Management GmbH (ICM) from Bottrop, represents a holistic approach to energy planning that can significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing energy security and sustainability in residential areas.
Key Features of the IEQC
The IEQC focuses on integrated energy systems, renewable energy use, efficient building standards, smart energy management, and district heating and cooling. By planning and managing energy production, distribution, and consumption collectively across the whole quarter, the city aims to optimize energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Integrated Energy Systems
Instead of treating buildings individually, energy production, distribution, and consumption are planned and managed collectively across the whole quarter. This allows for better balancing of energy demand and supply.
Renewable Energy Use
The concept heavily incorporates renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic panels, solar thermal systems, and possibly biomass or geothermal energy. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels.
Efficient Building Standards
Buildings within the IEQC are designed or retrofitted to be highly energy-efficient, minimizing heating and cooling needs through improved insulation, passive design, and energy-efficient appliances.
Smart Energy Management
The quarter employs intelligent energy management systems to monitor, control, and optimize energy flows. This can include energy storage solutions and demand-response strategies to match energy consumption with the availability of renewable power.
District Heating and Cooling
Instead of individual heating units, a decentralized or centralized district heating and cooling network might be used. This network is optimized to reduce energy losses and integrate renewable heat sources.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The IEQC aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by maximizing the use of renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency in buildings, utilising integrated energy systems, lowering the carbon footprint of heating, cooling, and electricity consumption at the community scale, and implementing smart technologies to enable demand-side flexibility and reduce peak loads.
Engaging the Community
ICM believes that the energy transition can only succeed from the bottom up, and they encourage the involvement of the people in the project. To this end, they are conducting an online survey to gather information about the needs and renovation plans of the owners in the project area.
The "Energetically renovate - From basement to roof" themed evening will be held on Wednesday, February 7, at 7 p.m., at the Albert Einstein Forum. This event is the first in a series called "Energy saving offensive". Appointments with the renovation office can be made through the city's website www.kaarst.de/blumenviertel or the free phone number 0800/4 62 36 00.
As an added incentive, the city of Kaarst is raffling off a total of ten culture and DIY store vouchers worth up to 100 euros as part of the survey. The results of the survey will be incorporated into the concept development of the IEQC.
Carsten Tum, Managing Director of ICM, emphasized the importance of cooperation for the energy transition. The renovation office is open for property owners every Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
By working together, the people of Kaarst can make a significant contribution to climate protection and improve the local quality of life.
- The IEQC, driven by the Innovation City Management GmbH (ICM), focuses on integrating renewable energy sources like solar photovoltaic panels, district heating and cooling, and efficient building standards to minimize heating and cooling needs.
- By collectively managing energy production, distribution, and consumption across the entire quarter, the city aims to optimize energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance energy security and sustainability in residential areas.
- In the pursuit of engaging the community, ICM conducts online surveys to gather information about the needs and renovation plans of property owners in the project area, offering a chance to win culture and DIY store vouchers.
- The city encourages property owners to participate in renovation events and avail themselves of the resources provided by the renovation office to further the energy transition, contribute to climate protection, and improve the local quality of life.
