Rhine-Hunsrück District is Energy Municipality of the Decade

Yesterday, the Agency for Renewable Energies awarded the Rhine-Hunsrück District as Energy Municipality of the Decade / Environment and Energy Minister Ulrike Höfken congratulates warmly on this award.

Still from the film "The Rhine-Hunsrück district - home of the energy turnaround pioneers"; © fechnerMEDIA

Yesterday, the Agency for Renewable Energies awarded the Rhine-Hunsrück district in Kassel as "Energy Municipality of the Decade". "Climate change is clearly noticeable in Rhineland-Palatinate, as currently shown by the dramatic damage to forests. With its commitment to the energy turnaround, the Rhine-Hunsrück district is making a significant contribution to climate protection and the preservation of our animal and plant species on a regional level. The fact that the Rhine-Hunsrück district has been chosen as the energy community of the decade among all the exciting and exemplary energy transition projects throughout Germany in the last ten years is an outstanding recognition. I would like to warmly congratulate all those who have contributed to this: The award is a great honour and motivation for all climate protection campaigners in the Rhine-Hunsrück district," said Environment and Energy Minister Ulrike Höfken today in Mainz.

The award is a nationwide recognition of what the district has successfully achieved in recent years. "The Rhine-Hunsrück district is one of the first zero-emissions districts in the inland, 300 percent electricity from renewable energies is generated here in relation to its own consumption, 16 local heating networks are in operation and save around 2.7 million liters of heating oil annually. These figures are also impressive in a nationwide comparison and are the result of an early, energetic and planned energy turnaround on site," explained the Minister. And this also has an impact on regional and economic development: A total of around 44 million euros per year in municipal added value is generated in the Rhine-Hunsrück district through renewable energies, Höfken cited. With these financial means of energy production from wind, sun and biomass, further meaningful projects for the continuation of the energy turnaround as well as for the development of rural areas will be implemented. Höfken concluded: "The Rhine-Hunsrück district impressively shows how energy transition and climate protection work on a municipal level."

The unique energy transition history of the district can also be seen in the film "The Rhine-Hunsrück district - home of the energy turnaround pioneers". comprehend.

Keywords: 100% EEs, Awards, CO2-neutral, DE-News, Renewable, Climate protection, Communities, News Blog RLP, PV, Solar thermal, Contests & Prizes, Ecology

Published 21 September 2020

Crowdfunding campaign for ESA dormitory launched

ESA crowdfunding video from 12.09.2020

The popular ESA dormitory on the campus of the TU Kaiserslautern (TUK) is in great need of renovation. The foundation's renovation concept for TUK envisions the former experimental building becoming a CO2-neutral building. The estimated costs for the work have not yet been fully raised. Therefore, the ESA residents are participating with a crowdfunding campaign, which has been available on the Startnext platform since September 13.

"We are all grateful that we can continue to live in the ESA and contribute to the building's continued existence. There is a unique atmosphere here," says resident Marcel Meyer. At the end of May, the dormitory was finally handed over to its new owner, the TUK Foundation. Now the renovation work, worth a total of two million euros, is to get underway quickly. The remaining cost share of 700,000 euros is currently being raised by the foundation through fundraising. The ESA housing association's crowdfunding campaign is intended to generate further publicity and finance a modern solar system and insulation for the listed building.

On the campaign website at www.startnext.com/ein-haus-im-gruenen a pitch video and further information are available. "So that potential supporters can learn even more about us and life in the dormitory, we are also posting self-made video clips and a virtual tour of the building on the ESA website and on Facebook," explains Meyer.

Inviting people to the ESA via video as part of the crowdfunding campaign: (from left to right) Matthias Kremer, Tabea Lang, Marcel Meyer and Anna Avagyan - representing the entire residential community. Photo: TUK

Renovated all around, the dormitory will act as a gateway between the university campus and the Palatinate Forest in the future. "TU Kaiserslautern is proud to present such a unique building on its campus. With the energy-saving architecture, the builders have created a dormitory that has not lost its relevance today after 35 years. This is one reason why it was the first building on our campus to be listed at the end of last year," says Prof. Dr. Arnd Poetzsch-Heffter, President of TUK.

Annette Mechel, board member of the foundation, adds: "As the new owner of the dormitory, the TUK Foundation is pleased to be able to accompany this exciting project. The commitment and willingness of the residents to cooperate are helping us enormously to implement the not so easy renovation.

The crowdfunding campaign is expected to be available on Startnext for three months. The TUK Foundation and the ESA housing community are happy about every small donation that contributes to the preservation of the unique building. On the campaign website, supporters can receive a thank-you gift in return and request a donation receipt.

Further information is available at: esa.dormitory.uni-kl.de. On Facebook, the page of the ESA dormitory can be found under "@esakaiserslautern".

The TU Kaiserslautern is the only university in Rhineland-Palatinate with a technical and scientific orientation. Future-oriented study programs, practical training and a modern infrastructure are the framework conditions that students find at the campus university. The TU Kaiserslautern was awarded the Excellence Prize for Studies and Teaching in the nationwide competition "Excellent Teaching". With this award, the TU demonstrates the high value of its study programs. In addition, students and scientists benefit from the numerous internationally renowned research institutions that cooperate closely with the TU Kaiserslautern in the field of applied research.

Source: Press release of TU Kaiserslautern from 9.9.2020

Keywords:
Cohousing, DE-News, News Blog RLP, Affordable housing, Build it yourself, Student housing, Housing projects