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Dossier

Dossier

Municipalities with a future

Municipalities in Germany prepare for the future – sometimes under difficult financial conditions. Digitalisation is advancing more and more, ecological action is of growing importance. As, for example, in Ulm and Kaiserslautern which want to become Smart Cities. Or in Neustadt where the new buildings for the municipal utilities administration were constructed in accordance with the principles of a modern circular economy. In our dossier ”Municipalities with a future“ we present these and other outstanding projects.

Image-Reference

On our website, pictures taken, among others, by the following photographers/photo agencies are used:

Agentur photothek.net, Deutsche Messe Hannover, Andreas Arnold, Jörg Böthling, Dominik Butzmann, Carsten Costard, Susanne Esche, Charlie Fawell, Rendel Freude, Torsten George, Gaby Gerster, David Greedy, Peter Himsel, Barbara Högner, Frank Homann, Fred Hoogervorst, Steffen Jagenburg (BRANSCH EUROPE), Thomas Klewar, Studio Kohlmeier , Florian Kopp, Georg Lopata, Jürgen Lösel, Kirsten Milhahn, Rüdiger Nehmzow, Rolf Obertreis, Rubén Arnaldo Farina Ortiz, Holger Peters, Joachim Röttgers, Mika Schmidt, Bernhard Schurian, Jens Steingässer, Pietro Sutera, Uwe Tölle, Jan Zappner.

Fotolia.com: amandare, Yuri Arcurs, Kitch Bain, Ingo Bartussek, Sergio Donà, drizzd, Dmitry Ersler, eyewave, Zoltán Futó, Eric Gevaert, Fotolia XXV, Friedberg, goodluz, Dirk Hoffmann, imageteam, Christian Jung, Abdelhamid Kalai, Sergej Khakimullin, Vladimir Kolobov, krizz7, Kzenon, lumen-digital, marog-pixcells, Mindwalker, Miredi, mirpic, Nebuto, Tino Neitz, Christian Pedant, Franz Pfluegl, prognone, Gina Sanders, Henry Schmitt, spree berlin, SVLuma, Kheng Guan Toh, tom, Torbz, typomaniac, VRD, Joachim Wendler, Sreedhar Yedlapati.

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Verschwoerhaus in Ulm

Smart Cities Pilot Projects

Around 100 municipalities from all over Germany had applied for the "Smart Cities Pilot Projects" programme in the first round. 13 were selected and now invest in future-oriented urban and municipal development.

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Neustadt municipal utility

Recycling in construction

The administrative location of Stadtwerke Neustadt in Holstein in Germany is setting standards for the municipal energy transition. The passive house also incorporates recycled components consistent with the principles of a circular economy and was awarded the "EnEff.Gebäude.2050" prize.

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Kids in a kindergarden

Municipalities breathe a sigh of relief

The majority of municipalities reported a good or even very good budget situation; in schools and daycare centres, for example, the investment backlog tends to decline. However, the surveyed treasuries are significantly more sceptical about their future financial position. An interview with the key results of this year's survey.

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Woman walking in the streets in Potsdam-Drewitz

An international role model

After starting life as prefabricated high rise blocks in the final days of East Germany, this neighbourhood soon fell into drab disrepair. Thanks to a brave project developer, it has now found a new lease of life as a low-emission garden village: Potsdam-Drewitz.

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Energy Bunker by night

From bunker to power plant

In the Hamburg district of Wilhelmsburg, a World War II bunker is being used as a renewable energy power plant to generate decentralised heat for the surrounding area, as well as electricity.

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Power from the own harvest

Municipalities and companies all across Germany are using renewable energy. They are almost completely independent of traditional energy suppliers. Learn more about three inspiring projects, including the municipality of Büsingen, which is relying on a local heating network.

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Ilsfeld's town sign: European energy and climate protection municipality

A plus for both the climate and balance sheet

The community of Ilsfeld wants to cut its ties to fossil-based sources of energy. The local heat network in Ilsfeld uses the heat from purified waste water and supplies the community with environmentally-friendly energy.

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Holstenstraße, Neumünster

Neumünster: a role model

Neumünster in the heart of Schleswig-Holstein has long been left behind by the economic upswing. Now, however, the municipal utilities are showing how they can make the location attractive for citizens and companies – beyond just the basic supply of electricity, heat and water.

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