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Freiberg: a solar city
| 2009-09-29 By Marie Lecocq et Janusz Groth Some people call Freiberg the "green city" others refer to it as "solar city”. Either way, the town is a blueprint for German eco-planning, where sunshine plays a pivotal role in the lives of inhabitants and accolades and awards have rained down over recent years. Nestled in a lush, green landscape, this historic gem in Southern Germany is also home to Vauban, the world’s first eco-district, developed and built according to the principles of sustainability.  © FWTM A Green FortressFreiberg translates as the ‘free city’, an apt name for a charming town nestled at the foot of the formidable Black Forest. This corner of Germany may be famed for its conservatism but it’s also become something of an ecological fortress since electing its first Green Party mayor in 2002. The latest European election results reveal that local support for the Green Party is just as strong with 36% of the total votes. As the old saying goes…if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So, first of all, a few facts and figures to silence the eco-sceptics. Well, how about the creation of 10,000 jobs in the fields of science and environmental economy, paper recycling at around 80%, the lowest density of cars in any major German city thanks to a first-class transport system and even a "zero emission" hotel. Ecology in Freiberg isn’t just a discussion point; it’s a way of life. An average annual total of 1,800 hours of sunshine (a record for Germany) is put to optimum use by countless solar panels, displayed like political banners across the city’s urban landscape. From house rooftops to the broadband Internet terminals and pay and display car parks, the aesthetics of these solar panels may attract criticism elsewhere, but in Freiberg they have earned their spurs to become an integral part of the city landscape.  © FWTM Vauban and Rieselfeld…blueprints for eco-friendly town planningFreiberg’s real pride and joy are the neighbourhoods of Vauban and Rieselfeld, two districts designed and built by their inhabitants in conjunction with local authorities, architects and low-consumption housing experts. Vauban can be found across the Rhine on the site of a former military base, decommissioned since 1992. Originally a favourite for student squats and low-income families, the district accommodates around 5,000 people and has become a forum for the issue of habitat and the way we live today. In what has become something of an ecological stronghold, a colony of ‘passive houses’ (Passiv Haus) has emerged, each armed with a range of environmentally friendly features including flat roofs designed to retain rainwater that can be stored and reused. Cars are virtually non-existent and the streets are vast, eco-friendly playgrounds for the children of this groundbreaking suburb. The second area, Rieselfeld began as a city council initiative in 1991. It will eventually accommodate 4,200 homes and is renowned for the free-thinking and creativity approach of its residents: the creation of dozens of building cooperatives has enabled buyers to join forces and avoid private property companies by developing their own energy efficient construction projects. Each new building must comply with the standard ‘low consumption’ criteria expected of any new construction project in Freiberg including energy consumption levels between three and four times below that of standard housing.  © FWTM From the Passive house to the surplus energy houseTwo places with their own unique stories but a shared common objective, the creation of a comfortable and environmentally-friendly habitat. The success of the projects is attributed to three specific areas; attracting residents, support from the local authorities and local expertise. Freiberg is home to the Fraunhofer Institute, the largest solar energy research centre in Europe. Bring these factors together and the result is the ‘surplus energy’ home, a house that produces more energy than it consumes and the dream of every green supporter. Still at the conceptual stage, this new form of housing is earmarked for the Vauban district and bears the pretty name of Heliotrope. Already an eco blueprint for Germany, the gleaming reputation of Freiberg, Baden-Württemberg’s very-own solar city, now shines overseas. People come from far and wide to understand more about what has come to be regarded as a master class in energy efficiency. Paul Holloway, Minister for Urban Development for South Australia and his Transport counterpart, Patrick Conlon, are among the recent guests to the city. And now other locations across Europe are embarking on similar adventures including the South London district of BedZED (Beddington Zero Energy Development) created in 2006, and the renowned Hammarby Sjöstad project in Stockholm (2004), another global ecological reference point, famous for its innovative underground system of waste collection. |
