Sonneberg starts important heat planning: Get involved now!

Sonneberg starts important heat planning: Get involved now!

A lot is happening in Sonneberg when it comes to future heat supply. The city recently received funding from ZUG GmbH to advance municipal heat planning. The project, which started in June 2023 and will run until the end of 2025, is intended to ensure that citizens receive an affordable, climate-friendly and reliable heat supply. According to the city, the focus is on increasing independence from oil and gas and using regional, sustainable resources instead.

What does this mean specifically for Sonnenberger? The advantages are manifold: More security of supply and less dependence on fluctuating energy prices are at the top of the list. The heat planning also takes into account solutions for residential areas, commercial buildings, schools and daycare centers, whereby in addition to the municipal players, utility companies and citizens are also included.

Survey of property owners

In order to be able to develop realistic scenarios and sensible measures, a survey of all property owners in the city area will start in the coming weeks. This survey is intended to provide central information on the current heat supply situation in the buildings. Information on existing heating systems, renovation statuses and future modernization plans is collected. Please note that participation is voluntary, anonymous and uncomplicated and only takes a few minutes. The city is asking all owners to participate so that the results can be incorporated into the detailed municipal heat planning. The questionnaire is available online at enma-energie.de.

In connection with these efforts, the importance of municipal heat planning is becoming increasingly clear. Fraunhofer UMSICHT emphasizes that the long-term success of such planning also depends on integrated implementation. This is about linking municipal heat planning with the specific measures of implementation planning on site. Cities like Wuppertal and Hagen are already carrying out their own heat planning in order to create the best possible basis for concept development.

Together into the future

The cross-city collaboration shows that Sonneberg is not alone in its efforts to provide sustainable heat supply. The exchange of experiences and methods is intended to support the implementation of municipal heat planning and act as an integral planning tool. A special highlight are planned series of events that appeal to municipalities and are ultimately intended to accelerate implementation. The entire project is also funded as part of the National Climate Protection Initiative, which has been supporting projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions since 2008.

The city of Sonneberg's measures are an important building block in anchoring climate protection locally and creating benefits for consumers, companies, municipalities and educational institutions. Citizens can look forward to a future-proof heat supply - there is really something to be said!