The Kronsberg district in Hannover is a pilot project for sustainable urban planning, which was presented at the EXPO 2000 world exhibition. This new urban district for approx. 7,000 inhabitants set, and has almost met, the ambitious target to reduce the CO2 emissions of its residents by 80% compared to the reference energy performance levels of 1995. This was achieved by an integrated concept, within which energy efficiency was addressed as one factor. Moreover, it is replicable in other cities.
All barriers of energy efficient spatial planning were overcome (regulatory framework, ownership structure, government’s capacity to implement the policy). Since most of the land was owned by the municipality, it was able to develop it rather independently and to set up contracts with the investors requiring higher energy efficiency standards than required by national German law as well as use of renewable energy, in connection to providing the land for construction.
In the city of Muenster, Germany, the practice of “energy efficient urban planning”, including compactness, orientation, passive solar gains, active solar use, requiring higher energy efficient construction than the building standards, considering decentralized cogeneration of heat and power (CHP), has been implemented since 2000 (von Knorre & Medven 2009). In this case, the policy was mainstreamed into on-going city planning instead of being demonstrated in one pilot project.
In the Vauban district in Freiburg, Germany, a so called ‘solar village’ with low energy houses and passive houses was created on a conversion site.
The Kronsberg district development was part of the EXPO 2000 in Hannover, as a pilot example for sustainable urban planning.
The realisation of the Kronsberg district should demonstrate how sustainable urban planning can be implemented.
The goal specified by the City of Hannover was that the Kronsberg district should save 45% of the heating energy consumption and 60% of CO2 emissions (80% including electricity generation by wind power) resulting from total residential energy consumption (heating, hot water, electricity) in comparison with conventional new-built districts (1995 standard).
The realisation of the Kronsberg district was a local measure, which partly received financial support from the state of Lower Saxony.
With regards to energy use, the issues of energy efficiency, energy saving and renewable energy are addressed. Energy efficiency for the district was pursued by using design options such as siting and microclimate, building form and orientation. The construction of low energy houses with well-insulated building envelopes as well as the promotion and grants for energy efficient appliances also enable residents to use energy more efficiently. Moreover, the installation of a CHP system for the housing development also enhances energy efficiency.
The Kronsberg district demonstrates sustainable urban planning, which can lead to the adaption of such a planning approach in other projects.
In order to achieve the energy efficiency targets, the high energy efficiency standard of the built houses is crucial. It is accompanied by the installation of a CHP system for the housing scheme, which is intended to achieve one third of the energy savings. 20% of the envisaged energy savings were to be achieved by the grants for energy efficient appliances. The energy efficiency measures are accompanied by the installation of renewable energy generators (photovoltaics and wind).
The target group of the project included: architects, engineering consultants, property development companies, construction companies, users (tenants, buyers of completed / existing buildings; household members). With regards to the function of the district as a pilot example for sustainable urban planning in other cities, other city governments are also a target group.
By implementing a pilot project it is shown, which technical and financial options are possible for successful energy efficient planning.
With regards to energy use, the issues of energy efficiency, saving and renewable energy are addressed in an integrated concept. This includes low energy houses, district heating supply through local co-generation units and grants for residents to purchase high efficiency appliances. In addition, it also includes public transport.
The fact that the Kronsberg district was part of the EXPO 2000 implies its innovation at that time.
Through contracts the investors were obliged to fulfil certain energy efficiency requirements (heating energy index of 50 kWh/(m2*a) as a target value, this figure to be exceeded by a maximum of only 10% (limit value), with a defined calculation method for the heating energy index).
The evaluation of the Kronsberg district showed that the targets were almost met (CO2 emissions per resident were reduced by 74%, instead of the envisaged 80%). However, the electricity saving programme could have been optimised, since only one fifth of the envisaged electricity savings of 750 kWh/yr per household had been achieved.
Agencies or other actors responsible for implementation
For project management and public relations, the Kronsberg Environmental Liaison Agency (Kronsberg-Umwelt-Kommunikations-Agentur GmbH / KUKA) was created in 1997.
Local authorities in Germany may not generally set higher local energy efficiency requirements than the national MEPS. Therefore, they need to use other instruments, such as setting requirements in contracts selling or leasing land for construction.
Financing
The financing of the Kronsberg district derives from public and private investments and subsidies. KUKA was also funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (German federal environmental foundation).
Test procedures
There were no specific test procedures created for the measure. It relied on the calculation rules specific in German MEPS regulation for buildings.
Others
The design and implementation of the Kronsberg district in Hannover was linked to EXPO 2000 also staged in Hannover. However, this unique situation does not impede the replicability of the project.
In 1990, the government of the City of Hannover decided to develop the Kronberg district. The initial concept idea for the district was chosen in an international competition in 1992. The land-use plan was amended in 1994. The construction phase ran from 1997 until 2000.
Quantified target
The goal specified by the City of Hannover was that the Kronsberg district should save 45% of the heating energy consumption and 60% (80% including electricity generation by wind power) of CO2 emissions resulting from total residential energy consumption (heating, hot water, electricity) compared to conventional new-built districts (1995 standard).
Actors responsible for design
The local administration of the City of Hannover developed the concept and plan for the new district.
Actors responsible for implementation
The local administration of the City of Hannover also co-ordinated the development of a design for the Kronsberg district, co-operating with architects and engineering consultants. The actual implementation was made in co-operation with developers, architects, construction companies, and to some extent also with the residents. The Kronsberg Environmental Liaison Agency (Kronsberg-Umwelt-Kommunikations-Agentur GmbH / KUKA) was created in 1997 and was charged with co-ordinating and supporting the various Kronsberg projects as well as offering a range of information, communication and training services for all involved or interested in Kronsberg
Monitoring
The implemented quality assurance scheme ensured continuous monitoring of the measures implemented during the planning and construction phases. Additionally, handbooks were distributed and workshops held to ensure the innovative building standards.
Evaluation
An independent ex-post evaluation was performed by IFEU in 2003. For results, see the impacts section.
Sustainability aspects
The Kronsberg district is a pilot project for sustainable urban planning and as such aims at promoting sustainability aspects. These include energy efficiency and energy savings, renewable energies, water and waste management systems, and a transportation plan (traffic avoidance, short distances).
Co-benefits
Besides the environmental benefits due to reduced CO2 emissions, residents benefit from low energy costs, short distances to cover (as a result of the transportation plan), and in general from the high standard of living provided by the Kronsberg district (e.g. due to good air quality, green areas, etc.). The professionals associated with the development, construction and installing works and their future customers also benefit from the extensive skill-gaining activities.
The goal specified by the City of Hannover was that the Kronsberg district should save 45% of the heating energy consumption and 60% (80% including electricity generation by wind power) of CO2 emissions resulting from total residential energy consumption (heating, hot water, electricity) compared to conventional new-built districts (1995 standard).
The CO2 impact evaluation by IFEU assessed that, including the impact of three wind turbines installed in Kronsberg, CO2 emissions per resident were reduced by 74% compared to conventional new-built districts. The electricity saving programme was not as successful, though: by 2001, only one fifth of the envisaged electricity savings of 750 kWh/a per household had been achieved. (cf. City of Hannover 2004, Appendix 8)
With a 74% reduction of CO2 emissions, the 80% reduction target was almost met.
The effectiveness of the electricity saving programme was not that high: by 2001, only one fifth of the envisaged electricity savings of 750 kWh/a per household had been achieved.
Overall, there were €500 m spent in private and public investments for the first phase of construction from 1997-2000 with 3,000 dwellings. It is unknown, how much of this were incremental costs for the higher energy efficiency and the renewable energies, but these were probably only a few per cent of the total (cf. City of Hannover 2004, p.45)
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