Best Practise Study Tour 2010
Sheffield City Region Dearne Eco-Vision Team in collaboration with DDQ: Best Practise Study Tour
Monday 1st - Wednesday 3rd November 2010
Freiburg, Germany
(Dearne Valley Eco Vision May 2009)
This is a unique opportunity to develop new business openings and learn from one of Europe's leading City models in sustainable urban development. During the tour we will explore neighbourhoods and districts in the City of Freiburg in south-western Germany.
The tour's varied programme includes learning more about the use of renewable energies, sustainable transport systems, and about the participation of citizens in the planning of the City and Districts of Freiburg.
Highlight destinations will include the Heliotrope, a rotating solar house; the Sun-Ship, the world's first ever service centre in a highly-efficient energy saving construction by Rolf Disch; and the model district of Vauban. There will be seminars and ample opportunity for discussion with experts, local government representatives, local community members and business representatives.
You are advised to reserve a place as soon as possible by completing the Booking Form and Payment Details and returning it to louise.dawes@sheffield.gov.uk no later than 20th September. Confirmation of a place on the tour will be sent to delegates on the week commencing Monday 27th September.
The full price of £590 includes 3 days Best Practise Study Tour, return flights (Manchester to Zurich), airport transfers and all travel within Germany, hotel accommodation and meals (excluding drinks). There are very limited numbers of subsidised places available for specific delegate groups.
Programme and Destinations in more detail
Day 1 - 1st November
Historical and actual development of the old town
Oberlinden - Visit of the medieval city centre and Konviktraße, the old town's conservation project from the 1970s; Freiburg’s tram network since 1901; and parking management and pedestrianisation of the old town.
Visit to one of the most ecological hotels of the world
With solar collectors, solar modules and four small wind power installations on the roof garden, energy and water saving measures, a heating plant using wood pellets, a ground water cooling system and an excellent breakfast buffet of local foods.
Day 2 - 2nd November
Presentation of the "Green City Cluster"
The Regional cluster 'Green City Freiburg' aims to connect local stakeholders, entrepreneurs and companies working in the field of sustainable development. The aim is to strengthen the presence and visibility of companies and bodies leading on environmental and sustainability issues.
Creating an unparalleled network, more than fifty two companies have signed a cooperation charter including prestigious research institutions such as the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE), which is the largest solar research institute in Europe and the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), the international umbrella organisation of solar institutions. Private businesses are also represented through companies, such as the Solar Factory, Concentrix Solar GmbH, SolarMarket AG or Solarstrom AG, which are served by a wide web of suppliers and service providers.
In Freiburg the environmental economy and science play an extraordinary role with nearly 10,000 people employed by 1,500 companies, this sector contributes approximately 500 million Euro to the economy.
Freiburg Transportation Concept
Inaugurated in 1999, the new Freiburg Central Station is the central traffic hub of the city. The tramway bridge crosses the station and allows for easy combination of rail and urban public transport. The solar facade of the station's high-rise building also symbolizes Freiburg's claim as a Solar City. The Mobile has a combined service centre around traffic services and has bicycle parking complementing the concept of sustainable mobility. The visit will include an introduction to Freiburg transport planning and a presentation by mobile operators and tenants on the Car-Sharing association or the Café Velo.
Development and modernization of a district from the 19th century
The district to the west of the Freiburg central station is known as the first development area of Freiburg. This former socially and economically deprived area had a mixture of industrial and residential buildings. Over the last few decades a lot has changed here. Today the district offers exemplary projects such as the multifunctional conversion of a former brewery area, student flats on the base of former gas tanks, construction community projects and listed buildings next to contemporary architecture. An important impact was achieved by the transformation of public spaces and streets within the context of a neighbourhood improvement. The Freiburg-markets and retail centres concept supports the creation of vibrant community allowing a life without a car.
Modernization of social housing neighbourhood
The project which was developed and managed by the cooperative housing association consisted of modernizing and converting a building from the 1960s into a highly energy efficient building meeting an energy standard of 60 kWh/m². The wood pellet system provides the 292 households with heat and hot water.
Rieselfeld - from sewage field to model district
With a population of 10,000 to 12,000 inhabitants and an area of 78 hectares Rieselfeld is Freiburg's biggest new district, and constitutes a very good example of sustainable development, incorporating:
- Tramways since the creation of the district
- Low-energy housing
- Citizen co-ownership and participation
- Sustainable traffic system
- Social Enterprise
- Culture (KIOSK)
- Playgrounds
- Nature conservation areas
- Sewage treatment
- Open water surface management
- Ecumenical church
Integrated development of a district of the 60s
Built as a typical housing estate of the 60s, Weingarten has a population of approximately 11,000 inhabitants from more than 70 different countries of origin. Although an area with high indices of depravation, there are many positive attempts to improve the situation in the district. Local community enterprises operate side by side with professional services and are engage in developing projects for social and economic regeneration. Some of these schemes include the modernisation and refurbishment of old buildings to include high energy efficient measures. The passive house modernisation of 70s high-rise building is unique worldwide. With a guided tour through the district we will discover more about these interesting modernisation projects and social development concepts.
Day 3 - 3rd November
Visit of the Heliotrop
We will discover the future with this rotating Plus-Energy House®, the Heliotrop®. Photovoltaic modules on the roof produce more energy than the building requires. Passive solar energy is optimally gained by the house rotating with the sun. Rain water is treated, recycled and use as part of a composting toilet system and for a small wetland all these are additional advantages.
The solar housing estate - Sonnenschiff
Discover the world's first ever service centre in a highly efficient energy-saving construction by solar architect Rolf Disch. It houses two supermarkets, a bakery, numerous offices and the renowned Eco Institute. State of the art technologies like triple glass panes, vacuum panels, systems for heat recovery and phase change material (PCM) have all been installed.
Energy Plus® houses
The future belongs to low, passive, and Plus-Energy Houses®. Day by day they save energy and reduce the burden of rising energy prices for fossil fuels on the inhabitants. Living in a Plus-Energy house with a solar power installation on the roof that feeds energy into the public electricity network and thus brings in additional money, is a good way to plan for the future.
The model district Vauban
Vauban is a former military barrack built in 1938. Since the 1990s it has been converted into a new city district with a very special quality of life. We will learn how this district has become an internationally celebrated example of sustainable neighbourhood development, including green corridors, Citizen Participation, passive and low energy housing and other commercial and leisure buildings. In the year 2010 the district of Vauban will be presented at the EXPO in Shanghai as a best practise example of sustainable city planning.
New building in Vauban - a building project for every generation
A highly energy efficient building achieving 40 kWh/m² standard and build with ecologically sustainable and renewable materials. The project interestingly combines co-ownership with council housing and people suffering from Alzheimer's as well as offering accommodation for older people.
- Apartment block design for allergy sufferers - this timber apartment block was built according to the standard of passive housing, designed with ecological materials particularly suitable for allergy sufferers
- Social housing project - presentation of a housing project for 200 inhabitants of all ages and varying degrees of mobility
