Energy-efficient community

Objectives

In its own sphere, the local authority has achieved the Climate Alliance goals. The objective now is to persuade residents and other municipalities to reduce their CO2 emissions and to provide appropriate incentives in the interest of sustainability in the Alps. The Mäder authorities will continue to focus on the wise use of energy in the future and to include the external costs in all their decisions. A main aspect of the Mäder energy strategy is to motivate and train the local people to make responsible use of energy. To that end, the four annual editions of the community magazine always include at least one article on the subject of energy savings and/or the eco-friendly use of energy. And every year Mäder organises at least two events (festivals) relating to the subject of energy. Priority is attached to energy savings and the provision of energy from renewable sources.

Activities 

Energy consumption in the local authority’s buildings and facilities has been monitored with monthly readings and data recording since 1994. That makes it easy to keep track of changes. Since 2002 the data have been summarised and made accessible to the public in the form of an energy report. Almost all the buildings and facilities owned by the Mäder local authority have above-average thermal insulation, and yet improvements continue to be made wherever possible. One objective is to create a set of indicators to facilitate energy consumption monitoring and comparison with other municipalities. The CO2 balance with the 2001 figures, which have been regularly updated since then, represents a first step in this direction.

Results (CO2 savings) 

For all rehabilitation measures, the basic principle is always to give priority to the technology with the highest energy savings and lowest environmental impacts. At the village school, for example, the windows were replaced to improve the heat transfer coefficient from 3 to 0.5 W/m²K and thermal insulation added to the external walls. At the kindergarten, the glazing was also replaced with a system with a heat transfer coefficient of 0.5 W/m²K. The heating for the school and cultural centre is over 90% biomass. When a plot of land was sold, a price reduction was granted as provided for in the guidelines for energy-efficient construction. In June 2008, Mäder switched to green energy from the region’s ecological power generating companies for all its electricity requirements. For its activities, Mäder has received the European Energy Award in Gold with an 84% implementation rate. That puts it top of the list of the more than 300 participating municipalities.

Organisation 

Mäder local authority