FREIBURG GREENCITY

APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY

www.freiburg.de/greencity

FREIBURG GREENCITY
Welcome

fcient climate protection and environmental policy is built on many pillars: an energy policy based on renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and water energy, or biomass; an attractive range of public transport options, building heatinsulation programmes, low-energy and zero-energy housing in domestic construction being but few examples. The Green City label of Freiburg represents a combination of many ideals which compliment each other, and form a solid and unied communal environmental and climate protection policy. In a Green City, science and industry must work hand-in-hand for technical innovations, qualied growth and strong employment. The environment became an important factor in the economy long ago. Importantly in Freiburg, this policy is supported by the citizens. Their commitment to climate, water and soil protection provides the basis for sustainable urban development. As a Green City, Freiburg has become a model for cities and communities across the globe. This recognition honours us, but also motivates us to develop new ideas and work harder towards achieving our goals.

reiburg not only ranks high in Germany when it comes to the utilisation and funding of alternative energy sources or encouraging local public transport and bicycle infrastructure. The city also holds leading positions in job creation, economic growth and in the number of overnight accommodations, which exceeded one million in 2007. Focusing early on environmental sustainability, photovoltaics and various biotechnologies has given the city decisive advantages as a business location in an international competitive environment. Today, about 10,000 people are employed in the environmental and solar industries alone. Freiburg is the host city and organiser of numerous international industrial trade fairs and symposia, such as the Intersolar, now held in Munich and San Francisco, as well as the Local Renewables, the Solar Summits and the GebudeEnergieTechnik (GET)/BuildingsPower-Technology fair. Apart from science and technology, factors such as culture, climate, landscape, as well as the excellent quality of life in Freiburg complete the prole of the Green City and consequently, attracts creative minds, investors and tourists from all over the world. In Freiburg, sustainability and economic dynamics, future viability, scientic excellence and the peaceful lifestyle all contribute to the same goal.

Dr. Dieter Salomon Mayor of the City of Freiburg

Dr. Bernd Dallmann Chief Executive Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG

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Sustainable Economy Sustainable Mobility The Citys Resource Capital: Nature

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Freiburg, the

Sustainable Urban Development Citizen Commitment

GREEN CITY
Climate protection and environmental policy
Freiburg may justly refer to itself as a birthplace of the green movement. The successful campaign against the proposed nuclear power plant in nearby Whyl over thirty years ago, became one of the founding legends of the Green Alternative Movement. With Freiburg now a rallying point, a colourful coalition of student and antinuclear activists, as well as proponents of a new social movement began to mobilise. Initially, there were only individual visionaries and artists, groups and associations searching for alternatives to nuclear power. However, as early 1986, the year of the Chernobyl disaster, the municipal council decided to abandon nuclear power. Solar energy was to become the new principle source of energy. That same year, Freiburg became one of the rst cities in Germany to establish an Environmental Protection Ofce. Prizes and awards In 1992, Freiburg was chosen as Germanys Environmental Capital for its pioneering achievements, such as the installation of an early-warning system for smog and ozone pollution, pesticide bans, recycling measures, for its transport policy and perhaps even, for its engaging green image. Ever since, new innovations in the eld of environmental protection and solar engineering have been achieved, which have, in turn, been accompanied by a series of awards: the European Public Transport Award, the German Solar Award, Federal Awards for Sustainability in Urban Development, the Sustainable Community award of the Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. [German Environmental Aid Association]. Indeed, three citizens of Freiburg have received the renowned German Environment Award: Georg Savamoser, founder of the Solar Factory; the environmental and hygiene physician Prof. Dr. Franz Daschner; and, most recently, Prof. Joachim Luther, former Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE). For his solar-architectural concepts and projects, Freiburgs architect Rolf Disch was honoured with the European Environment Award.

Freiburg is one of the greenest cities in Germany, not just from the political perspective, but also in terms of nature. No other city of comparable size has more forests and vineyards and such a diversity of landscapes, which range from the rough heights of the Black Forest down to the alluvial forests by the River Rhine. The geographical location, the mild sunny climate and the relaxed way of life all contribute to Freiburgs image as a truly green city. Freiburg should not, nor does it want to, rest on its laurels of being a charming, cosy city of comfort, where the local second-division football club temporarily attracts more attention because of the solar panels stationed on its stadium roof and for environmental awards, rather than achieving goals and victories. Today, the city stands for a unity of soft ecology and hard economy. Environment policy, solar engineering, sustainability and climate protection concepts have become the mainstays of economic, political and urban development. More important than the awards or congratulatory backslapping is this: the citizens of Freiburg really do identify themselves with this policy.

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Green Markets: Environmental Economics and Research
The markets of the future are green, was prophesied by the Club of Rome. In 2005, 43 billion Euro was invested worldwide in the renewable energy sector. By 2006, the gure was already at 73 billion Euro. And more than 540 billion is expected to be spent on the sector by 2015. Environment as an Economic Factor 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 as well as to the positive image of the region. In the solar sector alone, employment gures reect approximately 700 people employed, which is four to ve times above national average, according to a 2004 study. Centres of private and public research investigating renewable energy sources, such as the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, function as a centre of gravity, around which hundreds of spin-off companies, service providers and organisations are based. These include: from the Solar Factory to the Regio Freiburg Energy Agency, from consultancies to solar architects, from a zero-emission hotel to the Future Workshop of the Chamber of Crafts. Also the farmers, foresters and organic vintners prot from the research done in the region by institutions such as the Viticulture Institute, the Forest Research Institute or the Albert Ludwigs University. In the eld of environmental education alone, 700 new jobs were created, among which was a university chair of environmental economics. In the scope of the Solar University, which obtained the status of an elite university in 2007, an Interdisciplinary Centre for Renewable Energies and an international masters study course Renewable Energy Management (M.sc.) have been established. Industry sectors such as classic plant and machinery construction are also beneting from the continued upsurge in the solar economy. This is shown by the example of the following three companies: W+S, machine builder for solar module manufacturers; Thieme, manufacturer of screen printing machines for the precision printing of silicon wafers; and Somont, the subsidiary set up jointly by W+S and Knoll Feinmechanik to produce string soldering machines. The electrotechnology sector is also capitalising on the boom. In the manufacture of solar and thin-lm cells, plasma processes make it possible to apply and remove material layers only nanometres thick. HTTINGER Elektronik generators deliver the necessary power for the manufacturing process. Thus, more and more new value chains are being created in Freiburg - from basic research to technology transfer and global marketing. The environment and the economy are not antagonists here. On the contrary, the environmental economy is the leading business sector in both town and region.

Germanys rst energy self-sustaining solar building

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems

www.ise.fraunhofer.de www.solar-fabrik.com www.energieagentur-regio-freiburg.de www.hwk-freiburg.de www.wbi-freiburg.de www.fva-bw.de www.uni-freiburg.de www.zee-uni-freiburg.de www.solar.uni-freiburg.de www.somont.com www.rena.com www.huettinger-electronics.com

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The Solar Economic Factor SolarRegion Freiburg

In terms of both economy and ecology, Freiburg has been most successful in the elds of renewable energy research and marketing. A mere glance at the cityscape makes this clear. Solar panels can be found on the roofs of the Badenova Stadium and the City Hall, on schools, churches and private houses, on facades and towers. Looking further aeld, wind turbines rise from the Black Forest. With more than 1,800 hours of sunshine each year and an annual radiation intensity of 1,117 kilowatts (kW) per square-meter, Freiburg is one of the sunniest cities in Germany.

The Heliotrope a rotating solar tree-house which follows the movement of the sun

The Solar Factory

Favourable Conditions All this is not due only to Freiburgs natural conditions. Primarily factors such as the citizens high levels of environmental awareness, political priorities and targeted economic development, have allowed Freiburg to become a Solar Capital. Here, the opportunities offered by solar energy, in terms of climate protection, the economy and urban development were recognised earlier than anywhere else. This pioneering action has been reinforced by countless awards and high visitor numbers to unique projects, such as the worlds rst energy selfsustaining solar building, the Heliotrope, the solar village created by Rolf Disch, or the zero-energy houses of the Vauban neighbourhood. Even the local football stadium has become an attraction as the rst stadium worldwide to have its own solar plant.

Solar power plant on the roof of the Badenova Stadium

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The Freiburg Mix What makes Freiburg so special is its so-called typical mix, a unique interaction of political, economic, geographical and historic factors. Since 1986, the city has supported the development of solar energy by means of its own projects, funding programmes and spaces. The badenova power company supports the development of renewable energy resources with programmes, such as innovation funds for water and climate protection. Unparalleled Network A number of prestigious research institutions belong to Freiburgs solar economics and research network, among them 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 enterprise is 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. Altogether, solar technology in Freiburg has created over 1.000 jobs in 80 business operations, many of which are settled under the roof of the Technology Park Solar Info Center.

Manufacturing of modules at the Solar Factory

www.badenova.de www.ises.org www.ise.fraunhofer.de www.solar-fabrik.com www.solarmarkt.com www.solarstromag.de www.solar-info-center.de

Solar Competence and Application Centre Interested parties from across the globe come to Freiburg to avail themselves of consultancy expertise and basic and advanced professional training. Knowhow, resources, infrastructure, associations and environmental organisations of the region merge at the SolarRegion Freiburg. Freiburgs co-operation with the Italian Solar Info-Center is one of the most successful examples of international science transfers and similar projects with other partners and like-minded cities are in preparation. Freiburgs knowledge base in the research and utilisation of solar energy contributed to the transformation of the Freiburg-based Intersolar into the leading international solar technology fair.

Solar Info Center

www.freiburg.de/umwelt www.solarregion.freiburg.de www.solarregion.net www.isicenter.it www.intersolar.de www.concentrix-solar.de

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Concentrated PV module manufactured by Concentrix Solar Co.

Addressing the Greenhouse Effect: Climate Protection and Freiburgs CO2-Diet

Climate protection depends to a large extent on international and national agreements and goals, but cities and regions can also take the lead in this regard and set examples. Freiburg took climate protection seriously long before the issue was on the general political and economical agenda and as a result, in matters related to climate protection, Freiburg is nowadays considered a role model far beyond Europe. Climate Protection Concept 1997 In 1996, the municipal council decided to reduce CO2 emissions by 25 percent before the year of 2010. The successes achieved were remarkable. By applying a well-designed package of actions, emissions could be markedly reduced, particularly in the trafc and energy sectors. The share of nuclear power electricity was reduced by over half, from 60 to less than 30 percent. Almost 50 percent of the citys electricity is generated by combined heating and power plants. Continuing into the Future Despite best efforts, Freiburg will presumably fail to reach its original goal of 25 percent less greenhouse gases by 2010. However, this is regarded as an incentive by the city to redouble climate protection efforts. In the summer of 2007, resulting from a climate protection report by the Eco-Institute in Freiburg, the municipal council decided to proceed with its climate protection concept and raised the benchmark even higher for the next phase: 40 percent less CO2 by 2030. This goal is ambitious, but not unrealistic, since the national and international conditions for climate protection have improved considerably last year. Targeted Investments A strong local climate protection policy must by no means be limited to mere gestures or lofty declarations of intent. Realistic political and nancial commitments are of huge importance. In the coming years, ten percent (1.2 million Euro) of the concessions that the regional power supply corporation badenova AG pays to the city will be invested in climate protection projects, especially in the transport and building sectors.

Solar facade of the residential complex at Wilmersdorfer Street

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Motivation and Cooperation However, the climate protection programme can only be a success if the city goes beyond its role model function and gets as many other actors as possible on board companies, power suppliers, private households, the university, the media. Climate protection affects groups across society. Everyone who fails to do something today, will have to pay dearly to make up for mistakes tomorrow. Freiburgs CO2 Diet Targeted information and public awareness campaigns have been launched to mobilise the inhabitants. The project Freiburgs CO2 Diet is but one example. It gives interested citizens an easy tool to calculate their own climate balance - so that they can determine their own share in CO2 emissions, through the interactive website, and compare their values with those of others, receiving CO2 diet suggestions in return. With campaigns like CO2LIBRI Freiburgs citizens are encouraged to reduce CO2 emissions.

Gerda Stuchlik
Deputy Mayor, Department of the Environment, Schools, Education and Facility Management

Main Focus of the Citys Climate Protection Policy Our main focus continues to be energy savings, energy efciency (through combined heat and power) and use of renewable energy resources. Apart from making progress in these sectors, co-operation, especially with industry, commerce and trade, will be promoted. Examples derived from the municipal councils 12-Point Program are: Taking into consideration climate protection, energy efciency, and solar optimisation at an early stage of all urban developments, urban land use plans and real estate sales contracts; Energy counselling for building contractors and support programmes for heat insulation in existing buildings; Energy savings through the consolidation of administration ofces; Using the zero-energy housing standard when building new houses and renovating buildings in the city; Priority use of natural-gas vehicles in the municipalitys eet of vehicles and refraining from the purchase of diesel powered vehicles. In addition, two million Euro are being spent on the energy efcient renovation of the citys old and historical buildings and for new city architecture.

Solar City Hall

Facade of the Solar Factory

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Thermal waste treatment plant generating energy from non-recyclable waste, Industrial Park Breisgau

Waste not, want not The Waste Management Concept

ZFreiburg in de Stadt/sufer ischs un glatt [A German rhyme saying: In Freiburgs city, its clean and pretty], rhymed Johann Peter Hebel over two-hundred years ago. Nowadays, Freiburgs citizens are doing their best to keep it that way. Recycling of paper, plastics, organic material has been wholeheartedly taken onboard by those living here to the extent that the volume of garbage per capita is markedly below state and national average. Refundable Container Concept and Financial Incentives The city itself sets a good example by using paper, of which approximately 80 percent has been recycled. A recycling concept was introduced in 1991, which was supported across all sectors, with even the SC Freiburg soccer team agreeing to support the initiative. Waste avoidance is rewarded by a system of incentives: benets for the use of textile diapers, discounts for collective waste disposal pooling and for people who compost their own green wastes. Treatment of Non-Recyclable Wastes Since 2005, non-recyclable waste from the region is incinerated at a plant in the Industrial Park Breisgau, located 20km south of Freiburg. The plant practices waste disposal safety by maintaining high environmental standards. It supplies electricity to 25,000 households. Energy generated from the fermentation of bio-organic wastes covers two percent of Freiburgs energy demand. Waste Consulting and Teaching The waste disposal management concept of 2008 denes avoidance before recycling before depositing as the future strategy. Avoidance and waste separation show us the way out of the throwaway society, towards more informed and sustainable consumer behaviour. Since 1994, Freiburgs partially privatised waste disposal and sanitation company (ASF) has been organising, in co-operation with schools and Freiburgs Eco-Station, courses and guided tours, a Garbage Theatre for elementary school children, competitions and teaching units, such as Ideas, not Waste or Children and the Agenda 21.

www.tbe-waerme.de www.abfallwirtschaft-freiburg.de

Vehicle collecting hazardous substances

Fleet of modern vehicles

Centralised recycling station

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Future Workshop Freiburg: Tourism, Conferences, and Trade Fairs

Image is important to the economic and tourist attractiveness of a city. Freiburg has gained a worldwide reputation in such elds as solar engineering, trafc policy, environmental and climate protection. Increasingly, members of the media and delegations representing environmental politics, science and industry come to Freiburg to learn how the city has managed to achieve its astounding success in uniting the administration of a municipality with environmental concerns and make this a nancially viable proposition. Upon visiting the Intersolar, Indias Minister for Renewable Energy Resources, Shri Vilas Mutternwar, said that India would like to benet from experiences had in Freiburg. He is not an exception. Freiburg is perceived as a model green city by numerous Asian countries, especially China, South Korea, and Japan. Eco-tourists who, equipped with the solar city map and bicycles, set off on a solar tour are often pioneers opening doors for regular tourism and business that later settle down in the area. Freiburg maintains nine city partnerships, among which, through its twinning with Isfahan is the only GermanIranian partnership. Freiburg owes much of its attractiveness as a partner city to its experience in the eld of environmental policies and renewable energy resources. An initial co-operation with Isfahan has already begun with a focus on solar energy, while together with its partner city Padua, Freiburg is building the biggest photovoltaic power generation plant in Italy by means of a joint subsidiary company.

Group of Japanese visitors inspecting solar plants

Solar roof of the Freiburg Trade Fair Centre

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3rd Photovoltaics Industry Forum 2007 at the Congress Centre Concert Hall Freiburg

Visitors at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems

The huge numbers of visitors to Freiburgs international trade fairs are not lured here because of any one project or giant solar factory, rather by the fact that no other city has brought together so much green competence, sensibility and political experience, factors which also make the Freiburg a very attractive venture partner. The university city has developed into a modern future workshop, where new innovative and undogmatic concepts that reconcile the art of living with sustainability, ecology with economy are in evidence at every turn.

Making international business contacts at the Intersolar

Meeting-Point of the International Solar Scene The mutual transfer of science and technology across borders has been booming for years, particularly in the eld of solar power technology. Since its inception in the year 2000, Intersolar has developed into an industrial trade fair that sets the pace in the sector of European solar engineering. After eight successful years in Freiburg the Intersolar moved to Munich in 2008, closing its doors with the new record attendance of 53.000 visitors and more than 1.000 exhibitors. The GebudeEnergie-Technik (GET) [Buildings-Power-Technology fair] takes its place in Freiburg, a new fair that deals with the energy-efcient modernisation, renovation and construction of buildings. In collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), the city also hosts the Freiburg Solar Summits, an annual meeting-place for the international solar scene, including the cutting edge of science, industry, and politics. In 2008 the inaugural Intersolar North America in San Francisco was a rousing success. Both visitors and exhibitors reported strong and positive feedback, leading organizers to plan an even larger event for 2009. Considering the current pioneering spirit, this transatlantic step is one that is necessary and reasonable in order to benet on site from a growing market in the medium term. The choice of California as a location is particularly apt, as here climate protection and renewable energy resources are real concerns.

Visitors to the Intersolar

www.intersolar.de www.intersolar.us www.get-freiburg.de www.solar-summits.com www.fwtm.freiburg.de

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MOBILITY
Freiburgs Trafc Concepts
In 1969, the City of Freiburg undertook to develop an urban transport policy that sought to ensure a good level of mobility that did not encroach upon positive urban development, nature and the environment. Freiburgs trafc and transport policy, which drew attention nationwide, gives preference to environment-friendly modes of movement (pedestrian trafc, cycling, local public transport). The city was rewarded for its efforts with the European Local Public Transport Award. Successes of Transportation Policy Between 1982 and 1999, the contribution of cycling to the citys volume of trafc increased from 15 to 28 percent. At the same time, public transport increased from 11 to 18 percent, whereas the distances driven by motor vehicles decreased from 38 to 30 percent. Compared with other major cities in Germany today, Freiburg has the lowest motor vehicle density, with 423 motor vehicles per 1,000 people. Preventive Trafc Avoidance The most important objective of Freiburgs trafc and transportation policy is trafc avoidance. This is achieved by designing a compact city that can be crossed quickly and includes strong neighbourhood centres. Urban development should take place along main public transport arteries and priority is given to centralised development over peripheral growth.

The main station a trafc nodal point

All major urban development decisions follow the concept of preventive trafc avoidance. The new city districts of Rieselfeld and Vauban are both easily accessible by public transport, as are the inner-city university locations. Local markets and neighbourhood centres give priority to those people catering for their daily needs in their localities over the construction of supermarkets on greeneld sites. Environmentally Compatible Trafc Means The strategy of trafc avoidance is supplemented by strengthening those means of trafc that are compatible with the city and the environment. Pedestrian trafc, cycling, and local public transport have all beneted from the extension of the corresponding infrastructure over the last three decades. So are bicycles and bike-taxis, often used by tourists, part of the image of the town

The Breisgau S-Bahn

Cycling paths in the Dreisam Valley

Bicycle station Mobile at the main station

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Vaubans Tram route

Parking Space Management and Further Development of the Road Network Managing motorised road trafc in a way that is compatible with the city is Freiburgs third transport policy objective. There is continuous management of the parking spaces in many parts of the city. A system of nancial incentives and fees, multi-storey car parks and parking guidance systems relieves residential areas near the city centre from motorised trafc and parking-space searches. The road network is being developed further in order to eliminate bottlenecks and spare residential areas.

Tariff zones of the Regional Transport Association Freiburg

Elements of the Trafc and Transportation Policy Since the establishment of the rst pedestrian zone in 1973, Freiburgs trafc and transportation is distinguished by the subtle but continuous development of the following co-ordinated elements: By way of adding new routes, frequencies and travel comfort, the former tram system was converted into a modern city-rail system that connects almost all major city districts. 65 percent of people live in the catchment area of a tram stop; The Breisgau-S-Bahn, which was designed in cooperation with the adjoining counties, allows for good and fast rail transport connections between the city and the region. At the main station, it links regional trafc to intercity railway transport; In 1970, Freiburg had almost no bike paths. Today, there is a 500km-long network of bike lanes and markedly improved opportunities for cyclists: 9,000 parking sites in the city, links to the local public transport network (Bike and Ride), the bicycle city map etc.; Large parts of the city centre are designated as pedestrian zones and have been entirely reconstructed. This upgrading of urban spaces shall continue in the coming years; Pedestrians and cyclists also benet from the expansive trafc calming measures in residential areas. Currently, 90 percent of residents live in 30km/h-zones.

www.vag-freiburg.de www.breisgau-s-bahn.de www.rvf.de www.freiburg.de/verkehr

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The Citys Resource Capital

NATURE
Green Lungs: The Forest
The Freiburg communal forest covers an area of 6,400 hectares (43 percent of the territory). This is the largest communal forest in Germany, and is regarded as the municipal green lungs of Freiburg and the most important recreational area near the city, with approximately 4 million visitors annually. Its location in the foothills of the Black Forest, its natural abundance (with 90% of the area covered as a natural conservation area and 15% is designated as biotope area) and its excellent infrastructure (with 450 kilometres of forest paths, sports, adventure and instructional trails, barbecue and playground areas, look-out towers, and lakes) all of this makes the forest a key element in the Freiburg tourism experience. Recreation, Forestry and Ecosystems It is not by accident that the term sustainability comes from the forestry sector. The forest is a natural habitat for fauna and ora and a leisure and recreation area for people. In the forest wood is grown and produced as renewable raw material, groundwater is retained and the forest itself is critical for climate protection. In times of rising fuel prices the communal forest also gains signicance from an economic perspective. Felling 35,000 m of timber annually makes a prot of two million Euro. However, as an ecosystem, the forest can only be preserved and further developed if economic and ecological management work hand in hand. When wood from the local Mooswald can be used to build kindergartens (crche buildings) and multi-family housing, this not only uses local resources efciently and saves money, as there is no need to import material, but also helps to safeguard jobs in the region. Learning from Nature The Municipal Forestry Ofce supports private and public institutions committed to nature and environmental education, organises its own pedagogical forestry events, guided tours, excursions and also manages the Mundenhof deer park. To illustrate the success of its approach - in 2005 7,500 people visited the Municipal Forest Biosphere Reserve. The Forestry Research Institute and the University Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Sciences enjoy an excellent reputation worldwide in matters of forestry and climate ecology. Sustainable Forest Management The forest is, after the ocean, the most important carbon sink to capture CO2, and thus of central signicance in climate protection. For this reason, Freiburg has engaged in sustainable forestry over a long period, on the local, national and international arena. Since 1999, the Forestry Ofce has been certied as the rst forestry operation in Baden-Wrttemberg that complied with the guidelines of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and is there-fore permitted to market timber using this eco-label. As such, high standards apply to the management of the forest, such as refraining from clear-cutting or the use of pesticides and insecticides. In 2001 the Freiburg Forest Convention was adopted the rst action of its kind at municipal level. Through this convention Freiburg recognised its ecological, economical and social responsibilities for sustainable forest management as an ongoing programme.

www.freiburg.de/forstamt

The Mooswald

Germanys highest tree, a 63,33 m measuring douglas r in the Freiburg forest

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The Black Forest

The City Gardens

The Green Grass of Home Parks and Nature Conservation Areas

Freiburg has acquired recognition for being a green city of well-being also because of its numerous green spaces. The city is located in a green belt, with 500 hectares of green space stretching from the periphery right into the heart of the city. Between Mundenhof, Seepark and the natural conservation area Freiburger Rieselfeld in the west and Mselpark and the Dreisam meadow in the east, there are numerous green areas: parks, landscape conservation reserves, nature reserves, garden plots, playgrounds for children, also cemeteries and even the tram rails rest in a grassy bed. Design Elements, Local Recreation, and Playgrounds For more than 20 years, the city has been maintaining its public parks according to principles that are close to nature. For example, pesticides are not used and only indigenous trees and shrubs are planted. Changing the times of lawn mowing from up to twelve times to merely twice per year has markedly revived the biodiversity in the meadows. Around 22,000 trees have been planted along streets, with just as many in parks, helping to improve the urban microclimate. You will see typical small garden allotments on the outskirts about 3,800 of these plots not only help families enrich their menu with fresh vegetables, but are also oases of retreat allowing close contact with nature. Of the 160 playgrounds in Freiburg, 46 have by now been returned to a more natural state in cooperation with the children and their parents. Conservation Areas and Biotopes Landscape conservation areas comprise 7,016 hectares, i.e. about 46 percent of Freiburgs territory. 662 hectares are environmentally protected and 3,502 hectares are protected according to the guidelines of the European biological reserve network NATURA 2000. In addition to this, there are more than 200 hectares of specially protected biotopes outside of the conservation areas. Freiburg plays host to a great diversity of landscape and biotope types in a conned space - from alluvial forests to the mountain meadows and forests of the Schauinsland mountain, with its rare species of fauna and ora (such as wood grouse or arnica), all the way to the dry-warm biotopes of the Tuniberg, which is populated by many Mediterranean species, such as the emerald lizard. The designation of new natural reserves and landscape conservation areas on the Tunibergs southern slopes and in wetlands near Waltershofen are also now on the agenda. Freiburgs Schauinsland area forms part of the Southern Black Forest Natural Reserve, covering a total area of 370,000 ha. It is the second largest area of its kind in Germany. As a member of the Southern Black Forest Natural Reserve Association, the City of Freiburg pursues the objective of further developing the Southern Black Forest with regard to nature conservation, tourism, agri-culture, forestry and urban planning. The city has, through its preventative area protection policy, extensively contributed to the development of new recreational and adventure spaces for people and, at the same time, safeguarded the natural heritage for future generations.

www.freiburg.de/gruenanlagen

At Seepark

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The Citys Resource Capital

NATURE

Is the air clean? Air Quality and Emissions

As early as the 1990s, Freiburg recorded emissions in a registry and developed an air-quality plan. It was also the rst city in Germany to initiate an ozone phone-in line. However, when addressing local emissions reduction there are many regional and urban factors that impact upon this issue. Despite extensive efforts through trafc and environmental policies, the air in Freiburg remains polluted by ne-particle dust, exhaust emissions and ozone. The Clean-Air Plan In March 2006, Freiburgs Regional District Authority (Regierungsprsidium) drafted a Clean-Air-Plan in accordance with national and EU framework directives. This became necessary as the city and the region repeatedly exceeded allowed threshold values for nitrogen oxides (NO2). Apart from trafc management actions, such as building a city tunnel and improving the local public transportation system, the Clean-Air-Plan also foresees, from 2010, a general ban on motor vehicles that have a particularly negative impact on the environment. Currently, a Freiburg Action Plan on Fine Particle Dust is being drafted.

Clear Measures: Soil Protection

The Soil Status Report of the Freiburg Region of 2004 documents existing and new environmental pollution in the soil and groundwater. It has helped to address developing threats regarding soil acidication, sealing, erosion and land use in general. Areas with vulnerable and polluted soil were identied, precautionary measures and hazard prevention recommended and land reclamation proposed. Today, ve percent of the municipal forest on the steep slope of the Schauinsland Mountain is designated as soil-protected forest area. Register for Polluted Areas In 1991, Freiburg started to register suspected undeclared polluted sites within the city boundary. The most recent search activity for such sites took place in 2006. So far, the Environmental Protection Ofce has registered, systematically evaluated, safeguarded, where necessary, and reclaimed more than 1,790 abandoned polluted sites. The register data can be used to assist real-estate owners and planners to prevent exposure to pollution risks.

Western view of Freiburg, with the Dreisam River Valley and the Black Forest in the background

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Fishing in the Dreisam River.

Idyllic old town quarter of Gerberau

Go with the ow Water Protection

Increasing land use, surface sealing (roads, pavements) and the growing potential of extreme storms and heavy rainfall due to climate change make ood protection an ever-increasing priority. According to EU and German legislation, ood hazard maps must be prepared for especially endangered areas by 2012 at the latest; if at all, buildings may be erected in potential ood hazard areas, only if strict conditions have been fullled. In Freiburg, hazard areas were already delineated in the scope of the land use plan. New construction, renovations and the expansion of rainwater retention basins help to safeguard potentially threatened settlement areas. The Natural Design of Watercourses Changing watercourses back to their natural state is increasingly regaining signicance. In this regard, previous ecological mistakes, such as the correction or the canal-like extension of watercourses are being reversed, for example by establishing bank protection strips or reconstructing the river bed. Older weirs in the Dreisam River were replaced by so-called rough ground ramps, thus resolving two difculties with a single solution: sh are able to migrate upstream again, while water power is converted into environmentally-friendly energy. Water of Premium Quality Groundwater, our most important drinking-water resource, must be protected from agricultural and industrial pollutants, while rainwater is too valuable to be allowed to run off into the sewer system. Green spaces can be used to lter pollutants from the water as it seeps into the earth, promote new groundwater development and unburden the surface water and combined sewage systems. Ecological rainwater management begins with the prevention of superuous drainage, for example, by establishing impenetrable covers or green roofs. Either centralised or decentralised seepage of rain water has long since become standard practice in new development areas. Many drinkingwater preparation plants lie within the municipal forest area. This close-to-nature and sustainable management also helps protect drinking water. Wastewater Disposal with Tradition The Bchle, the small water channels in the city centre, have been the pride of the city since the Middle Ages. The rst sewers were built in 1880, and today Freiburg has a modern wastewater disposal system that combines effectiveness with ecological principles. Wherever possible, rain water is supposed to be captured and used on private properties or at least be allowed to seep into the groundwater. A fee system that distinguishes between contaminated water and rain water gives citizens an added incentive to save resources. The wastewater fees in Freiburg lie far below the national average.

Rowing on the Waldsee

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Sustainable

URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Far-Sighted Planning and Citizen Participation
Land Use Plan Nowadays, cities face a challenge. They need to manage the use and development of ever decreasing space with a view to environmental and social compatibility. The Land Use Plan 2020, which was agreed to in 2006, is committed to reducing land use as far as possible and includes about 30 hectares less building space than was previously available. Landscape Plan The view that the municipal council and the city administration have for the development of nature and landscape, environment and recreation by 2020 is determined in the Landscape Plan 2020. Valuable living space for humans and animals will be extended and combined into a citywide biotope association by means of targeted nature conservation measures. Open Spaces Concept The Land Use and Landscape Plans 2020 also impacted on the open spaces concept, determining the future design of Freiburgs cityscape. Quality-rich open spaces are important factors for Freiburgs cultural, historical and aesthetic identity. Where once the development of new district parks such as Seepark or Dietenbach were at the top of Freiburgs agenda, the focus is now on nding ways to interconnect these open spaces within and with the city. In this case it is clear - the journey is the reward.

City administration in dialogue with the citizens

Urban Climate Concept A healthy and balanced urban climate is increasingly becoming a greater challenge in the context of a changing climate. According to the Urban Climate Analysis in 2003, the Land Use Plan 2020 will place great value on retaining cool air ow areas and urban ventilation lines within and outside the city. Innovative Energy Concept In Freiburg, the principles of energy savings and solar optimisation merge early on in the planning phase of developments, for example, by dening the orientation and position of buildings or by compulsory low-energy construction requirements. Energy concepts are made for all building areas and the energy-supply variant most compatible with the environment is contractually prescribed - provided it can be realised with the same or a reasonably higher (10% maximum) cost. Citizen Engagement The Land Use Plan 2020 is regarded as a successful example of civic participation in municipal processes. In 2003, civic groups dened some visionary objectives, which, one year later, were included by the municipal Council as framework conditions of the Land Use Plan 2020, addressing ecological compatibility, social justice and economic viability. In 2005, citizens formed 19 working groups to discuss every potential construction area of the Land Use Plan 2020. Upon dening key points of the Plan, the municipal Council reoriented its decision, based on the outcome of these discussions.

City architectural master plan for Rieselfeld

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Vauban Tram line

Living in the Vauban Quarter

Development of Modern Districts and Living Quarters

Rieselfeld ecological living in the states largest neighbourhood project In an area of 70 hectares, the largest neighbourhood project in the Federal State of BadenWrttemberg is under development, with 4,200 apartments for 12,000 people to be developed by 2010. Early in 2008, more than 8,200 people were living in approximately 3,200 apartments built by more than 110 private building contractor societies and investors in the new neighbourhood of Rieselfeld. The positive image, the comprehensive public infrastructure tailored to suit market needs, as well as the intact neighbourhood life, makes Rieselfeld a good address for owners and tenants alike. Civic commitment and proactive cooperation are important in this district. It borders directly on a natural reserve area covering 205 hectares that serves the inhabitants of Rieselfeld as a green belt. All houses are built as low-energy buildings. In many of them, photovoltaics and solar heating utilise the energy of the sun. Additional forms of renewable energy utilisation and district heating from a combined heat and power station complement the far-sighted energy concept of this young district. A consistent water concept and consideration of climatic aspects are further components. The urban development concept attaches great importance to green spaces, playgrounds, open areas, as well as bicycle paths and trafc-calmed streets where children are allowed to play. www.freiburg.de/rieselfeld

Vauban Urban development with ecological awareness The Vauban Quarter was created on an area of 38 hectares located close to the city centre, on the terrain where the barracks of the French military forces once stood. It is an attractive, family-friendly neighbourhood for 5,000 people, in which civic commitment, collective building, and living with ecological awareness has great importance. Low-energy building is obligatory in this district; zero-energy and energy-plus building and the application of solar technology are standard for most. The rows of old trees were preserved as much as possible. The green spaces between the housing rows account for good climatic conditions and provide play areas for children. Parallel to private development, infrastructure was created that encompassed schools, kindergartens, youth facilities, civic meeting places,
Sun Ship in the Schlierbergs solar settlement area

a market place, as well as spaces for recreation and play. Vegetation-covered at roofs store rainwater, which is collected and re-used.

The neighbourhood area is trafc-calmed, with the majority of households not owning a car. Private motor vehicles are parked in either of the two garages of the Quarter. Since 2006, the residential area has been linked to the city tram system, enabling many people to do without a car, using local public transport or riding their bikes instead. www.freiburg.de/vauban

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CITIZEN

COMMITMENT
Thinking global, acting local Freiburg participates
In 1992 the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro endorsed Local Agenda 21. Freiburg is on board and has been implementing the concept sent out from Rio, thinking global, acting local - since 1996. The city signed the Aalborg Charter and thus, committed itself to developing its own Local Agenda 21. Seven working groups elaborated the principle ideas and objectives of a sustainable urban development. The Saturday Forum of ecotrinova e.V. and the university organises well-attended lectures and excursions on climate protection and sustainable development. To date, 21 of Freiburgs Agenda 21 projects were supported with a total of 200,000 Euro of state funds. Aalborg Commitments In 2004, the Aalborg Commitments were adopted at the Aalborg Plus 10 follow-up conference. Freiburg signed the Charter in 2006 and committed itself and its citizens to: develop models to reduce energy consumption and increase the proportion of renewable energy resources, realise climate protection in the elds of energy, mobility, purchasing, waste management, agriculture and forestry; give aspects of sustainability more consideration in urban development planning, and promote public awareness on the reasons for and consequences of climate change. The co-operation between citizens, Agenda 21 groups and the municipal administration received new impulses through the formation of Freiburgs Sustainability Council and new organisational foundations. This Council is aimed at bundling innovation potentials, bringing together opinion-leaders and disseminators of sustainable concepts and advising the municipal council and administration on how to implement the Aalborg Commitments.

One-World Days at Seepark

Freiburgs Agenda 21 Under the umbrella of Freiburgs Local Agenda 21, dozens of projects and initiative groups worked on the application of the global sustainability concept to local practice. For example, the One World Forum organised Freiburgs One World Days together with the city, and markets fair-trade coffee from Nicaragua. With projects such as Deluge 21, Future Lifestyles, and the Blue Treasure Chest Freiburgs Eco-Station draws attention to our global responsibility.

www.agenda21-buero-freiburg.de

Joint action: Freiburg makes a difference

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Seeing, Listening, Knowing Environmental Education in Freiburg

You see only what you know, and you protect only what you are familiar with. This motto of Freiburgs Nature Adventure Trail still holds true: environment and nature protection must be experienced in the shape of concrete objects and offer a tangible and understandable experience if it is to be successful. Environmental education commences in kindergarten and elementary school. School Commitment Numerous initiative groups, projects and smart ideas, such as the Benet Run in aid of the extension of the schools own solar generation plant demonstrate how dedicated Freiburgs schools are when it comes to protecting the climate. The city supports many of these waste prevention or water and energy saving projects with money and equipment. Opportunities of Extracurricular Learning There is a host of extracurricular environmental education opportunities under city guidance. For example, the Forestry Ofce maintains Nature Adventure and Instructional Forest Trails, offers guided tours and project days for school classes, or supports privately-organised Forest Kindergartens offering playful access to the forest as an ecosystem by providing locations and forest-educational knowledge. From 2008 on, WaldHaus Freiburg will initiate a new competence centre, with subjects relating to the forest and to sustainability. WaldHaus is aimed at contributing to bundling and professionalising offers in the eld of forest and environmental education and promoting the exchange in the subject spectrum forest and sustainability beyond the boundaries of states and specialising disciplines. Since its establishment in 1986, Freiburgs EcoStation, the environmental centre of the Environment & Nature Conservation League (BUND) in Seepark, has been covering the entire spectrum of environmental topics, from solar energy to ecological building, with seminars, guided tours and events. www.oekostation.de www.freiburg.de/mundenhof www.freiburg.de/planetarium www.sciencenet-region-freiburg.de

School classes visiting the Eco-Station

Stadtgut Mundenhof is a deer enclosure, eco-business and nature educational centre all in one. In the KonTiKi project children and school classes learn how to handle pets from all over the world and thus, playfully experience interesting aspects of keeping animals in a way that is appropriate to the species, as well as of nature and environmental conservation. Freiburgs planetarium not only looks out to remote galaxies, but also sets its focus on planet Earth and her biosphere, with subjects such as the hydrological cycle, the greenhouse effect, or the signicance of the sun in the supply of power. ScienceNet Region Freiburg Since July 2007, teachers, school students and other interested parties can use this internet portal to get an overview of more than 260 curricular and extracurricular environmental education offers from 60 providers.

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Freiburg, the

GREEN CITY
Sustainability, Future Viability, and the Quality of Life Driving Forces of Qualitative Growth
Sustainability, future viability and quality of life are the driving forces of a long-term business location policy that have set Freiburg on the road to qualitative growth. For the Green City, sustainability is not only an issue of ambitious environmental and climate protection concepts, but also the mainspring for the development of the economy, education, and science. The targeted promotion of a sustainable environment and solar and biotechnology has given Freiburg decisive advantages in international competition and contributed much to its attractiveness and quality of life. Citizens not only appreciate Freiburgs attitude towards life, its savoir vivre and culture - it also attracts numerous students, creative minds and investors from all over the world. This ensures a continual growth of the population and creates the basis for the knowledge-based, socially balanced and economically successful development of the city. Today, Freiburg ranks foremost nation-wide when it comes to increases in employment gures, population, economic growth, or the number of overnight accomodations, which, for the rst time, surpassed one million in 2007. The above-average employment rate not only in the areas of environmental economics, environmental education and environmental research, but also the growing interest from the rest of Germany and abroad, reect the immense signicance and the high appreciation of sustainable urban development, which in Freiburg actually a living experience. Freiburgs approach to sustainability is efcient, innovative, economically successful, ecologically exemplary, and socially balanced. Sustainability and economic dynamics, scientic excellence, a high quality of life and the serene art of living serve a common goal. As an ideal Green City, Freiburg has developed into a successful role model for Germany and Europe.

Photovoltaic module manufacturing at the Solar Factory

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College Building I at Freiburgs University

Imprint
Published by: Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG Co-ordination: Dr. Bernd Dallmann Text and Editorial: Franziska Breyer, Dr. Martin Halter, Nicole Horstktter, Dr. Michael Richter, Petra Zinthfner Contributions: Agenda 21 Bureau, Freiburg, Department II, Public Waste Disposal Management Ofce, Public Municipal Water Treatment Works, The Forestry Ofce, FWTM, Gardening and Civil Engineering Ofce, Planetarium, Project Groups of Rieselfeld and Vauban, City Department of Urban Development and Construction, Urban Planning Ofce, Environmental Protection Ofce Photography: Dr. Rdiger Buhl, Concentrix Solar GmbH, Michael Eckmann, Support Association Science und Technology e.V., Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Freiburg Futour, FWTM (Foto Karl-Heinz Raach), Regional Integrated Public Transport System, Freiburg, Solar Factory AG, Solar Info Center GmbH, Solar Promotion GmbH, Solarsiedlung GmbH (Photography: Georg Nemec), triolog GbR, Albert Josef Schmidt, City of Freiburg Translation: Dr. Bernard Oelkers, Science Translations; Ciara Leonard and Maryke van Staden, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, European Secretariat Graphics & Design: Berres-Stenzel, Freelance Graphic Artists and Designers, Freiburg, www.berres-stenzel.de Print: Wuhrmann Druck & Service GmbH, Freiburg Printed on paper containing 50% recycled and 50% FSC-bers (SGS-COC-2174)

Science Days for children

Rappenecker Hof powered by solar energy since 1987

Freiburg in the heart of Europe

UK GERMANY

FRANCE CH

Freiburg

ITALY SPAIN
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City of Freiburg im Breisgau Sustainability Ofce Rathausplatz 2-4 D-79098 Freiburg Contact: Petra Hess greencity@stadt.freiburg.de Phone: +49 (0) 761/201 10 25 Fax: +49 (0) 761/201 10 98 www.freiburg.de/greencity www.freiburg.de www.solarregion.freiburg.de

FWTM Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG Rathausgasse 33 D-79098 Freiburg Contact: Nicole Horstktter nicole.horstkoetter@fwtm.freiburg.de Marcella Kaltenbach marcella.kaltenbach@fwtm.freiburg.de

www.fwtm.freiburg.de

10/2008

Phone: +49 (0) 761/3881 842 Fax: +49 (0) 761/370 03