2008 I 2009 Sustainability Report - Econsense

Measurement vehicle
checks light intensity
In 2008, the Stadtwerke Düsseldorf AG municipal
utility – in which EnBW holds a stake
– developed a lighting measurement vehicle
in cooperation with the Südwestfalen
University of Applied Sciences to record illumination
intensity and light density while
it drives along the road. Based on the measurement
data from "Autolux", the street
lighting can then be evaluated and the status
documented. The results are visualised
in the form of "illumination intensity
maps". This makes it possible to identify
and remedy weak points – and also allows
the pinpointing of excessively lit areas in
the street lighting system, paving the way
for the exploitation of economy potentials.
This technique allows the measurement of
large areas within a short space of time. It
would not be financially feasible for a city or
possible in terms of personnel to arrive at
comparable findings based on individual
measurements. This method provides the
responsible street lighting planners with
detailed information on which to base decisions
that can also be provably documented
vis-à-vis third parties. This in turn is of importance
throughout Germany within the
context of the Municipal Charges Act (KAG),
as it enables the municipal authorities to
provide evidence of illumination improvements
and/or to pass on the associated
costs to the local residents on a pro rata basis.
34
Environmentally sound
lighting technology
The use of artificial lighting in outdoor areas
is part and parcel of our day-to-day living
environment, and the use of this kind of
lighting is set to increase further as residential
zones are extended further and further
out of the town centres. Many municipalities
have been aware of this problem for a
number of years and are trying to convert
their street lighting systems to energy-saving
lamp technology, primarily with the aim
of reducing energy consumption. In the
past, the fact has been generally overlooked
that the optimisation of street lighting can
also make an important contribution to nature
conservation and biodiversity. It was
with this in mind that the Stadtwerke Düsseldorf
AG municipal utility decided to conduct
a study on "Street Lighting and the Environment"
together with the Institute of
Zoology at the University of Mainz and the
Düsseldorf Environmental Agency. This
study investigated the insect-friendliness of
the various different types of lamps used in
outdoor areas. The study showed that LED
lighting, and warm white light in particular,
is extremely insect-friendly and therefore
environmentally sound. In future, this
scientific study will play a key role in
approvals within the framework of FFH
projects (flora-fauna-habitat guideline) and
gives us even more incentive to continue
promoting the use of LEDs in street lighting
systems.
Carefree holidays with "Pro Climate"
Together with EnBW Regional AG, the communities
of Illmensee, Ostrach, Pfullendorf,
Wald and Wilhelmsdorf which make up the
Northern Lake Constance holiday region
have created what they call the "climateneutral
vacation", a package that is unique
anywhere in Germany. The EnBW subsidiary
developed a scheme that allows holidaymakers
to offset all their vacation-related
CO 2 emissions by helping to reduce greenhouse
emissions in other locations.
The partner of EnBW in this scheme is a
highly reputed organisation: Global-woods
AG, a company that has been pursuing
reforestation for more than ten years now
in the interests of worldwide climate protection.
Global-woods provides proof that it
has planted as many trees in Argentina,
Paraguay and Uganda as is necessary to offset
the CO 2 caused by the holiday-makers.
Global-woods is voluntarily committed to
complying with the strict regulations of the
nonprofit CarbonFixStandards, an organisation
that is recognised by both political
decision-makers and environmental protection
organisations. 25 cents per holiday
guest and overnight stay are invested in the
projects.
During the first few years, EnBW and the
Northen Lake Constance holiday region
each pay half of the cost of the reforestation
projects, equivalent to up to 30,000 € per
season. Following the start-up phase, the
holiday-makers will be able to voluntarily
pay the relevant charge themselves, enabling
them to compensate for their "CO 2footprint".
The emissions caused by the
vacations in question can be precisely
determined using a CO 2 calculator. Accompanying
holiday season events for adults
and children and a dedicated climate protection
portal are designed to additionally
raise awareness levels among holiday guests
and the local people.