Saving energy with a sense of proportion: no numb fingers in the Waakirchen town hall
Created: 09/28/2022, 10:00 am
By: Christina Jachert-Maier
The Lion Monument is no longer illuminated.
How else the community of Waakirchen can save energy was the topic of the public meeting.
© Thomas Plettenberg
As soon as it gets dark, the proud Waakirchner lion sits in the dark, and the municipality also saves energy in other ways.
But how far should thrift go?
This was discussed in the municipal council at the request of the Greens - quite controversial.
Waakirchen –
The lion monument is no longer illuminated, as are the churches in the community.
But should the streets remain dark?
"The idea was to turn off every second lantern," reported Mayor Norbert Kerkel (FWG) in the municipal council.
In an application, the two Green municipal councillors, Cornelia Riepe and Evi Obermüller, demanded that the municipality examine all possibilities to save energy in an exemplary manner.
Now Kerkel presented the result of the analysis.
Convert street lights to LED
As far as lighting is concerned, it became clear that simple measures are sometimes difficult to implement.
Switching off every second lantern sounds simple.
"But then you would have to intervene in the controls," reported Kerkel from a conversation with Bayernwerk.
This is complicated and therefore expensive.
Switching off the lighting completely is out of the question in Bavaria.
Municipalities are obliged to light up streets.
Switching to LED models makes sense and has already been decided.
As early as September 2021, Waakirchen submitted an application for funding for this change, Kerkel recalled.
Since then we have been waiting for the funding decision.
With the LED lighting, Waakirchen will save 66 percent of its energy requirements, explained Kerkel.
Currently, the costs for street lighting amount to 18,000 euros per year.
No abandonment of Christmas trees
The community does not want to completely do without Christmas trees in the village.
"The soul needs a bit of light," said Kerkel.
In the future, however, there will only be a Christmassy atmosphere until 10 p.m.: Then it will be switched off.
Energy should also be saved in the town hall.
As far as the room temperature in the offices is concerned, Kerkel gives his team leeway, despite the 19-degree requirement.
The temperature in the old building - a new town hall building is planned - cannot be set exactly anyway, explained Kerkel.
"Personally, I love it cool," he noted.
But every employee should do this independently so that he or she can work well.
At this point, Riepe intervened.
There is an obligation not to heat public buildings to more than 19 degrees, she reminded.
All heaters would need to be checked.
Gisela Hölscher (FW) shook her head.
Energy has always been saved in Waakirchen, Riepe said.
In the old town hall, however, the thermostats could hardly be adjusted.
"Working for eight hours with numb fingers is not reasonable," she made clear.
In all efforts to save energy, it is important to find a healthy balance and to be mindful.
Gym shower rules required
Günther Jeske (FWG) wanted regulations on the use of the showers in the sports hall.
Some might save themselves the shower at home and go to the hall instead, he suspected.
"And the community pays for that." Floodlighting is also an issue.
Floodlights on the sports field are a matter for the clubs, explained Kerkel.
He was visibly opposed to the demand for strict shower rules, especially since showers had to be used more often and at higher temperatures because of the risk of legionella.
Michael Mohrenweiser (ABV) also advocated trusting in the personal responsibility of the athletes.
The facilities could not have been used for two years because of the pandemic, he reminded.
"Now things should return to normal in sport." Ultimately, the committee agreed to just put up a notice to call for economical showering - and to install energy-saving shower heads.
